The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Myosotis eximia

Etymology

Myosotis: mouse-eared
eximia: Strikingly unusual

Common Name(s)

None Known

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 - RR

Authority

Myosotis eximia Petrie

Family

Boraginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. North Island: Kaimanawa and Ruahine Ranges

Habitat

Subalpine to alpine. A basicole confined to limestone bluffs and talus slopes

Features

Tufted somewhat spreading perenial herb with a much branched base bearing numerous loose rosettes. Rosette-leaves 8, up to 100 × 15 mm (in dwarfed plants only 10 × 2 mm), petiole slender, almost equal in length to lamina, broadly sheathing at base; lamina elliptic, tip apiculate; hairs short, straight, stiff, closely appressed, not overlapping and sparse on leaf undersides (sometimes almost absent on old leaves). Lateral branches ascending, up to 250 mm long, leafless below cyme, lower internodes us. < lvs. Stem-lvs up to 25×7 mm., elliptic, apiculate, sessile, hairs similar to those on rosette-lvs but a little longer. Cymes simple or forked, ebracteate, c.12-flowered, up to 30 mm long; internodes < calyx in fruit; pedicels up to 2-4 mm; calyx 5-6 mm long, lobes > half calyx length, narrow and acute, hairs short, stiff, sparse and appressed. Corolla white, 14-18 mm diameter, tube 4.0-4.6 mm long with vertically elongated scales at mouth, flaring above into wide funnel-shape with shallow lobes c.5.0-6.0 × 3.0-3.5 mm; filaments long, reaching to level of lobes; anthers 2 mm long, prominently exserted; style 2-3× calyx in fruit, stigma capitate. Nutlet 2.3-3.1 × 1.4-1.8 mm, ovate-elliptic, black.

Similar Taxa

Myosotis eximia is easily recognised by its much branched spreading habit; leaves which are sparsely hairy (with the hairs short, stuff, and closely appressed); by the large and dense fruiting inflorescences whose internodes are less than the length of the calyx; by the anthers which are much shorter than their filaments and by the large white flowers which have wide-funnelform corolla-tubes, and straight rather than hooked calyx hairs. In the wild part of its range Myosotis eximia is very unlikely to be confused with any other Myosotis species.

Flowering

December - January

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

February - April

Propagation Technique

One of the few indigenous alpine Myosotis that is easily cultivated. Best grown in a sunny situation within a free-draining but moist soil enriched with lime. Excellent in a rockery or alpine house. This species flowers freely even in warm climates

Threats

Myosotis eximia is a narrow-range, naturally uncommon endemic confined to base-rich rocks (mostly limestone and calcareous sandstones) of the Kaimanawa and Ruahine Range. Although it is very localised species known populations seem secure and none appear to be threatened.

Chromosome No.

2n = 44

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 16 Apr 2014