The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Ewartiothamnus sinclairii

Etymology

sinclairii: After Sinclair (c. 1796–1861). Colonial Secretary and naturalist.

Common Name(s)

Ewartia

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 - Sp
2009 - Sp

Authority

Ewartiothamnus sinclairii (Hook.f.) Anderb.

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

Gnaphalium sinclairii Hook.f., Ewartia sinclairii (Hook.f.) Cheeseman,

Distribution

Endemic. South Island, Marlborough, where it is virtually confined to streams draining into the upper Awatere and Clarence River Catchments

Habitat

Steep rocky gorges, usually on dry, cliff sides overhanging streams and rivers. Occasionally on boulders within streams, or amongst short tussock on steep, rubble strewn slopes.

Features

Perennial subshrub up to 0.8 m tall, much-branched from stout woody stock. Main branches c.3 mm diameter at woody base, clad in sub-appressed to floccose white tomentum, becoming glabrous. Branchlets slender, spreading to ascending, densely white-tomentose, terminated by cymose close clusters of capitula. Leaves imbricate, c.6-10 × 2 mm, spreading from sheathing base, lanceolate- to obovate-spathulate, obtuse, hardly diminishing in size to base of inflorescence, densely clad on both surfaces in white felted tomentum. Capitula c.6 × 4 mm, in clusters of c. 25 forming a head 15-20 mm diameter. Pedicels short, stout, bracts usually aristate. Involucral bracts numerous, 2-seriate; outer with floccose tomentum on back near hardened base, acute to aristate; inner less hairy, c.4 mm long, oblong, with white erect to subradiate tips. Achenes fusiform, hardly 1 mm long, glabrous or nearly so; pappus-hairs c. 3 mm long, thickened and papillose at tips, minutely scaberulous at base.

Similar Taxa

Superficially similar to Anaphalioides from which it differs by the conspicuous investiture of white to silvery-white hairs which cover all parts of the plant except the florets. Allan (1961) artificially aligned it with Helichrysum from which it differs by the thick covering of hairs and fusiform achenes.

Flowering

October - February

Fruiting

November - April

Propagation Technique

Easy from fresh seed and cuttings. However difficult to grow in humid climates. Does best in full sun in a free draining, deep soil.

Threats

A naturally uncommon species which is locally common within its geographically restricted range. Most populations are small, and some might be vulnerable to flooding, land slips and possibly browsing animals.

Chromosome No.

2n = 28

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Pappate cypselae are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 25 Sep 2014