Empodisma minus (Hook.f.) L.A.S.Johnson & D.F.Cutler, Kew Bull. 28, 383 (1973)

Wagstaff, Steven J. & Clarkson, Beverley R., 2012, Systematics and ecology of the Australasian genus Empodisma (Restionaceae) and description of a new species from peatlands in northern New Zealand, PhytoKeys 13, pp. 39-79 : 58-59

2. Empodisma minus (Hook.f.) L.A.S.Johnson & D.F.Cutler, Kew Bull. 28, 383 (1973)

Calorophus minor Hook.f., Fl. Nov. Zel. I, 267 (1852-1853).

Calorophus elongatus var. minor (Hook.f.) Hook.f., Fl. Tas. II, 75 (1858-1859).

Hypolaena lateriflora var. minor (Hook.f.) Cheeseman, Manual N.Z. Flora ed. 1, 762 (1906)

Lectotype.

New Zealand, near Nelson, Bidwell no. 84, K000441989; ( Fig. 10 ; designated by Moore and Edgar 1970, pg 89).

Etymology.

minus describes the small stature of Empodisma minus .

Description.

Culms dark green, 12-81 cm in height, 0.7-1.3 mm in diameter, branching profusely. Leaf sheaths closely appressed, 3.5-10.2 mm in length, borne at short intervals 15.0-48.0 mm; light green to light brown early in the season maturing dark brown; mouth ciliate with a prominent tuft of woolly white hairs in New Zealand specimens, spare or lacking in Australian specimens. Lamina strongly reflexed from leaf sheath, 1.5-4.2 mm long, persistent light green when young maturing dark brown. Spikelets brown, male spikelet 3.9-8 mm long, anthers 1.2-2.0 mm long; female spikelet 3.5-7.0 mm long; nutlets dark brown approximately 2.6 mm long. 2n = 24. Flowering Aug.- Apr. [ Fig. 11 ; see also illustration in Meney and Pate (1999)].

Comments.

Morphologically similar to small forms of Empodisma robustum distinguished by its smaller stature (though plants from 0.4 to 1 m tall are noted from eastern Australia), more delicate culms and smaller spikelets. Most collections are sterile or male, and the few females generally lack mature fruits. Chromosome counts of 2n=24 were reported from plants collected from the NW slope of Mt. Ruapehu and three counts from NSW ( Briggs 1966, Johnson and Cutler 1973).

Representative specimens.

Australia, Tasmania, near Margate, ♂ flowers, D.A. & A. Ratkowsky 1474, CHR303032, Australia, Queensland, Moreton Island, ♂ flowers, L. Durrington 1114 & S. Levine, CHR272564, Australia, Tasmania, Newdegate Pass, not in flower, T. Dobson 77107, CHR313744; New Zealand, S. Westland, ♂ flowers, G.C. Kelly, Oct 1966, CHR177206; New Zealand, Rahu Saddle, with few ♀ flowers, E.J. Godley, 1 July 1958, CHR108315; New Zealand, Bell Hill Plains, ♂ flowers, J. Clarke 1 Feb 1969, CHR189013; New Zealand, Ngamatea, ♂ flowers, N.J. Moar, 12 Jan 1949, CHR70144; New Zealand, Waikareiti, ♂ flowers, A.P. Druce, Feb 1968, CHR180674; New Zealand, Silica Springs Track, ♂ flowers G. Rennison, A61/36,, CHR535708; New Zealand, Makerikeri tarns, ♂ flowers, A.P. Druce, Nov 1973, CHR260376; New Zealand, Tussock Creek, ♂ flowers, L.B. Moore, 28 July 1968, CHR188099; New Zealand, Mokoreta, with few ♀ flowers, W.R. Sykes 41/94, CHR497058; New Zealand, Bayswater Bog, not flowering, B.R. Clarkson19 Feb.2009, CHR605146; New Zealand, Awarua Bay, not flowering, P.N. Johnson 653, CHR437892; New Zealand, West Cape, A.F. Mark, 5 Feb 1972, CHR218694; New Zealand, Coal Creek, ♂ flowers; I. Payton, 13 Sept 1976, CHR520808; New Zealand, Mt. Rockport, not flowering, I.A. McNew, 31 July 1942, CHR35234; New Zealand, Lake Sylvester, ♂ flowers, R. Melville 5915, CHR142781; New Zealand, Lake Sylvester, ♀ flowers, R. Mason & N. Moar 4658, CHR95709; New Zealand, Bealey spur, with immature ♀ flowers, P. Douglas 26 Nov 1979, CHR362302; New Zealand, Lake Tennyson, ♂ flowers, M.J.A. Simpson 6315, CHR22759; New Zealand, Patterson Inlet, ♂ flowers, L.J. Dumbleton & E. Edgar, CHR182509; New Zealand, ♂ flowers, Fosberg, Feb 1949; CHR30378; New Zealand, Kaitangata, plants with ♀ and ♂ flowers, R. Mason & N.T. Moar 953, CHR 75833; New Zealand, Kapuka, ♀ flowers, W.H. Harbond 20 Nov 1968, CHR183615.

Distribution.

Widely distributed in Tasmania and all mainland Australian States except Western Australia and the Northern Territory; in New Zealand extending north to approximately 38°S latitude.

Habitat.

Locally abundant in seasonally or permanently inundated wetlands, heathlands, fens and peat bogs from sea level to alpine

Conservation status.

Not threatened.

Figures

Figure 10. High resolution photograph of the lectotype of Empodisma minus (Hook. f.) L. A. S. Johnson & D. F. Cutler. Reproduced with the consent of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, © The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Hooker (1853) described the new species Calorophus minor Hook. f. based upon Bidwell, Colenso and Lyall specimens. A specimen collected near Nelson by Bidwell, no. 84, K 000441989, was chosen as the lectotype by Moore and Edgar (1970).

Figure 11. Morphological characteristics of Empodisma minus. A Vegetative shoot with attached leaves and flowers (2.5 x actual size) B Rhizomes with emerging vegetative shoots (2.5 x actual size) C Vegetative shoot with attached pistillate flower D Pistillate flower with attached bracts E Gynoecium F Mature nut G Vegetative shoot with attached staminate spikelet H Staminate flower with attached bracts I Staminate flower. Scale bar = 1 mm.