New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
A new species of Leucopogon (Ericaceae) from the Surville Cliffs,
North Cape, New Zealand
P. J. de Lange
Science & Research Unit
Department of Conservation
Private Bag 68908
Newton
Auckland, New Zealand
P. B. Heenan
M. I. Dawson
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
Abstract A new ultramafic endemic Leucopogon xerampelinus
is named from the Surville Cliffs, North Cape, New Zealand. The Surville Cliffs
population has previously been referred to Leucopogon parviflorus,
from which it differs by its prostrate, trailing habit, reddish leaf colour,
smaller flowers, and restriction to ultramafic rocks. However, we consider
that the floral and vegetative morphology indicates that it may be more closely
related to L. fasciculatus. Leucopogon xerampelinus is a common
shrub of the plateau, gully heads, and cliff faces of its ultramafic habitat.
Although the new species is entirely restricted to the 120 ha exposure of
ultramafic rocks at North Cape, within this area it is very common. Possible
long-term threats include the spread of weeds, and damage from some browsing
mammals. As such the conservation status is assessed as “At Risk/Range Restricted”.
Keywords Ericaceae; Leucopogon; L. parviflorus;
L. xerampelinus; L. fasciculatus; new species; taxonomy; cytology;
conservation; ultramafic vegetation; New Zealand flora
B02033 Received 11 April 2002; accepted 11 November 2002; published 31
March 2003
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2003, Vol. 41: 13-21
0028-825X/03/4101-0013 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2003
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