Meteoriopsis reclinata

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Species

Meteoriopsis reclinata

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

Qualifiers

2009 - SO

Authority

Meteoriopsis reclinata (Müll.Hal.) Broth.

Family

Meteoriaceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Moss

Distribution

Indigenous. New Zealand: Kermadec Islands (Raoul Island only). Present also in Australia (Queensland), south-east Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Philippines.

Habitat

Corticolous on the canopy branches of a range of trees in the 'wet forest' on Raoul Island.

Features

Plants robust, epiphytic, creeping, yellow-green to brown-yellow. Stems sparsely branched. Leaves spreading, lanceolate and narrowly acuminate, weakly clasping but not auriculate at base, strongly serrulate above, rather weakly serrulate below and nearly to base, both weakly twisted and weakly undulate at apex, mostly c. 3.5 mm. Mid laminal cells linear-fusiform, mostly with only 1-2 papaillae on each surface, strongly porose, apparently most 30–42 µm long (but the outline/limit of each cell mostly obscure and apparently longer near costa); alar cells oblong or subquadrate, forming a small group c. 4 cells wide and 4–5 cell high. Costa thin, mostly extending to mid-leaf or somewhat beyond. Sex organs and sporophytes not seen in New Zealand material.

Fruiting

Not observed in the Raoul Island gatherings

Threats

Unknown. Only recently (September 2009) recognised for New Zealand from a chance gathering made in May 2009 from the Moumoukai summit ridge, Raoul Island. In May 2011 further gatherings were made from other places on Raoul (Smiths Bluff Track, Denham Bay Track) suggesting that this species may warrant "Naturally Uncommon" status. Its preference for high canopy habitats has meant that it is rarely seen in situ, being mostly found as fallen material littering the ground after strong storms. There are no obvious threats but as the species was not recognised in the field its exact status on Raoul is unclear. It may be common or it may be extremely scarce. Further survey is needed.

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network