Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Gentianales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Gentianaceae
Genus
Gentianella Moench
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gentianella calcis subsp. taiko Glenny & Molloy, New Zealand J. Bot. 42: 472 (2004)
Etymology:
The epithet taiko refers to the type locality (Limestone Valley Road), and indeed the distribution of this rare subspecies (Canterbury: Limestone escarpment to the east of Limestone Valley Road near Taiko).
 Description

Plants not bushy, height in flower c. 50 mm. Flowering stems 1–5 per plant, 19–41 mm long; largest flowering stem 1.1–1.4 mm diam. at base, 0.60–1.4 mm diam. when dry, purple-black, leaves 5–7 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near base of flowering stem. Rosette leaves narrowly elliptic, 42–75 mm long, 4.4–7.8(–8.8) mm wide, green, slightly V-shaped, slightly recurved, apex acute to rounded; margins minutely denticulate; petiole distinct, 15–18(–50) mm long, 0.8–2.1 mm wide at leaf base. Flowering stem leaves recurved. Pedicels 1 per leaf axil, 27 mm long, 0.9 mm diam., 0.5–0.6 mm diam. when dry. Flowers 28–65 per plant, 1–18 per flowering stem, 16–18 mm long. Calyx 6.8– 9.8 mm long, green tinted purple-black; lobes 4.5– 7.2 mm long, 1.3–1.8 mm wide at base, strongly recurved, apices acute, margins minutely denticulate, sinus hairs 1–3 per sinus. Corolla (11.7–)14.6–19.0 mm long, veins colourless; tube (3.6–)4.2–4.7 mm long; lobes (7.8–)9.2–14.3 mm long, (3.6–)4.8–6.9 mm wide, usually toothed, hairs below sinus present, straight; nectary 0.8–2.2 mm from corolla base, Vshaped to pocket-like with a distinct smooth-margined flap. Filaments (6.5–)7.3–9.4 mm long from corolla base, 0.40–0.65 mm wide. Anthers 1.5–2.2 mm long. Ovules 14–24 per ovary. Capsule 13.0–16.5 mm long. Seeds 1.1–1.4 × 0.9–1.0 mm. FL Apr–May.

[Reproduced from Glenny (2004, New Zealand J. Bot. 42: 361-530) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Nationally Critical]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Nationally Critical]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Nationally Critical]
Glenny, D. 2004: A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(3): 361–530.