Class
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Colobanthus brevisepalus Kirk, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 27: 357 (1895)
Description
Plant forming hard tight rigid cushion, often hemispherical, up to 8 cm. across, with many short stiff tightly-packed branches closely covered with lvs. Lvs firm, densely imbricated, incurved towards stem; sheath as long as blade but ± hidden; blade subulate, rounded on back, 2–3 mm. long, bluntly contracted into a distinct, us. long, acicular tip; neither border nor midrib evident. Peduncles short. Fls 3 mm. long; sepals 5, ± ovate, broader than lvs, with thickened midrib, ending in short acicular tip; capsule splitting barely to middle, = or > sepals when mature.
[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Phenology
Flowering: Oct.–Nov.; Fruiting: Dec.–Jan.
Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Declining]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Naturally Uncommon]
Kirk, T. 1895: A Revision of the New Zealand Species of Colobanthus, Bartling. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 27: 354–359.
