Myosotis antarctica

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Myosotis antarctica
Myosotis antarctica 17152570.jpg
Status NZTCS NU.svg
Naturally Uncommon (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Myosotis
Species:
M. antarctica
Binomial name
Myosotis antarctica
Synonyms

Myosotis antarctica is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to mainland New Zealand, Campbell Island and southern Chile. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in his 19th century work Flora Antarctica . Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, and white or blue corollas. It is one of two native species of Myosotis in the New Zealand subantarctic islands, the other being M. capitata, which also has blue corollas.

Contents

Taxonomy and etymology

Myosotis antarctica Hook.f. is in the family Boraginaceae and was described in 1844 by Joseph Dalton Hooker from the New Zealand subantarctic islands. [3] [2] [4] After its original description, others expanded the circumscription of M. antarctica to include plants from mainland New Zealand. In 1961, Lucy Moore's treatment in the Flora of New Zealand circumscribed M. antarctica to include only plants from Campbell Island and Chile. [4]

Since then, common usage of the name M. antarctica has largely followed Moore's treatment, and morphologically similar mainland plants have been referred to as M. drucei, M. pygmaea, M. glauca and M. brevis. [5] These species constitute the "pygmy subgroup" of New Zealand Myosotis, and the latest taxonomic revision of this subgroup from 2022 recognizes three species: M. antarctica (with two subspecies), M. brevis, and M. glauca. [5] [6] In that treatment, M. antarctica has an expanded circumscription to include plants from Campbell Island and Chile, as well as those from mainland New Zealand previously called M. drucei and M. pygmaea, and two subspecies are recognized. [5] [6]

The two subspecies of M. antarctica are M. antarctica subsp. antarctica (previously M. antarctica and M. drucei) and M. antarctica subsp. traillii (previously M. pygmaea). The subspecies are largely allopatric, and can be distinguished from one another based on the hairs on the rosette leaves. [5]

The type specimen of Myosotis antarctica was collected by Joseph Hooker on Campbell Island and is lodged at Kew Herbarium. [7]

The specific epithet, antarctica, derives from its presence on the New Zealand subantarctic islands.

Phylogeny

Myosotisantarctica was shown to be a part of the monophyletic southern hemisphere lineage of Myosotis in phylogenetic analyses of standard DNA sequencing markers (nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast DNA regions). [8] [9] Within the southern hemisphere lineage, species relationships were not well resolved. [8] [9] The sequences of M. antarctica (including some referred to as M. pygmaea and M. drucei) grouped with other New Zealand species that are morphologically similar to it, including M. brevis. [8]

Description

Myosotisantarctica plants are single rosettes. The rosette leaves have petioles 1–20 mm long. The rosette leaf blades are 3–26 mm long by 1–11 mm wide (length: width ratio usually 1.0–4.0: 1), narrowly oblanceolate to very broadly obovate, widest at or above the middle, green or brown, with an obtuse apex. The upper surface of the leaf is densely covered in curved or flexuous, patent to erect, evenly-distributed antrorse (forward-facing) hairs, whereas the lower surface of the leaf is similar but with fewer hairs (ranging from glabrous to with sparsely distributed hairs). The hairs on the leaf edges are appressed to spreading. Each rosette has multiple prostrate, bracteate inflorescences that are usually up to 15 cm long (rarely up to 31 cm long). The cauline leaves are similar in size and shape to the rosette leaves and usually sessile. Each inflorescence has up to 46 flowers, each borne on a very short pedicel, with a bract. The calyx is 1–4 mm long at flowering and 2–7 mm long at fruiting, lobed to one-third to three-quarters its length, and hairs that are sometimes of two different lengths and types. The corolla is white, cream, or blue, up to 4 mm in diameter, with a cylindrical tube, and small yellow scales alternating with the petals. The anthers are very short (usually < 0.3 mm long) and fully included. The four smooth, shiny nutlets are usually 1.2–1.9 mm long by 0.8–1.2 mm wide and are ovoid in shape. [5]

The chromosome number of M. antarctica is unknown.

The pollen of M. antarctica is australis type pollen. [10] [11]

It flowers August–April and fruits September–April, with peak flowering and fruiting December–January. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Myosotis antarctica is a forget-me-not native to New Zealand, Campbell Island, [12] and southern Chile (Magallanes) [13] from 0–2200 m ASL. [5] In mainland New Zealand, it is found in the following islands and ecological districts: North Island (Auckland, Taranaki, Gisborne, Volcanic Plateau, Southern North Island), South Island (Western Nelson, Sounds-Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Fiordland) and Stewart Island (Rakiura). [5] M. antarctica is found in habitats ranging from coastal to subalpine, including on turfs, dunes, fellfields, scree, cliff faces, and terraces. [5]

Conservation status

M. antarctica was listed as At Risk - Naturally Uncommon on the most recent assessment (2017-2018) of the New Zealand Threatened Classification for plants. It also has the qualifiers "DP" (Data Poor), "Sp" (Sparse) and "TO" (Threatened Overseas). [1] This assessment was based on a narrow circumscription of M. antarctica which included the Campbell Island populations only. As to the other two species now included in a larger circumscription of M. antarctica,M. drucei was listed as Not Threatened and M. pygmaea was listed as At Risk - Declining with the qualifier "Sp" (Sparse) in the same publication. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Myosotis pansa <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> pansa</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis pansa subsp. pansa, also known as the Waitakere forget-me-not, is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Lucy Moore described the variety M. petiolata var. pansa in 1961, and it was transferred to a subspecies of M. pansa by Heidi Meudt, Jessica Prebble, Rebecca Stanley and Michael Thorsen in 2013. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes with ebracteate inflorescences and white corollas with exserted stamens.

<i>Myosotis capitata</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Myosotis bryonoma</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis bryonoma is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Heidi Meudt, Jessica Prebble and Michael Thorsen described the species. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a creeping habit, bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas.

<i>Myosotis retrorsa</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis retrorsa is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Heidi Meudt, Jessica Prebble and Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls described the species. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas.

Myosotis umbrosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Heidi Meudt, Jessica Prebble and Michael Thorsen described the species. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas.

<i>Myosotis albiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis albiflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to southern Chile and Argentina. This species was described by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in Joseph Dalton Hooker's 19th century work Flora Antarctica. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial and have white corollas. It is one of two native species of Myosotis in southern South America, the other being M. antarctica.

<i>Myosotis cheesemanii</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis cheesemanii is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Donald Petrie described the species in 1886. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes with bracteate inflorescences and white corollas.

<i>Myosotis matthewsii</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis matthewsii is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Lucy Moore described the species in 1961. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes with bracteate inflorescences and white corollas.

<i>Myosotis pulvinaris</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis pulvinaris is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in 1867. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate, compact, cushion habit, short bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas.

<i>Myosotis uniflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis uniflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in 1867. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate, compact, cushion or mat habit, short bracteate inflorescences, and cream to yellow corollas.

<i>Myosotis lyallii</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis lyallii is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in 1853. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate or partially-bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas.

<i>Myosotis lyallii <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> elderi</i>

Myosotis lyalliisubsp. elderi is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to New Zealand. Lucy Moore described Myosotis elderi in 1961, and Heidi Meudt and Jessie Prebble treated it as a subspecies of M. lyallii in 2018. Plants of this subspecies of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas with partially exserted anthers.

Myosotis lyalliisubsp. lyallii is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described M. lyallii in 1853. Plants of this subspecies of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate or partially-bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas, usually with exserted anthers.

<i>Myosotis glauca</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis glauca is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. George Simpson and J.S. Thomson described M. pygmaea var. glauca in 1942, and Peter de Lange and John Barkla recognized it at species rank in 2010. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, white corollas, and often glaucous grey leaves.

<i>Myosotis brevis</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis brevis is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to New Zealand. George Simpson and J.S. Thomson described M. pygmaea var. minutiflora in 1942, and Peter de Lange and John Barkla recognized it at species rank in 2010, as M. brevis. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are small and annual, with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, tiny white corollas, and brown or green leaves.

<i>Myosotis antarctica <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> antarctica</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Myosotis antarcticasubsp. antarctica is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to New Zealand, Campbell Island, and southern Chile. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species in his 19th century work Flora Antarctica. Plants of this subspecies of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, and white or blue corollas. It is one of two native Myosotis in the New Zealand subantarctic islands, the other being M. capitata, which also has blue corollas.

<i>Myosotis antarctica <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> traillii</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Myosotis antarcticasubsp. traillii is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to New Zealand. Thomas Kirk (botanist) described the subspecies in 1921. Plants of this subspecies of forget-me-not are perennial with a prostrate habit, bracteate inflorescences, and white corollas.

<i>Myosotis hikuwai</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis hikuwai is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Heidi Meudt, Jessica Prebble and Geoff Rogers described M. hikuwai in 2022. Plants of this forget-me-not are spring annuals with bracteate and erect inflorescences, and small, white corollas with inserted stamens. The species is considered Threatened and known only from one population near Wānaka.

<i>Myosotis venticola</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis venticola is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Heidi Meudt and Jessica Prebble described M. venticola in 2022. Plants of this forget-me-not are perennial with bracteate and prostrate inflorescences, and small, white corollas with partly exserted stamens.

<i>Myosotis pansa <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> praeceps</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Myosotis pansa subsp. praeceps is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Lucy Moore described the variety M. petiolata var. pansa in 1961, and it was transferred to a subspecies of M. pansa by Heidi Meudt, Jessica Prebble, Rebecca Stanley and Michael Thorsen in 2013. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes with partially bracteate inflorescences and white corollas with exserted stamens.

References

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  2. 1 2 "Myosotis antarctica | New Zealand Plant Conservation Network". nzpcn.org.nz. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 Hooker, J.D. (1844) The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839-1843 :under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross: 1: 57
  4. 1 2 Moore, L.B. "Boraginaceae. In 'Flora of New Zealand'. (Ed. HH Allan) Vol. 1, pp. 806–833". (Government Printer: Wellington, New Zealand) floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
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  10. HM Meudt (27 September 2016). "Pollen morphology and its taxonomic utility in the Southern Hemisphere bracteate-prostrate forget-me-nots (Myosotis, Boraginaceae)". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 54 (4): 475–497. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2016.1229343. ISSN   0028-825X. Wikidata   Q113676623.
  11. "Myosotis antarctica pollen". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  12. Prebble, Jessie (8 January 2014). "Subantarctic forget-me-not adventures". Te Papa’s Blog. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  13. Zuloaga, Fernando O; Morrone, Osvaldo; Belgrano, Manuel J. (2008). Catálogo de las plantas vasculares del Cono Sur : (Argentina, Sur de Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay). St. Louis, Mo.: Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. ISBN   978-1-930723-70-2. OCLC   294820637.