Plagiochila fragmentisima
Common name
Liverwort
Synonyms
None (first described in 1971)
Family
Plagiochilaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Liverworts
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 | Data Deficient
Previous conservation status
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: Fiordland National Park.
Habitat
Corticolous on the bark of beech (Nothofagus spp.) and rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) where it has been recorded growing in association with Cuspidatula monodon.
Detailed description
Plants yellowish-white to pallid whitish-green above, more or less tawny or yellowish-brown, medium or large in size, rigid, erect, shoot-apices subhamate, or more or less coiled 20-60 x 2.0-3.4 mm, basal 2/3 of shoot almost denuded because of caducous and fragmenting leaves; shoot arising from rhizomatous, creeping, ramified caulid. Stem pale above, deep brown below, c.500 microns thick, 17-19 cells in cross-section. Branches irregular, infrequent or few, plants mostly subsimple but subfloral innovations frequent, vegetative branches always lateral-intercalary in origin, arising from lateral leaf axils. Leaves closely imbricate, freely fragmenting, brittle, often all leaves except for basal and subbasal portions and near shoot apex, fragmented or dropped, resulting in denuded stem; leaves strongly revolute, recurved along dorsal margin, more or less laterally appressed when immature (near shoot apex), before fragmentation subtriangularly ovate-oblong, 1.5-2.0 x 1.7-2.1 mm, immature leaves strongly ampliate at the ventral base, apex narrowly rounded or nearly truncate, dorsal margin more or less arched, long decurrent at base, strongly deflexed-revolute; margin entire or with several (2-5) small teeth on ventral side, especially near gynoecia. Underleaves absent. Rhizoids frequent on lower rhizomatous portion. Male plants not seen. Female inflorescences more or less laterally compressed, terminal on leading stem, often with 1-2 innovations; bracts erect-appressed, similar to subinvolucral leaves in size and shape, dorsal margin strongly revolute and decurved, inflated at base, with many remote, small marginal, apical and ventral teeth; perianth cyathiform, c.3.5 x 3.0 mm with distinct, more or less wide or narrow wing on dorsal keel, mouth wide, bilabiate to truncate or slightly arched, entire or with a few weak teeth.
Fruiting
Fruiting period unknown
Threats
Listed as Data Deficient as it is only known from a few gatherings from coastal forest in Fiordland National Park. The bryophyte flora of this huge, mountainous national park is still very poorly known, and it is difficult to see how this species could actually be threatened. Further survey is needed.
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 3 January 2009.