Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gentianella chathamica (Cheeseman) T.N.Ho & S.W.Liu, 23: 62 (1993)
Synonymy:
  • Gentiana chathamica Cheeseman, Man. New Zealand Fl. 449 (1906)
  • Chionogentias chathamica (Cheeseman) L.G.Adams, Austral. Syst. Bot. 8: 976 (1995)
 Description

Plants monocarpic, probably biennial, height in flower (25–)90–240(–300) mm. Caudex unbranched, stolons absent. Root 0.7–3.3 mm diam. at stem base. Flowering stems terminal only or terminal and lateral, 1–5(–9) per plant, largest flowering stem 2.1–2.3 mm diam. at base, 0.9–3.4 mm diam. when dry, stems tinted crimson, lateral flowering stems erect, flowering stem leaves 1–3 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near base of flowering stem. Rosette of leaves distinct to not very distinct from flowering stem leaves; leaves ovate, elliptic or orbicular, 21–44 mm long, 4.8–15.2 mm wide, tinted crimson above and below, flat or V-shaped, not recurved, apex acute or rounded; petiole indistinct to distinct, 3–20 mm long, 0.6–3.0 mm wide. Flowering stem leaves ovate, sessile. Pedicels 1 per leaf axil, 3.5–20 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., 0.37–0.70 mm diam. when dry. Flowers 5–50(–70) per plant, 6.0–12.0 mm long. Calyx 5.8–7.9 mm long, green, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line present; lobes 4.2–6.1 mm long, 1.0–2.3 mm wide at base, plane, apices acute or obtuse, margins smooth, sinus hairs absent or sparse. Corolla 7.0–11.8 mm long, white or coloured, veins coloured or uncoloured; tube 2.0–3.2 mm long; lobes 5.0–8.6 mm long, 2.1–5.2 mm wide, hairs below sinus absent or present; nectary 0.2–1.2 mm from corolla base. Filaments 3.9–6.6 mm long from corolla base, 0.3– 0.7 mm wide. Anthers 0.5–1.4 mm long, anther wall purple-red to purple-black, mouth yellow or orangered, introrse or extrorse at anthesis; pollen yellow to pale orange. Female flowers absent. Stigma colourless or purple. Ovules 13–60 per ovary. Capsule 6.5–12.5 mm long.

[Reproduced from Glenny (2004, New Zealand J. Bot. 42: 361-530) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Number of subspecific taxa in New Zealand within Gentianella chathamica (Cheeseman) T.N.Ho & S.W.Liu
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)2
Total2
 Bibliography
Adams, L.G. 1995: Chionogentias (Gentianaceae) a new generic name for the Australasian 'snow-gentians' and a revision of the Australian species. Australian Systematic Botany 8: 935–1011.
Cheeseman, T.F. 1906: Manual of the New Zealand Flora. Government Printer, Wellington.
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. [as Gentiana chathamica Cheeseman]
Glenny, D. 2004: A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(3): 361–530.
Ho, T.N.; Liu, W. 1993: New combinations, names and taxonomic notes on Gentianella (Gentianaceae) from South America and New Zealand. Bull. Nat. Hist.Mus.Lond.(Bot.) 23: 61–65.