The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Gentianella chathamica subp. chathamica

Etymology

Gentianella: Little Gentiana (named after Gentius, 6th century king of Illyria, who found the roots of the yellow gentian to have a healing effect on his malaria-stricken troops)
chathamica: From the Chatham Islands

Common Name(s)

Chatham Island gentian

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 - IE, RR
2009 - IE

Authority

Gentianella chathamica (Cheeseman) T.N.Ho et S.W.Liu subp. chathamica

Family

Gentianaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Gentiana chathamica Cheeseman, Chionogentias chathamica (Cheeseman) L.G.Adams, Gentianella chathamica (Cheeseman) T.N.Ho et S.W.Liu; Chionogentias pleurogynoides var. umbellata Kirk

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: Chatham Islands (Chatham, Pitt Islands)

Habitat

Coastal to inland, where it is widespread in open peatlands, restiad bog, bracken fernland overlying peat and within poorly drained pasture

Features

Plants monocarpic, biennial, height in flower 90–235 mm. Caudex unbranched, stolons absent. Root 1.0–3.3 mm diameter at stem base. Flowering stems terminal only or terminal and lateral, 1–15 per plant, largest flowering stem 2.1–2.3 mm diameter at base, stems tinted crimson, lateral flowering stems erect, flowering stem leaves 1–3 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near base of flowering stem. Rosette of leaves distinct to not very distinct from flowering stem leaves; leaves ovate, 21–31 × 7–22 mm, tinted crimson above and below, flat or V-shaped, not recurved, apex acute or rounded; petiole distinct, c.9.5 × 0.6–3.0 mm. Flowering stem leaves ovate, sessile. Pedicels 1 per leaf axil, 5–20 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm diameter. Flowers 5–50 per plant, 6–12 mm long. Calyx 4.6–7.5 mm long, green, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line present; lobes 4.7–5.7 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide at base, plane, apices acute or obtuse, margins smooth, sinus hairs absent or sparse. Corolla 5.1–11.8 mm long, white with crimson or pink tinting, rarely pink or magenta, veins pale or crimson coloured; tube 2.5–3.2 mm long; lobes 5.0–8.6 mm long, 2.7–5.2 mm wide, hairs below sinus present; nectary 0.9–1.2 mm from corolla base. Filaments 2.3–6.6 mm long from corolla base, 0.4–0.7 mm wide. Anthers 0.5–1.4 mm long, anther wall purple-red, mouth yellow or orange-red, introrse or extrorse at anthesis; pollen orange. Female flowers absent. Stigma colourless. Ovules 22–60 per ovary. Capsule 6.7–12.5 mm long.

Similar Taxa

The only Gentianella present on the Chatham Islands. It is separated from G. chathamica subsp. nemorosa by plants mostly having a single flowering stem; 25-60 ovules per ovary; anthers that are 0.5–1.4 mm long; and a colourless stigma. The relationship to subsp. nemorosa seems somewhat ambiguous and it is more likely that subsp. chathamica is related to the other subantarctic gentians. Gentianella chathamica subsp. nemorosa is probably better treated as a distinct species.

Flowering

July – February

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

August - May

Propagation Technique

Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

A Naturally Uncommon, range-restricted island endemic under no obvious threats. Being unpalatable to stock it is often abundant in marginal farmland.

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 20 Nov 2013