Blindia lewinskyae
Common name
Moss
Synonyms
None (first described in 1986)
Family
Seligeriaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Mosses
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 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation status
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, Westland where it is mainly found from Westport south to the Paparoa National Park
Detailed description
Autoicous moss up to 200 mm long, olive-green to black, with yellow-green to dark-green stem tips, forming dense, soft, flexuose tufts. Stems with outer cells thick-walled. leaves flexuose-secund when dry, similar when moist, 9.0-15.0 mm long, from an oblong-lanceolate base quickly narrowed to a flexuose, filiform subula, acute, lamina c.3 mm long, about 1/4 to 1/6 the subula length; margins entire. Nerve 60-120 x 6-10 microns, linear to elongate, walls 2-3 microns thick, thin-walled, those near nerve orange, more or less thick-walled, somewhat porose and straight. Alar cells 30-70 x 10-20 microns, somewhat larger than basal cells, gradually differentiated and forming a decurrent, thin-walled group, rectangular, some leaves with hyaline and more or less inflated cells. perichaetial leaves from a wide, ovate base quickly contracted to a long subula c.6-8x lamina length, concave, sheathing. Seta 4.0-7.0 mm long, rigid stout, straight (not twisted), erect. Capsules with urns 0.7-1.2 x 0.7-1.0 mm, exserted. Exothecial cells near mid urn 20-40 x 20-30 microns, irregularly rectangular to quadrate-rounded, moderately thick-walled, pachydermous, becoming smaller distally, rim cells elliptic to rounded, thinner-walled. Stomates not seen. Peristome reduced to a few, hyaline, rectangular cells. Operculum conic, stoutly rostrate, beak long, more or less bent. Spores 28-44 microns.
Fruiting
Fruits may be found throughout the year
Threats
Not Threatened. Listed because it is a naturally uncommon, range restricted species. However, some populations on the Stockton Plateau are at risk from coal mining
Substrate
Mostly saxicolous on rocks in streams and rivers. A Semi-aquatic growing in flood zone of shaded streams, and rivers, often down stream of large rocks or partially submerged boulders.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 30 September 2007. Description adapted from Bartlett & Vitt (1986).
References and further reading
Bartlett,J.K.; Vitt, D. H. 1986: A survey of the species in the genus Blindia (Bryopsida, Seligeriaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 24: 203-246.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Blindia lewinskyae Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/blindia-lewinskyae/ (Date website was queried)