Species

Centrolepis pallida

Etymology

Centrolepis: pointed scale
pallida: From the Latin pallidus 'pale or pallid'

Common Name(s)

Centrolepis

Threat Status

Non Threatened

Status 2004

Non Threatened

Authority

Centrolepis pallida (Hook.f.) Cheeseman

Family

Centrolepidaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Synonyms

Gaimardia pallida Hook.f.; Alepyrum pallidum (Hook.f.) Hook.f.; Pseudalepyrum pallidum (Hook.f.) Dandy

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: North (Central Volcanic Plateau, and Ruahine Range), South (Otago, Southland and Fiordland), Auckland and Campbell Islands

Habitat

Montane to alpine in bogs descending to near sea level in the subantarctic islands.

Features

Dense, pale or bright green, moss-like cushions. Roots comparatively thick, but < 0.5 mm diameter Stems 15–40 mm long. Leaves 6–9 mm long, < 0.5 mm. wide, distichous, equitant at the base, closely imbricate up the stem, lamina stiff, erect, glabrous, subulate, laterally compressed or occasionally channelled, narrowed to an acute or occasionally shortly acicular tip; leaf-sheaths c.½ length of lamina, very pale cream, membranous, without ligule or auricles. Flowering stems about equal leaves in length. Floral bracts 2, ± opposite, unequal in length, the lower larger. Pseudanthia, 1 in each floral bract, or 1 bract without pseudanthium; male 1 only, in the lowermost pseudanthium, at maturity the filament elongated excessively and the anther far exserted; female 1–3(-4) in each pseudanthium; hyaline scales 0. Seed ± 0.5 mm long, oblong-obovate, apiculate at one end.

Similar Taxa

Recognised by the pale or bright green, moss-like, cushion forming, perennial rather than annual growth habit and pale or bright green, densely imbricating glabrous leaves.

Flowering

December – January

Fruiting

January - March

Propagation Technique

Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

Not Threatened

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No


Where To Buy: Not commercially available

References

Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.

Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 14 August 2006. Description adapted from Moore & Edgar (1970)



This page last updated on 7 Sep 2011