The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Neckeromnion lepineanum

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

Authority

Neckeromnion lepineanum (Mont.) S.Olsson, Enroth, Huttunen et D.Quandt

Family

Neckeraceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Moss

Synonyms

Neckeropsis lepineana (Mont.) Fleisch

Distribution

Indigenous. New Zealand: Raoul Island where it is known from several gatherings made in 2009 and 2011. Present throughout south-east Asia, Australia (Queensland), Papua New Guinea, and most of the larger Pacific Islands

Habitat

Corticolous on the trunk of nikau (Rhopalostylis baueri) and on the upper canopy branches of a range of forest trees typical of the 'wet forest' of Raoul island, Kermadec Islands group.

Features

Diocous; robust plants, yellowish-green, glossy, in pendulous masses. Secondary stems up to 30 mm long, very flat, irregularly branches, to 6 mm wide with leaves. Leaves horizontally spreading, strongly undulate, broadly lingulate from a clasping, decurrent base, inflexed on one side below, broadly rounded or nearly truncate at apex, minutely crenulate above; costa very short and faint, with unequal forks; cells rhomboidal, with firm irregularly thickened walls, 5-6 µm wide and 3-6x as long, shorter at apex, more elongate and porose below. Sporophyte on a short, lateral branch; capsule immersed on a very short seta; peristome teeth papillose, segments of endostome narrow from a low basal membrane (n/b fruiting material not seen in Kermadec material).

Fruiting

Not seen in New Zealand specimens

Threats

Neckeromnion is known from several gatherings made in May 2009 and 2011 from the 'wet forest' type on the high ridges of Raoul Island (Moumoukai, Smiths Bluff Track) . It is probably more widespread on Raoul Island, however even if this is so it is obviously fairly uncommon as it is a very distinctive, large moss, which, were it more common would have been collected long before now. Although listed as Data Deficient by Glenny et al. (2011), this species probably now merits listing as "Naturally Uncommon" qualified OL (One Location), SO (Secure Overseas), Sp (Sparse). As far as is known there are no obvious threats to this species on Raoul Island, which is a nature reserve.

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 17 Oct 2017