The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Gingidia grisea

Etymology

Gingidia: a Syrian carrot
grisea: pearl-grey

Common Name(s)

none lnown

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 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable

Qualifiers

2012 - RR
2009 - DP

Authority

Gingidia grisea Heenan

Family

Apiaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. South Island, north-eastern Otago, 15 populations known from near the Millhouse ( Herbert) south to Mt Watkin (Waikouaiti), east to Macraes Flat and then west to Shag and Moeraki Points.

Habitat

Now virtually confined to cliff and talus slopes on base-rich igneous (basalt lava, breccia), metamorphic (schist) and sedimentary (calcareous sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and calcareous basaltic breccia and agglomerate) rocks. Within these cliff and talus habitats it grows in open sites with minimal cover.

Features

Tap-rooted, stout, glabrous, gynodioecious perennial grey-green, glaucous herb. Leaves 3-5 per rosette, imparipinnate, subcoriaceous, grey-green. Petiole 70-300 mm long, sheath with marginal wings. Leaflets 4-7 pairs, often overlapping, sessile, 10-50 x 55 mm, smaller distally, orbicular to rhomboid, grey-green with dense glaucous bloom on both surfaces, margin rounded in distal part with 12-24, deeply cut or crenate teeth, base cuneate, obtuse, or truncate, and entire. Cauline leaves 12-60 mm long, grey-green, sheath 11-18 x 5-5.75 mm, leaflets in 1-4 pairs, similar to rosette leaves; upper cauline leaves reduced in size, linear, entire or toothed. Compound umbel peduncle 27-87 mm long, with 7-28 simple umbels; umbels subtended by 4-6 primary, broad-elliptic narrowly acuminate bracts. Female flowers 1.5-3.5 mm long, male and hermaphrodite flowers 2.6-4.2 mm long. Petals white flushed pink. Mericarps 3.9-4.1 x 0.9-1 mm, ovate to ovate-elliptic, brown.

Similar Taxa

Morphologically closest to G. montana (J.R.Forst et G.Forst.) J.W.Dawson, from which it differs by the distinctive grey-green leaves, dense glaucous bloom on both leaf surfaces, and by the secondary bracts which are broad-elliptic and long-acuminate. Unlike G. montana the inflorescences are often hidden within the rosette leaves, particularly so with female specimens.

Flowering

November - January

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

December - April

Propagation Technique

Grows readily from fresh seed, and does well in a free-draining, fertile soil within a sunny, exposed situation. Dislikes humidity.

Threats

At risk from habitat loss following displacement by weeds such as boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum Miers), wall valerian (Centranthus ruber (L.) DC.), gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) and broom (Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link). Goats and other browsing animals are a risk at most sites. This species has already declined or been lost from a number of sites where it had been common 20 or so years ago. Previously regarded (as Gingidia aff. montana (b) (CHR 103349; North Otago)) as Nationally Vulnerable in de Lange et al. (2004).

Chromosome No.

2n = 22

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Winged mericarps are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 27 Sep 2014