Gratiola concinna

Key Features

  • A small, creeping herb with rounded, opposite leaves that have small, purple spots and irregular notches on their margins. Relatively large flowers are borne singly in November and have a tubular base and four petals. They are white with a yellow throat and pink veins.
  • This species was known as Gratiola nana.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Known from both North and South Islands but very local. The usual habitat is wet turf but it occurs in a variety of situations including muddy hollows in forest clearings, stream and lake edges, ephemeral tarns, or even aquatic in shallow water.

Threats

  • Habitat modification and loss through drainage of wetlands.
  • Competition with invasive weeds.

Management Opportunities

  • Survey for new locations.
  • Mark known sites.
  • Protection of habitat.
  • Weed control.

Monitoring Options

  • Check existing populations annually.
  • Report new locations to DOC and NZPCN.

Further Information and Support

  • New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN). http://www.nzpcn.org.nz
  • Weed management - DOC, Regional Councils
  • References
    • Johnson, P.N. & Brooke, P.A. (1989). Wetland plants in New Zealand. DSIR Publishing, Wellington.
    • Peter de Lange, Peter Heenan, David Norton, Jeremy Rolfe and John Sawyer (2010). Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. 472 pp.