The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Epilobium pictum

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

grassland willow herb

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

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 - Threatened - Nationally Endangered
2004 - Data Deficient

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, Sp
2009 - DP, Sp

Authority

Epilobium pictum Petrie

Family

Onagraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

EPIPIC

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Epilobium haloragifolium sensu Kirk

Distribution

Endemic to the eastern side of the South Island of New Zealand.

Habitat

An uncommon, sparsely distributed species of bush margins and tussock grassland. Usually found near rock overhangs, or in semi-shaded sites.

Features

Gracile, perennial herb up to 400 × 400 mm. Stems numerous, arising from a open, loosely rhizomatous root crown; stems up to 400 mm long, densely invested in ± appressed hairs, with the hairs of the inflorescence grey-strigulose. Leaves opposite, except near inflorescence where alternate, upper surface grey-green or light green with darker bluish green to dark green mottling, undersides usually reddish, petiole, leaf margins and undersides strigulose, 8.0-22.0 × 2.5-6.0 mm, narrow elliptic to elliptic, base narrowly cuneate, apex acute, margins coarsely serrate, teeth 3-6 on each side; lateral veins 2-4 each side of midrib, inconspicuous,. Inflorescence drooping bud. Flowers erect up to 9 mm diameter. Pedicel 0-3 mm long. Ovaries 7-10 mm long, grey-pubescent. Sepals not keeled, 1.8-2.3 × 0.9-1.1 mm, grey-pubescent or glabrate. Floral tube 0.6-0.9 mm deep. 1.6-1.8 mm diameter at apex, internally bearing a conspicuous ring of long white hairs. Petals white, 2.8-4.5 × 1.5-3.4 mm wide, notched, notch 0.6-0.9 mm deep. Stamens 8, of two lengths, 4 longer (1.7-2.1 mm) and 4 shorter (1.0-1.3 mm); anthers 0.5-0.7 × 0.4-0.5 mm, yellow. Style 1.2-2.0 mm long, white; stigma clavate, 1.0-1.9 × 0.4-0.5 mm. Capsules on pedicels 0.2-7.0 mm long; narrowly cylindric, 20-25 mm long, grey-pubescent. Seeds 0.9-1.1 × 0.3-0.4 mm, brown, obovoid, papillose; coma easily detached, 5-8 mm long, white.

Similar Taxa

Easily distinguished from other willow herbs by the loosely rhizomatous, spreading growth habit, finely, densely pubescent stems, petioles, leaf margins and undersides, light green, distinctly mottled with dark green leaves, and flowers which are nodding in bud, erect when open.

Flowering

December - April

Flower Colours

White,Yellow

Fruiting

January to July

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from seed and rooted pieces of stem.

Threats

Evidently a naturally uncommon, sparsely distributed species which is now threatened at most sites by habitat loss and competition from weeds. Recent surveys suggest it has gone extinct at many sites where it had been recorded 20-30 years ago.

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

Yes

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 22 Sep 2014