The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Dicranoweisia spenceri

Common Name(s)

Moss

Current Conservation Status

2009 - Data Deficient

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

Authority

Dicranoweisia spenceri Dixon et Sainsbury

Family

Dicranaceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. North and South Islands.

Habitat

Corticolous on the bark of small trees and shrubs in montane forest and subalpine areas

Features

Polyoicous, corticolous, tufted, yellow moss colonising the bark of small trees and shrubs. Stems up to 10 mm tall, simple or branched. Leaves and areolation similar but alar cells usually less numerous and coloured. Perichaetial bracts obtuse and bluntly cuspidate. Seta to 10 mm long, slender, yellow. Capsule to 1.3 mm long, narrowly oval or oblong, pale, scaly with a red rim and with stomata near the base. peristome inserted on the rim, the teeth bifid for the greater part of their length, densely and obliquely striolate, finely papillose above. Operculum with an inclined subulate beak nearly equaling the capsule. Calyptra hooded. Male inflorescences on female plants or on separate plants.

Fruiting

Spring to Summer (exact fruiting period unknown)

Threats

In 2011 Dicranoweisia spenceri was rediscovered at its type locality near Arthurs Pass in the South Island. Indications are that although rather localised it is not under any threat at that site. Nothing is known about its status in the North Island. Because this information came after the last Bryophytre Threat Listing was accepted for publication (Glenny et al. 2011) this moss remains for now "Data Deficient". That listing is probably still appropriate as nothing is known about this moss at any of the others sites in which it has been historically gathered.

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 8 Nov 2013