Species

Geranium microphyllum

Etymology

Geranium: From the Greek geranos 'crane', the fruit of the plant resembling the head and beak of this bird, hence the common name cranesbill.
microphyllum: small leaf

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 - RR

Authority

Geranium microphyllum Hook.f.

Family

Geraniaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

GERMIC

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None.

Distribution

Endemic to the Auckland and Campbell Islands.

Habitat

A species of sub Antarctic herbfields and turfs.

Features

Perennial herb arising from a stout, thick somewhat woody taproot. All parts covered in soft backward or forward projecting appressed hairs. Stems slender, prostrate, with few to many branches. Basal leaves not persistent for duration of growing season, Leaf stalks (petioles) up to 17 cm long, leaf 4 cm diameter, kidney-shaped to circular or broadly ovate, deeply lobed, almost to midrib, sometimes more shallowly divided. Lobes 3-5, narrow to broadly obovate or oblong, apex rounded or shortly spine-tipped (mucronate). Stem leaves smaller, with fewer lobes. Flower stalks (peduncles) 1-6(-9) cm long. Flowers 1-2. Sepals 3-5(-6) × 0.8-2(-2.5) mm, lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, purple or with a purple marginal line. Petals white, (4-)6(-9) × 2.5-4.5 mm, broadly obovate. Seed 1.5-1.9 mm long, oblong.

Similar Taxa

Geranium microphyllum s.s. is the only Geranium species found on the sub Antarctic islands, so it is unlikely to be confused with any other species in the field. Other mainland plants referred to this species are believed to be examples of one or more distinct, and possibly unnamed species (B.P.J. Molloy pers. comm.).

Flowering

October - February

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

No information available

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from seed. Plants are short-lived but readily set seed.

Threats

Geranium microphyllum s.s. is only known from the sub Antarctic islands. It is rarely collected.

Chromosome No.

2n = 52-56

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seed dispersed by wind, ballistic projection and possibly attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

References and further reading

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

This page last updated on 27 Sep 2014