The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Euchiton polylepis

Etymology

Euchiton: From the Greek eu (good) and chiton (tunic or covering)
polylepis: with many scales

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 - Data Deficient

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, PD, Sp

Authority

Euchiton polylepis (D.G.Drury) Breitw. et J.M.Ward

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

EUCPOL

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

Gnaphalium paludosum var. polylepis Drury, Gnaphalium polylepis (Drury) C.Webb

Distribution

Endemic to New Zealand. Mostly montane in the North Island (Central Volcanic Plateau and Mt Taranaki/Egmont) and on coast of North Island near Manaia, Whanganui and eastern Wairarapa; throughout the South Island, though seemingly rare in Westland.

Habitat

Lowland to subalpine in damp places, especially stream sides and damp hollows in grassland, cliffs and rocky laces.

Features

Stoloniferous, perennial daisy. Stems 1-2, ascending, 1-6 cm tall. Leaves mostly basal, these elliptic to narrow-obovate, apex often rounded to acute with a small sharp projecting tip (mucronate), 5-15 (-30) × (1-)4(-5) mm, densely white-tomentose on the under sides except the mid vein, upper sides olive green to grey-green usually hairless. Upper stem leaves 1-3(-5), scale-like, ovate-triangular, almost clasping around stem (amplexicaul). Flower heads (capitula) 1-2 mm diameter, solitary, buried amongst foliage when flowering, exceeding leaves when fruiting. Involucral bracts elliptic-oblong, obtuse, 3.2-4(-4.5) mm long, central portion green, apex often tinged reddish-purple at apex, margins pale to mid-brown, with darker markings at base. Achenes (seeds) 0.7-1 mm, sparsely papillate (with round projections).

Similar Taxa

Morphologically E. polylepis is only likely to be confused with E. paludosus. That species differs from E. polylepis by its usually folded, moderately tomentose upper leaf surfaces. The leaves are 0.5-2(-5) mm broad and are not mucronate. In E. paludosus the involucral bracts are 3.2-4(-4.5) mm long, and perfect flowers number 1-3(-5) rather than the (2-)4(-7) seen in E. polylepis. The two species are often sympatric but E. polylepis is the only one known to also grow in lowland habitats.

Flowering

November - February

Fruiting

December to April

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from seed and rooted pieces of stem.

Threats

Described by Drury (1972), and believed to be uncommon. Although it would seem unlikely to be seriously threatened the exact status of this species, perhaps because it is so small and easily over-looked, is uncertain and it would be vulnerable to competition from taller weeds.

Chromosome No.

2n = 28

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 1 Nov 2019