The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Gentianella calcis subsp. manahune

Etymology

Gentianella: Little Gentiana (named after Gentius, 6th century king of Illyria, who found the roots of the yellow gentian to have a healing effect on his malaria-stricken troops)

Common Name(s)

Manahune Gentian

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

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 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Qualifiers

2012 - EF, OL
2009 - OL, EF

Authority

Gentianella calcis subsp. manahune Glenny et Molloy

Family

Gentianaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. South Island, South Canterbury, at Albury and Manahune

Habitat

A limestone endemic growing in lowland to montane areas on limestone bluffs in rock joints, clefts, crevices and ledges

Features

Perennial tufted herb. Petiole distinct, 14-32 mm long. Rosette leaves linear to very narrowly elliptical or narrowly obovate 30-60 mm long, 2.8-4.1 mm wide, green, V-shaped in cross-section, recurved at the acute leaf apex; margins minutely serrulate. Cauline leaves, 8 pairs per stem, linear, recurved, usually smaller than rosette leaves. Flowering stems, purple-black, 1-3 per plant. Pedicels 6.5-12 mm long, 0.75-0.9 mm diam. Flowers 24-42 per plant, 12-15 mm long. Calyx green, tinted purple black, 6.8-7 mm long; lobes 4.3-5.7 mm long, 1.5 mm wide at base, apices acute, recurved, margins minutely serrulate. Corolla 11.7-13.8 mm long, veins purple; tube 3.1-4.3 mm long; lobes 7.7-9.5 mm long, 5.4-6.0 mm wide, margins toothed; nectary 2.0-2.1 mm from corolla base, V-shaped deep but without flap. Filaments 6.6-8.1 mm long from corolla base, 0.45-0.6 mm wide. Anthers 1.75-2.0 mm long, extrorse at anthesis. Ovules 15-21 per ovary. Ovary blue at apex after fertilisation. Capsules 8-11.5 mm.

Similar Taxa

Allied to the other three subspecies of G. calcis Glenny et Molloy but distinguished from all of these by the purple Corolla veins. For differences between G. calcis subsp. manahune and G. astonii T.N.Ho et S.W.Liu see under G. calcis subsp. calcis.

Flowering

May-June

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Fruiting

June-September

Propagation Technique

Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

Under severe threat from the spread of Hieraceum pilosella L. and pasture grasses, habitat loss due to changes in stocking regimes, and through browsing from feral goats. Limestone quarrying is a long-term threat, while the very small population is vulnerable to erosion, boulder and rock falls and erosion. Previously recorded as Gentiana aff. astonii (c) (CHR 542276; Manahune) in de Lange et al. (2004).

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 20 Nov 2013