Erpodium glaucum
Common name
Moss
Synonyms
Aulacopilum glaucum Wilson
Family
Erpodiaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
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 Critical | Qualifiers: DP, TO
Previous conservation status
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Brief description
A minute moss distinguished by the blue-grey to grey-colour when fresh, acuminate to acute leaves which lack a nerve and by the distinctive sporophytes which (when present) are covered by a long sheathing calyptra
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island (Te Paki (Unuwhao Bush), Tuhua (Mayor Island), East Cape (Raukokore River)). Also Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka
Habitat
Corticolous on the bark of trees such as puriri (Vitex lucens) and on the leaves of taraire (Beilschmiedia tarairi). Usually associated with other small foliose liverworts such as Frullania and Lejeunea spp.
Detailed description
Corticolous, minute, pale glaucous-green, slender moss. Stems up to 10 mm long, densely matted together, soft and fragile. sparingly radiculose, irregularly or pinnate branched. Leaves c.0.5 mm long, appressed when dry, spreading when moist, the lateral leaves asymmetrical, ovate, acute or acuminate, the ventral leaves symmetrical, distinctly narrowly acuminate; lamina usually with a hyaline apiculus or short mucro, margins plane and entire. Nerve lacking. Cells throughout 12-13 microns long, rounded-hexagonal, thin-walled, multipapillose on both faces. Upper perichaetial bracts much longer than the foliage leaves, sheathing, ovate-acuminate, with longer rhomboid-hexagonal cells. Seta 0.7-0.8 mm long. Capsule up to 0.5 mm long, erect, symmetrical, ovate-globose, mouth truncate. Peristome lacking. Calyptra very long, covering the capsule and the upper part of the seta, plicate, split and twisted.
Fruiting
Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting
Threats
Known from very few collections. Highly threatened by habitat loss. Vulnerable to plant collectors.
Substrate
Corticolous on bark in coastal forest
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 29 August 2011. Description adapted from 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.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Erpodium glaucum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/erpodium-glaucum/ (Date website was queried)