Class
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Colobanthus muscoides Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. I. (Fl. Antarct.) Part I, 14 (1844)
Description
Plant forming deep cushions up to many cm. across; branches many, us. close, lfy throughout their length, which may reach 5 cm. or more. Adventitious roots ∞ amongst old lf-bases, binding lower parts of cushion into peat-forming mass. Lvs fleshy, closely spaced, ± spreading, sheath membr., pale, large and persisting after blade withers; blade subulate to linear-subulate, 4–10 mm. long, when dry strongly bordered above and round the obtuse tip where also a short length of midrib is thickened. Peduncles us. short, fls 3 mm. long, amongst lvs. Disk obvious, sepals 4, subulate, obtuse and bordered like the lvs; stamens short; capule splitting into 4 narrow lobes longer than sepals when mature.
[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Phenology
Flowering: Dec.–Feb.; Fruiting: Jan.–Feb.
Bibliography
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. [Not Threatened]
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. [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1844–1845: The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. I. Flora Antarctica. Part I. Botany of Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell’s Island. Reeve, Brothers, London.
