The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Epilobium astonii

Etymology

Epilobium: From the Greek epi- 'upon' and lobos 'a pod', the flowers appearing to be growing on the seed pod.
astonii: after Aston

Common Name(s)

Aston's willowherb

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 - RR

Authority

Epilobium astonii (Allan) Raven et Engelhorn

Family

Onagraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Epilobium pubens var. astonii Allan

Distribution

Endemic. North Island on the main axial ranges from the high points of the Raukumara Range south to the Raukumara and northern Ruahine Ranges.

Habitat

A subalpine to alpine species (760-1370 m a.s.l.) favouring greywacke (mainly the arenite facies) but also known from limestone. Usually found on cliff faces, often along canyon and gorge walls, sometimes on exposed boulders along ridge lines.

Features

Heavily branched, erect perennial herb forming compact bushes up to 300 x 300 mm; entire plant pubescent, hairs admixted erect eglandular and glandular, with the stems completely glandular hairy. Leaves opposite to subopposite except for the inflorescence where alternate; lateral veins c.3 each side of midrib, evident but not prominent; petiole 2-6 mm long, finely winged; lamina 13-33 x 7-154 mm, dull green, narrowly obovate, apex acute, base attenuate, margins serrulate, bearing 8-24 teeth. Inflorescence and flowers nodding. Pedicels 2-8 mm long. Ovaries 12-35 mm long, glandular puberulent, admixed with erect eglandular and appressed glandular hairs. Floral tube 1.8-2.8 x 2.2-3.2 mm, internally bearing a conspicuous ring of long hairs. Sepals 1.8-2.8 x 2.2-3.2 mm, not keeled, hairs admixed glandular/eglandular. Petals 7.3-13.0 x 7.0-8.0 mm, white flushed pink or pink; apical notch 1.8-3.5 mm deep. Anthers 2.7-2.9 x 0.8-1.0 mm, yellow, filaments white, those of long stamens 2.0-3.6 mm, short 1.0-2.2 mm long. Style 4.0-5.0 mm, white, often with long hairs near base; stigma 2.0-3.0 x 1.3-2.0 mm, white, broadly clavate. Capsule 2.9-4.2 mm, finely glandular/eglandular pubescent, with pedicel slightly elongated (up to 9 mm long). Seeds 0.9-1.1 x 0.4-0.5 mm, dark brown, obovoid, papillose, the coma 3.5-5.0 mm, deatched readily or persistent.

Similar Taxa

Allied to Epilobium pubens A.Rich. from which it differs by its much larger, compact, bushy, rather than slender scarcely branched growth habit; by its longer sepals ( 5.0-6.5 cf 2.5-2.8 mm) and petals (7.3-13.0 cf. 3.5-7.0 mm); and by its restriction to subalpine or alpine usually greywacke rock habitats of the main axial ranges of the North Island, rather than being a widespread species of no particular substrate preference, and ranging from coastal habitats to the upper montane forest and subalpine scrub.

Flowering

December - February

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

January - April

Propagation Technique

Easily grown in a pot or in a rock garden in full sun. Dislikes high humidity. Quite drought tolerant.

Threats

Not threatened. Listed because it is a narrow range endemic of limited geographic extent. It is regarded as common in the few places from which it has been recorded.

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 3 Jan 2020