The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Epilobium gunnianum

Etymology

Epilobium: From the Greek epi- 'upon' and lobos 'a pod', the flowers appearing to be growing on the seed pod.

Common Name(s)

Gunns willowherb

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Non Resident Native - Vagrant

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 - Non Resident Native - Vagrant
2004 - Non Resident Native - Coloniser

Qualifiers

2012 - SO
2009 - SO

Authority

Epilobium gunnianum Hausskn.

Family

Onagraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Epilobium diversifolium Hausskn., Epilobium erosum Hausskn.

Distribution

Indigenous. In New Zealand known only from the South Island at Maungarakau Swamp, north-west Nelson, and from swamps near Wesport and Cape Foulwind. Also in Australia where it is common from southeastern Queensland south to Victoria and Tasmania.

Habitat

Coastal or lowland (0-30 m a.s.l.), where it inhabits moderately fertile to mesic wetlands dominated by raupo (Typha orientalis C.Presl), sedges and sphagnum moss.

Features

Erect perennial herb forming bushy masses up to 0.8 m tall. Plants often heavily branched right from base, with the basal stock producing numerous leafy stolons. Stems completely covered in strigose hairs, with elevated lines decurrent from the petiole margins, especially within the inflorescence. Petiole 1-3 mm long. Leaves initially opposite becoming subalternate and then alternmate within the inflorescence; glabrescent to glabrous with midvein, basal margins usually finely strigulose; rarely leaves completely strigulose hairy; lamina 10-60 x 2-20 mm, dull green to grey-green or bright green, narrowly elliptic or elliptic, rarely lanceolate or narrowly ovate, apex obtuse to subacute, base subcordate to acute; lamina margins usually undulating, serrulate or erose-denticulate with up to 40 teeth; lateral veins prominent, usually 4-6 on each side of midrib. Inflorescence and flowers erect.

Similar Taxa

Best distinguished from other wetland inhabiting epilobia by the seeds which have a distinct pale rim - unique to this species in New Zealand. it could be confused with E. pallidiflorum A.Cunn., but that species has narrower lanceolate leaves and more usually white rather than pink flowers, and the seeds are without rims.

Flowering

December - March

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,Violet / Purple

Fruiting

January - April

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and rooted pieces. Inclined to become invasive.

Threats

Unknown. First recorded from New Zealand in 1976 based on gatherings made as early as 1953. Its exact status is not clear though it has been confirmed as present in the Maungarakau Swamp at least as recently as 2000. In the Westport area many of the swamps it was recorded from have been destroyed but it was also found growing in drainage ditches, drains and channels near Cape Foulwind. It probably survives in that area and has simply been overlooked. It is not a big plant and being a somewhat weedy species it is easily overlooked or mistaken for a naturalised Epilobium. Abundant in Australia.

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Minute pappate seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 14 Sep 2014