Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gratiola pedunculata R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 435 (1810)
Description
Erect, sparingly branched, semi-aquatic, perennial herb up to 45 cm tall; all parts except corolla densely covered with a viscid, glabrescent, often mealy, indumentum of sessile, golden, globose glands, and sparse glandular hairs; indumentum most conspicuous on leaves, bracteoles, sepals, and pedicels. Stems lime-green or red-purple, submerged parts rooting freely. Leaves sessile, triple-nerved, 8–18 × 3–10 mm, lime-green, ovate to lanceolate; margins widely toothed, leaf base amplexicaule. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, sweetly scented. Pedicels 10–12(–16) mm long, 1–2 per leaf axil. Bracteoles 1–2(–3) mm long, linear-falcate. Sepals 5, free, erect, narrowly lanceolate, 4–5 mm long. Corolla white flushed yellow, with 12–14 longitudinal purple stripes; tube 6 mm long, narrow, inner surface densely covered in white silky hairs; lobes 5, projecting forward, 1 mm long, upper one occasionally shallowly 2-lobed. Anthers white, ovoid, 0.5 mm long; pollen mealy, white; filaments yellow, glabrous, 2–3 mm long; staminodes 2 or 0, when present filiform and minute. Style caducous, 1.8–2.1 mm long. Capsule 3-5 mm long, broadovoid, often slightly exceeding the calyx, septicidal to base. Seeds 0.3–0.5 mm long, usually elliptic or elliptic-oblong with rounded ends; testa dull, orangebrown; reticulations distinct, deep and with slightly thickened walls, these mucilaginous when fresh. FL Nov–Jan, FT Dec–Mar.
[Reproduced from de Lange (1997, New Zealand J. Bot. 35: 317-322) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
de Lange, P.J. 1997: Gratiola pedunculata (Scrophulariaceae): a new addition to the New Zealand flora. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(3): 317–322.
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. [Coloniser]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Coloniser]
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. [Coloniser]
