Species
Crossidium davidai
Common Name(s)
Moss
Current Conservation Status
2009 - Non Resident Native - Vagrant
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
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
Qualifiers
2009 - DP, OL, SO
Authority
Crossidium davidai Catches.
Family
Pottiaceae
Flora Category
Non Vascular - Native
Synonyms
None (first described in 1980)
Distribution
Indigenous. Widespread in Australia. In New Zealand known only from a single site on Banks Peninsula
Features
Moss green when moist, deep olive-brown when dry. Leaves ligulate-obovate, to 1.50-1.90 x 0.50-0.65 mm wide, widest above middle, concave above, with the apex blunt, cucullate or with a small mucro; margin entire, narrowly recurved from apex to near the base; base not sheathing nor decurrent; upper laminal cells with fairly thin walls, hexagonal or polygonal 12-16 µm diameter, each with several crescentic papillae on both sides, the cells in two marginal row smooth and transversely rectangular; lower laminal cell much larger, smooth, rectangular, short and narrow near the margin; nerve ceasing at or just below apex; filaments 1-4 cells high, the cells 9-12 µm long, the terminal cell longer almost globose or ovoid, 20-25 µm diameter, with 4-6 mamillae. Seta 5-8 mm long, pale brown; capsule reddish-brown, slenderly ellipsoid, 2.0-2.3 mm long, nearly 0.5 mm wide, operculum conical, slightly bent, blunt; peristome c. 400 µm high, with a basal membrane c.80 µm tall , bearing 32 teeth, twisted to the right and covered with fine acute papillae; spores 18-22 µm diameter, minutely papillose.
Fruiting
Fruiting had occasionally been observed in New Zealand. However insufficient information exists from which to determine seasonal periodicity.
Threats
Highly threatened because it is known from one small population in a very vulnerable situation
Endemic Taxon
No
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 31 August 2007.
This page last updated on 13 Oct 2011