Acaena tesca

Acaena tesca
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Acaena
Species:
A. tesca
Binomial name
Acaena tesca

Acaena tesca is a species of low growing perennial plant restricted to the upper slopes of the mountains of central Otago and northern Southland in the South Island of New Zealand.

This plant spreads using subterranean stems and forms mats in suitable areas. Its habitat is among the high, bleak tussock grasslands of central South Island, growing between tussocks and around rock outcrops. It can be distinguished from its closest congeners by the glaucous leaves with red teeth and its spreading, mat-forming (rather than compact) habit. Flowering occurs in January with fruit being produced in February and March.[1]

Conservation status

In 2018, it was classified as "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[2]

References

  1. ^ B. H. Macmillan (1991). "Acaena rorida and Acaena tesca (Rosaceae) - two new species from New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 29 (2): 131–138. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1991.10416716.
  2. ^ de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla, J. W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.M.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R. (2018). "Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 22: 53. OCLC 1041649797.


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