Archeria traversii
Encyclopedia
Archeria traversii is a species
of shrub in the heath family (Ericaceae
).
(the South Island
and Stewart Island), where it is endemic. It is notably absent from Marlborough and much of the eastern South Island.
s and conifer-broadleaf forests, at lowland
to montane
altitude
s. Flowering takes place from December to February, and fruiting from February to April.
, to 5 m tall but often much shorter. It has spreading to ascending branches, with leaves that are fairly evenly spaced (rather than clustered, like A. racemosa
). Multiple trunks are often formed, and can be highly twisted, rough, and covered in epiphytic
bryophyte
s. The bark is dark brown in colour, with branchlets that are light reddish when young and light brown when mature. Leaves Narrow lanceolate leaves, becoming glabrous and leathery. Dark green on the adaxial side, while abaxially they tend to be much paler. The leaf apices are acute to subacute, and sometimes reddish in colour. The base of the leaf is rigid and nearly sessile
, attached to the stem with a short and flat petiole
. Dimensions are roughly 7-12 mm long and 2-4 mm wide. Leaf margins are entire, minutely ciliolate, and flat to slightly recurved. Prominent venation can often be seen on the abaxial sides of the leaves (3-5 veined). Inflorescence A solitary terminal raceme
, with 8-16 flowers, ranging from 10-30 mm in length. The axis and short curved pedicels
are both pubescent. The bract
s are oblong, and caducous. Flowers & Fruits The flowers are perfect, 4-5 mm long, urn shaped, with a corolla that is white to pink to deep red in colour (often lighter at the base and darkening towards the lobes). The sepals are oblong and ciliolate, frequently light green but turning to red towards the tips. Capsules are 2-3 mm in diametre, with 3-5 locules.
A. traversii appears to most closely resemble A. racemosa
, the only other New Zealand species in the genus.
was named by Joseph Dalton Hooker
in 1844 after the nineteenth century Tasmanian
botanist W. Archer. The specific epithet "traversii" comes from W.T.L. Travers, a 19th century New Zealand naturalist and politician, who the plant was named after (also by Hooker).
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of shrub in the heath family (Ericaceae
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
).
Distribution
A. traversii is scattered locally across southern New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
and Stewart Island), where it is endemic. It is notably absent from Marlborough and much of the eastern South Island.
Ecology
It is largely found in shrublandShrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
s and conifer-broadleaf forests, at lowland
Lowland
In physical geography, a lowland is any broad expanse of land with a general low level. The term is thus applied to the landward portion of the upward slope from oceanic depths to continental highlands, to a region of depression in the interior of a mountainous region, to a plain of denudation, or...
to montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
s. Flowering takes place from December to February, and fruiting from February to April.
Morphology
Habit An erect shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
, to 5 m tall but often much shorter. It has spreading to ascending branches, with leaves that are fairly evenly spaced (rather than clustered, like A. racemosa
Archeria racemosa
Archeria racemosa is a species of shrub in the heath family .-Distribution:A. racemosa currently occupies a rather restricted range in northern New Zealand , being found scattered throughout Little Barrier Island, Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, and from the Bay of Plenty across to...
). Multiple trunks are often formed, and can be highly twisted, rough, and covered in epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
bryophyte
Bryophyte
Bryophyte is a traditional name used to refer to all embryophytes that do not have true vascular tissue and are therefore called 'non-vascular plants'. Some bryophytes do have specialized tissues for the transport of water; however since these do not contain lignin, they are not considered to be...
s. The bark is dark brown in colour, with branchlets that are light reddish when young and light brown when mature. Leaves Narrow lanceolate leaves, becoming glabrous and leathery. Dark green on the adaxial side, while abaxially they tend to be much paler. The leaf apices are acute to subacute, and sometimes reddish in colour. The base of the leaf is rigid and nearly sessile
Sessility (botany)
In botany, sessility is a characteristic of plants whose flowers or leaves are borne directly from the stem or peduncle, and thus lack a petiole or pedicel...
, attached to the stem with a short and flat petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. Dimensions are roughly 7-12 mm long and 2-4 mm wide. Leaf margins are entire, minutely ciliolate, and flat to slightly recurved. Prominent venation can often be seen on the abaxial sides of the leaves (3-5 veined). Inflorescence A solitary terminal raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
, with 8-16 flowers, ranging from 10-30 mm in length. The axis and short curved pedicels
Pedicel (botany)
A pedicel is a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence. It is the branches or stalks that hold each flower in an inflorescence that contains more than one flower....
are both pubescent. The bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s are oblong, and caducous. Flowers & Fruits The flowers are perfect, 4-5 mm long, urn shaped, with a corolla that is white to pink to deep red in colour (often lighter at the base and darkening towards the lobes). The sepals are oblong and ciliolate, frequently light green but turning to red towards the tips. Capsules are 2-3 mm in diametre, with 3-5 locules.
Evolutionary History
The phylogeny of the genus remains unknown, but morphologicallyMorphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
A. traversii appears to most closely resemble A. racemosa
Archeria racemosa
Archeria racemosa is a species of shrub in the heath family .-Distribution:A. racemosa currently occupies a rather restricted range in northern New Zealand , being found scattered throughout Little Barrier Island, Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, and from the Bay of Plenty across to...
, the only other New Zealand species in the genus.
Etymology
ArcheriaArcheria (plant genus)
Archeria is a small genus of shrubs in the heath family . As currently circumscribed the group includes six species, all native to southern Australasia...
was named by Joseph Dalton Hooker
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker OM, GCSI, CB, MD, FRS was one of the greatest British botanists and explorers of the 19th century. Hooker was a founder of geographical botany, and Charles Darwin's closest friend...
in 1844 after the nineteenth century Tasmanian
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
botanist W. Archer. The specific epithet "traversii" comes from W.T.L. Travers, a 19th century New Zealand naturalist and politician, who the plant was named after (also by Hooker).