The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Myosotis rakiura

Etymology

Myosotis: mouse-eared
rakiura: Named after the Maori name for Stewart Island. Rakiura is derived from raki 'sky' and ura 'glowing' or 'blush'. One explanation for the name is because of the beautiful sunsets seen from the Island. Another possible explanation is the name is derived from Te Ura-Te Raki-tamou 'the blush of Te Raki Tamou, in reference to a story of the shame of a Maori chief who went to the island to court a woman and subsequently found out she had a husband.

Common Name(s)

Stewart Island forget-me-not

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, Sp

Authority

Myosotis rakiura L.B.Moore

Family

Boraginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MYORAK

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Myosotis capitata Hook.f. var. albiflora J.B.Armst.; Myosotis capitata Hook.f. subsp. albida Kirk; Myosotis albida (Kirk) Cheeseman nom. illegit. (non Myosotis albida Kunth)

Distribution

Endemic. South (coasts of east and south Southland), Stewart and Snares Islands (also islands of Foveaux Strait including Solander Island).

Habitat

Coastal in open to partially shaded sites on rocks, cliff faces, in sand flats and in coastal turf bordering streams

Features

Stout, tufted somewhat fleshy-succulent perennial herb. Rosette-leaves oblong-spathulate, up to 200 × 20 mm, tips rounded and obtuse, margins ± revolute, lamina gradually narrowed into broad. flat, somewhat succulent petiole, this usually less than lamina-length; hairs short, silky and spreading, very crowded, those on undersurface retrorse except near leaf-tip. Lateral branches few to many, ascending to erect, rather stout, up to 450 mm long, sometimes branched, internodes mostly equal to or less than leaf-length. Stem-leaves many, c.20-40 × 10-14 mm, ± oblong and obtuse; hairs like those of rosette-leaves but retrorse on undersurface only near base of lowermost leaves. Cymes ebracteate and usually several times branched, many-flowered, reaching 40 mm long in fruit; internodes and pedicels very short. Calyx 4-5 mm long, lobes cut to greater than half calyx length, rather broad, obtuse; hairs copious, rather short, flexuous, towards base irregularly hooked or sometimes retrorse. Corolla white, c.6-8 mm diameter, tube 3-5 mm long, cylindric, lobes spreading, c.2.5 × 2.5 mm, broadly oblong; filaments fixed just below scales, short but greater than anthers in length; anthers 1 mm long, broad, wholly above scales; style slightly longer than calyx in fruit, stigma capitate. Nutlet 1.7-2.1 × 1,1-1.4 mm, ovate, ovate-elliptic to broadly ovate, black.

Similar Taxa

Myosotis rakiura is easily recognised by the combination of having stamens whose filaments are about the same length as the anthers, rosette-leaves which are broader than the stem leaves, an abundance of retrorse hairs on the leaf undersides, otherwise with hairs flexuous rather than straight, and not smoothly appressed. These features place it close to M. macrantha from which it differs by its ecological restriction to coastal rather than alpine habitats, much branched inflorescences; white flowers with a short tube, and calyces 4-5 mm rather than 6-9 mm long in fruiting material.

Flowering

November - January

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

January - February

Propagation Technique

An attractive and easily grown native forget-me-not. It grows well in a moist but free draining soil. While it can tolerate full sun it does best in semi-shade. Fresh seed germinates readily, and plants once established, freely set seed, producing numerous seedlings. However, in humid climates plants are prone to powdery mildew infections, and like many other indigenous forget-me-nots plants are prone rust infections, which make the leaves swollen and unsightly.

Threats

Not threatened. Myosotis rakiura is a widespread and at times locally common species on Stewart Island, it is however scarce in its South Island habitats. This species is listed only because it naturally occupies a small geographic area. As far as is known there are no serious threats affecting this species.

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 17 Apr 2014