B. P. J. Molloy

Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand

Abstract A reappraisal of the conservation status of the indigenous New Zealand vascular plant flora is presented. The list comprises 792 taxa (34% of New Zealands total indigenous vascular flora) in the following categories: Extinct 4 taxa, Acutely Threatened 122 taxa (comprising 47 taxa Nationally Critical, 54 Nationally Endangered, 21 Nationally Vulnerable), Chronically Threatened 96 taxa (comprising Serious Decline 26 taxa, Gradual Decline 70 taxa), At Risk 499 taxa (comprising Sparse 126 taxa, Range Restricted 373 taxa), Non‐resident Native 26 taxa (comprising Vagrant 16 taxa, Colonist 10 taxa), and Data Deficient 45 taxa. A further 208 plants are listed as Taxonomically Indeterminate, being those which might warrant further conservation attention once their taxonomic status is clarified. A further 31 named taxa and 18 rated as Taxonomically Indeterminate, and previously considered to be threatened and/or uncommon, are removed from this updated listing. A concordance of plant names is provided. The lists presented use a new threat classification system developed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation for sole use within this country. This paper represents the first time the entire known indigenous vascular flora has been assessed from a conservation perspective since the mid 1970s. A brief analysis of the patterns of rarity exhibited by the taxa listed is presented.

Manoao (Podocarpaceae), a new monotypic conifer genus endemic to New Zealand

Abstract The monotypic genus Manoao is erected to accommodate Lagarostrobos colensoi, silver pine, because the character-states of L. colensoi, endemic to New Zealand, and those of Huon pine, L. franklinii, endemic to Tasmania, are so divergent as to warrant treatment as separate genera distinct from Dacrydium and the other segregate genera Halocarpus and Lepidothamnus. As a consequence, Lagarostrobos is redefined to include the type and sole extant species, L. franklinii. The necessary new combination and transfer are made, and names previously assigned to both species are typified.

New species of Poa (Gramineae) and Ischnocarpus (Brassicaceae) from limestone, North Otago, South Island, New Zealand

Abstract Poa spania and Ischnocarpus exilis are described as new. Both are known only from a single limestone tower in karstland in North Otago, and add to the growing list of threatened endemic species found exclusively on calcareous and other base‐rich substrates. Associated indigenous and naturalised vascular plants form a distinct calcicolous group which includes several other unresolved and threatened endemic taxa.

Flavonoid profiles of new zealand Libocedrus and related genera

Abstract Flavonoids common to both Libocedrus bidwillii and L. plumosa , which were sampled throughout New Zealand, are: kaempferol and quercetin 3-rhamnoside, kaempferol and quercetin 3-rhamnoside-7-glucoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, apigenin and luteolin 7-glucoside, luteolin 7-di- (and tri)-glucosides, amentoflavone, 7- O -methylamentoflavone, 2,3-dihydroamentoflavone, and the new flavonoids, 8-hydroxyapigenin and 8-hydroxyluteolin 7- O -xylosides and 7- O -methyl-2,3-dihydroamentoflavone. Libocedrus plumosa is distinguished by the additional accumulation of myricetin 3-rhamnoside, and L. bidwillii by the presence of quercetin 3- O -α-[2- p -hydroxybenzoyl-4- O - p -coumaroylrhamnopyranoside] which was found amongst the biflavones. A chromatographic survey of some related non-New Zealand species and genera is also reported.

Observations on the ecology and conservation of Australopyrum calcis (Triticeae: Gramineae) in New Zealand

Abstract The ecology and conservation of the newly described endemic calcicolous grass Australopyrum calcis are outlined. Of the two infraspecific taxa recognised, subsp. calcis is confined to Marlborough on Mesozoic limestone exposed for at least 2 million years, and subsp. optatum is restricted to Canterbury on Tertiary limestones exposed from about the mid Pleistocene. Limestone colluvium and karst landforms such as tor overhangs are the main contemporary habitats of these grasses, and both taxa grow on sparsely vegetated skeletal rendzinas that are strongly alkaline and high in CaCO3 and available phosphorus. Broad-leaved low forest and “grey scrub” form the dominant natural vegetation of these habitats, and the indigenous flora comprises both wide-ranging species and regional or local endemics. Associated naturalised plants include many species recorded from limestones in Europe. The two subspecies tolerate moderate shade, avoid competition, and seem unpalatable to grazing animals. They appear to hav...

Flavonoid profiles of New Zealand kauri and other species of Agathis

This paper describes the flavonoid constituents in Agathis australis from a wide geographic range and completes a comprehensive survey of the flavonoid chemistry/chemotaxonomy of New Zealand conifers begun in 1984. Flavonol 3-O-glycosides and biflavones of the cupressuflavone and agathisflavone types are shown to be the predominant flavonoids. NMR data for these biflavones with varying degrees of methylation are presented for the first time. The flavonoid profiles of A. australis and three other species of Agathis show a high level of uniformity, and in this respect are closely related.

The characterisation of New Zealand Podocarpus hybrids using flavonoid markers

Abstract New Zealand species of Podocarpus hybridise readily in the wild producing intermediate forms that are often difficult to identify. Flavonoid chemistry, in conjunction with morphological characters and geographical considerations, has proved to be of considerable value in the recognition of these natural hybrids. The parentage of Podocarpus totara var. wathoensis is confirmed, and the predominant parentage of P. totara “Aureus” is shown to be P. acutifolius X P. totara, and of P. totara “Pendulus” to be P acutifolius X P. nivalis. The probable parentage of other naturally occurring hybrids is also presented. The advantages of identifying the flavonoids over comparison of 2D paper chromatographic patterns alone are stressed. Flavonoid pattern variability of P. hallu is now thought to be caused by hybridisation, often with P. totara.

Biology and molecular phylogenetics of Nematoceras sulcatum, a second endemic orchid species from subantarctic Macquarie Island

A second orchid species, Nematoceras sulcatum M.A.Clem. et D.L.Jones, has been found on subantarctic Macquarie Island. A history of its discovery and recognition is provided. The morphology, biology and ecology of the new species are compared with N. dienemum (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones, M.A.Clem. et Molloy, the other species of orchid on Macquarie Island. Molecular studies based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA reveal the phylogenetic relationship of the two Macquarie Island species compared to others in the genus from New Zealand and its Southern Ocean islands.

Evolution of the south-western Pacific genus Melicytus (Violaceae): evidence from DNA sequence data, cytology and sex expression

Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear DNA external transcribed spacer (ETS) and chloroplast DNA trnL–trnF markers were undertaken to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the South Pacific genus Melicytus. Bayesian analyses of the ETS sequence data produced a phylogenetic tree with several well supported groups, including clades comprising: (1) species from Australia, Tasmania and Lord Howe Island; (2) the Norfolk Island M. latifolius and New Zealand off-shore island M. novae-zelandiae subsp. novae-zelandiae; (3) the large-leaved M. ramiflorus complex; (4) M. fasciger and M. micranthus; and (5) M. obovatus and allies from the Cook Strait region. Phylogenetic analysis of trnL–trnF sequence data also retrieved some of these groups although, in general, was not as well resolved. The relationships of M. lanceolatus are equivocal, as in the ETS phylogeny it is sister to a clade comprising the large-leaved tree species M. fasciger and M. ramiflorus complex and the small-leaved M. micranthus, whereas in the trnL–trnF phylogeny it is sister to a clade of small-leaved shrub species such as M. alpinus and M. crassifolius. Several biogeographic patterns are evident, with dispersal to the west from New Zealand, to Australia, involving small-leaved shrub species. Dispersal to the north from New Zealand, to Norfolk Island and Fiji, involves large-leaved tree species. The sex expression is documented for all named species and undescribed entities, with these being either hermaphroditic or dioecious. When sex expression is mapped onto the phylogeny, the hermaphroditic system is inferred to have evolved from the dioecious system. New chromosome counts are presented for M. angustifolius (2n = 64) and M. dentatus (2n = 32), and earlier counts of 2n = 64 are confirmed for M. crassifolius and M. alpinus. An additional 17 counts are provided for two natural hybrids and several undescribed entities from Australia and New Zealand. The polyploid chromosome number of 2n = 64 occurs most frequently in small-leaved divariate plants with hermaphroditic flowers. When chromosome numbers are plotted onto the phylogeny it is inferred that high polyploids (e.g. 2n = 64) and small-leaved shrubs have evolved from large-leaved trees with functional diploid (e.g. 2n = 32) chromosome numbers.

Coprosma pedicellata (Rubiaceae), a new species from New Zealand

Abstract A new, diploid species of Coprosma, C. pedicellata (2n = 44) is described and illustrated. It has a close morphological affinity with the northern New Zealand hexaploid species C. parviflora (2n = 132), which may be an ancient amphidiploid derivative. C. pedicellata is readily identified by its distinctive growth habit, habitat, and pendant pedicellate violet drupes. It is known from a few disjunct localities along the foothills of eastern New Zealand where it is restricted to forest or forest margins, usually on moderately fertile soils with impeded drainage, in overflow and flood channels, and alongside small streams. It shares these cool winter‐wet/warm summer‐dry habitats with a select group of woody species, including other rare small‐leaved divaricate shrubs and dwarf mistletoes. C. pedicellata is considered to be a restricted taxon in need of active conservation management over the greater part of its present natural range.