Acaena microphylla
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Through Perennial, Flowering plant and Binomial nomenclature
- Acaena microphylla var. pauciglochidiata Bitter
- Acaena microphylla Hook.f var. microphylla
There are no synonyms.
Description
Hooker describes it as "a very small and glabrous species; the leaflets not 1/4 in. long. Capitula very large for the size of the plant, upwards of an inch across, including the spines, which are not barbate, and distinguish it as a species."
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Taxonomy and naming
Acaena microphylla was first formally described in 1852 by Joseph Dalton Hooker. The genus name Acaena is derived from the ancient Greek word akaina, meaning "thorn" or "spine", referring to the spiny calyx of many species of Acaena. The specific epithet microphylla derives from the Greek words, mikros (small) and phyllon (leaf), to give an adjective meaning "small-leaved".
Distribution
It is found on both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand.
Conservation status
In 2013, the variety Acaena microphylla var. pauciglochidiata was classified as "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. By 2018, due to an actual decline, the status changed to "At Risk - Declining". (The area of occupancy had decreased to 100 km2 or less, and the predicted decline was 10 to 50%). However, the variety Acaena microphylla var. microphylla was classified as "Not Threatened" in 2004, 2009 and 2012, and again in 2018.