Archidium elatum
Common name
Moss
Synonyms
None
Family
Archidiaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Current conservation status
- Conservation status of New Zealand mosses, 2014 (PDF, 583.87 kB)
The conservation status of 109 New Zealand moss taxa was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Four taxa and one undescribed entity that were not included in previous assessments have been added to the list. The conservation status of only two taxa has changed in this assessment. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for mosses. Authors: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Allan J. Fife, Jessica E. Beever, Patrick J. Brownsey and Rodney A. Hitchmough.
- Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2014 (PDF, 695.44 kB)
The conservation status of the New Zealand hornwort and liverwort flora is reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for New Zealand hornworts and liverworts which previously had been part of a generic bryophyte conservation status assessment that included mosses. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, David Glenny, John Braggins, Matt Renner, Matt von Konrat, John Engel, Catherine Reeb and Jeremy Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: DP, Sp, ?TO
Previous conservation status
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered
Distribution
Endemic to New Zealand, known from three sites in the North Island (Ahipara, Bay of Islands and Lake Rotomahana) and from one site on the main Chatham (Rekohu) Island (Otauwae Point).
Detailed description
Dark brown-green or yellow-brown tufted moss. Individual plants 7-15 mm tall, stems simple or weakly branched, stem leaves 0.7-1 x 0.25-0.30 mm erecto-patent, spreading, occasionally reduced to bracts below. Plants sterile, archegonia present, antheridia unknown; perichaetium terminal, perichaetial leaves erect to erecto-patent, channelled, 1.3-1.5 x 0.30-0.35 mm, narrowly deltoid, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, base ovate, apex acute to broadly acuminate, margins plane or recurved, entire, occasionally serrulate; costa broad, flattened, 88 micrometre (69–115 micrometre) wide in median section, filling 1/3 or more of leaf base, subpercurrent to percurrent; median cells firm-walled, varying in shape from quadrate, trapezoidal to tabular or narrowly rhomboidal; mostly tabular to rhomboidal 20-50 x 9-12 micometre, upper cells mostly rhomboidal, reaching 50-70 micrometre along margins, alar and basal cells uniformly quadrate to short-tabular, smaller than median cells, 14-28 x 9-14 micrometre.
Fruiting
Capsules unknown in this species
Threats
Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum Chiov.) has been identified as a threat and possible cause of extinction at one site. The possibility that A. elatum has been overlooked over large parts of its range must be considered highly likely.
Substrate
Basalt rock (at three sites), rhyolitic rock and associated tephra at the fourth site
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange August 2007. Description based on Sainsbury (1955).
References and further reading
Sainsbury, G.O.K. 1955: A Handbook of the New Zealand mosses. Royal Society of New Zealand Bulletin 5: 1-490.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Archidium elatum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/archidium-elatum/ (Date website was queried)