Species

Disphyma papillatum

Etymology

Disphyma: Two-nodule

Common Name(s)

Chatham Island ice plant

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 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - IE, RR
2009 - IE

Authority

Disphyma papillatum Chinnock

Family

Aizoaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

DISPAP

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None - was once considered part of the normal variation exhibited by D. australe

Distribution

Endemic: Chatham Islands: Rekohu (Chatham), Rangiuaria (Pitt), Rangatira (South East), Mangere, Little Mangere, Rabbit, Castle, Forty Fours, Star Keys, Sisters and Western Reef

Habitat

Abundant on coastal rocks, cliffs and gravels, often in very exposed, inhospitable sites.

Features

Trailing, succulent herb. Stem flattened, 2-angled, glabrous. Leaves 3-angled, acute, tapering to connate base, 4-30 × 5-6 mm; margins papillate. Flowers 20-40 mm diameter. Petals uniformly white, pink, dark blue or purple, in 3-5 rows, 10-30 mm long. Stamens 5-6 mm long; inner filaments hairy at base. Stigmas 5(-6). Capsule valves with widely divergent expanding keels; placental tubercle present, 2-lobed or reduced to a ridge. Seeds yellowish brown to brown, obovoid, distinctly papillate, c.1 mm long.

Similar Taxa

Distinguished from the other New Zealand species by the papillate rather than smooth, 2-angular rather than terete stems, and distinctly papillate rather than rugose or smooth seeds.

Flowering

July - May

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

Present throughout the year

Propagation Technique

Easy from rooted pieces and fresh seed. Does best in full sun, within a damp, well drained and fertile soil

Threats

Not Threatened: Abundant on coastal cliffs, rock stacks, cobble beaches, on offshore islands, and around petrel burrows in open coastal forest.

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Fleshy capsules are dispersed by frugivory and possibly wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Attribution

Description based on Webb et al. (1988)

References and further reading

Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

This page last updated on 24 Jul 2014