The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Myosotis glauca

Etymology

Myosotis: mouse-eared
glauca: Bloom has thin powder

Common Name(s)

None known

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable

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 Vulnerable
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Endangered

Qualifiers

2012 - De, DP, Sp
2009 - De, DP, SP

Authority

Myosotis glauca (G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson)de Lange et Barkla

Family

Boraginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Myosotis pygmaea var. glauca G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson

Distribution

Endemic, North and South Islands. In the North Island known from one site in the southern Kaimanawa Range. In the South Island known from widely scattered sites from Canterbury, Central Otago and northern Southland.

Habitat

Open, dry sandy, gravelly ground or clay pans. Often in wind ablated scrapes, and shows a marked preference for base rich substrates. Usually found growing in small patches often in the vicinity of scabweeds. It has also been found growing admist Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Hook.f.) Endl. mats.

Features

Decumbent, biennial or perennial herb, forming small, circular patches on open ground. Rosette rather open, sparsely leafy. Petiole broad 5(-10) mm long. Leaves 10-30 x 5-8 mm, glaucous green or grey, obovate to spathulate, apex obtuse or rounded, rarely subacute, base narrowly cuneate to attenuate; upper surface clad in short, stiff, sparse tightly appressed hairs. Lateral branches few, decumbent, 50-100 mm long, extending well beyond rosette leaves, rather openly branching, internodes 10-15 mm long. Stem leaves similar to rosette-leaves. Bracts up to 8 x 6 mm, rather leafy, obovate. Inflorescences cymose, cymes simple, few- to many-flowered, subtended by leafy bracts throughout, internodes < bracts, often rather short. Pedicels 1.5-2 mm long. Calyx 3-5 mm long, elongating to 4-8 mm long in fruiting material, lobes deeply cut to half calyx length, lobes subacute, hairs few, confined in lines to margins and on vertical lines of calyx, very short, stiff and coarse. Flowers white. Corolla 3 mm diameter, corolla tube cylindric 0.4-0.6 mm, lobes very narrow, apex obtuse; stamens on short filaments, anthers 0.5-0.8 mm, wholly included within corolla tube, anther tips obscured, rarely reaching scales; style 0.1-0.3, stigma capitate. Nutlets 1.2-1.5 x (0.8-)1-1.2 mm, brown-black to grey-black, broadly ovate.

Similar Taxa

Myosotis glauca is allied to M. brevis, M. drucei and M. pygmaea. From these species M. glauca can be distinguished by the biennial to perennial habit, glaucous-green to grey leaf colour, the sparse, erect, stiff and short calyx hairs, and by the very broadly ovate nutlets (seeds).

Flowering

(August-) September to December (however sporadic flowering may occur throughout the year)

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

September to January (however fruits may be found throughout the year)

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed but short-lived and difficult to maintain for any length of time. Dislikes humidity.

Threats

Seriously threatened by weed invasion of the dry, open sites it requires.

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 16 Apr 2014