The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Myosotis brockiei

Etymology

Myosotis: mouse-eared

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Gradual Decline

Qualifiers

2012 - RR
2009 - CD

Authority

Myosotis brockiei L.B.Moore et M.J.A.Simpson

Family

Boraginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic to North West Nelson south to the Tiropahi Track near Charleston. A naturally sparse species never very common at any particular site.

Habitat

In shady sites within forest, associated with limestone, marble or ultramafic cliff faces, talus slopes and rubble

Features

Perennial herb. Rosette leaves crowded, 60-120 x 1-15 mm, narrow-elliptic, tapering to a long, winged petiole, grey-green, hairs short, arcuate, somewhat silky, scarcely overlapping, on the upper surface retrorse, Lateral branches erect up to 300 mm tall. Cauline leaves narrow-elliptic, progressively smaller. Cymes 1-several, ebracteate, young flowers initially crowded, internodes elongating to exceed calyx length at fruiting. Flowers > 20, unscented. Calyx 3 mm long, exceeding corolla tube, calyx lobes narrow-linear, wide-spreading, lobed almost to base, hairs short, crowded, arcuate, long and flexyous only at apices. Corolla white, rotate, 9-10 mm diam., tube short 1 x 1 mm, < calyx lobes, lobes spreading 4 x 2.5 mm, broadly ovate and overlapping at bases. Scales exserted, initially yellow fading to white. Filaments 4 mm, conspicuous, anthers 1 mm. Style projecting beyond stamens, stigma narrow capitate. Nutlets brown, glossy, ovoid, 1.9 x 1 mm.

Similar Taxa

Closest to Myosotis concinna Cheeseman, within which it was initially treated as a white-flowered variant. M. concinna Cheeseman is a endemic to Mt Owen and its immediate vicinity. It is a stocker plant with yellow flowers, heavier, shorter infructescences, a cylindric calyx barely equally the longer corolla tube. The yellow flowers have elliptic rather than ovate corolla lobes, and are very fragrant, while the nutletts are darker brown, larger (2.8 x 1.6 mm), and ellipsoid

Flowering

December - February

Flower Colours

Blue

Fruiting

January - April

Propagation Technique

Difficult and should not be removed from the wild. Can be grown in pots in an alpine house, does best in lime enriched, well drained, cool, but sunny situations. Dislikes humidity.

Threats

A naturally uncommon species which is vulnerable to loss from plant collectors habitat destruction and the spread of weeds into its preferred habitat. There has been a slight range contraction in this species distribution over the last 10 years.

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 16 Apr 2014