The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Myosotis uniflora

Etymology

Myosotis: mouse-eared
uniflora: single-flowered

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, Sp

Authority

Myosotis uniflora Hook.f.

Family

Boraginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MYOUNI

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. South Island. Eastern from Canterbury to Central Otago

Habitat

Montane to subalpine. Favouring Stony and shingle river beds, flats and conslidated moraines.

Features

Much-branched tufted perennial herb arising from a long stout central woody taproot. Plants forming compact rounded cushion up to 100 mm diameter. Stems 10-50 mm long, c.5 mm diameter, crowded, ± erect, closely covered with imbricating leaves. Leaves c.5 mm long; base 1.5 mm. wide, membranous, sheathing, fringed with long hairs; lamina narrower, triangular to subulate, ± concave, apex subacute; hairs stiff, appressed, ± overlapping. Flowering branchlets short, not projecting above cushion, their leaves lacking the broad base but otherwise similar to lower leaves. Calyx c.3 mm long, lobes c. 1/2 length, rather broad, subacute, glabrous within, the whole calyx covered outside with uniform stiff appressed overlapping hairs. Corolla yellow fading to white with age, 4-5 mm diameter, tube 5 mm long, long-cylindric, lobes c.2 × 2 mm, rotund, flat; filaments short, anthers 1.5 mm long, tips protruding just above rather large scales; style 2-3× calyx, stigma capitate. Nutlets dark, up to 2.0 × 1.5 mm.

Similar Taxa

A very distinct species unlikely to be confused with any other Myosotis, and unique in its preference for stony river beds. In the field this species is easily recognised by the dark green cushions it forms by the closely packed stems and narrow leaves and when flowering by the conspicuous yellow flowers.

Flowering

September to November

Flower Colours

White,Yellow

Fruiting

November to January

Propagation Technique

Difficult - should not be removed from the wild. This species can be grown in an alpine house but it is difficult to maintain.

Threats

Although currently regarded as Not Threatened Myosotis uniflora is an uncommon, mostly sparsely distributed species occupying habitats that are becoming increasingly vulnerable to weed invasion, or use for viticulture. If these trends continue then it is likely that Myosotis uniflora will eventually be listed at some of level of threat

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 17 Apr 2014