Species

Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. crassum

Etymology

Geniostoma: the tribe with pitted seed
ligustrifolium: From the genus Ligustrum privet and the Greek word phylum 'leaf', meaning privet-leaved
crassum: thick

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 - OL
2009 - CD, ST, OL

Authority

Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. crassum Cheeseman

Family

Loganiaceae

Brief Description

Shrub bearing pale green thick leaves that are silvery pale underneath inhabiting the northern tip of the North Island. Leaves rounded or pointed, more or less fleshy. Flowers small, green, slightly hairy, in clusters at base of leaf. Fruit a dry capsule splitting in two to show small orange seeds.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Geniostoma rupestre var. ligustrifolium (A.Cunn.) B.J.Conn

Flower Colours

Green

Chromosome No.

2n = 40

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Cultural Use/Importance

Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. crassum is a distinct ultramafic endemic with a lianoid trailing habit. It has proved virtually impossible to maintain in cultivation without regular applications of serpentinite. On the Surville Cliffs it is occasionally sympatric with G. ligustrifolium var. ligustrifolium, an upright shrub or small tree that dislikes ultramafic soils. The opinion of Murray & de Lange (1999) is here followed in treating both taxa as distinct and further suggesting that var. crassum warrants species rank (see Geniostoma ligustrfiolium var. ligustrifolium).

References and further reading

Murray, B.G.; de Lange, P. J. 1999: Contributions to a chromosome atlas of the New Zealand flora - 35. Miscellaneous families. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 511-521.

This page last updated on 20 Nov 2013