| Aciphylla squarrosa | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Aciphylla |
| Species: | A. squarrosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Aciphylla squarrosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. | |
| Synonyms | |
Aciphylla squarrosa, or common speargrass, is a species of Aciphylla endemic to New Zealand.
Description
It is a woody perennial herb that forms dense and robust tussocks with a central flowering stem. The basal leaves are bluish-grey, and divide three times to form long and pointed spikes. They are hairless, and have a finely toothed margin.
It can grow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall.
It produces 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) green or yellow symmetric flowers from October to December, and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) dry fruits from November to March.
Range
It can be found on the North and South Islands from Mount Hikurangi to the Kaikoura Ranges, as well as some offshore islands like Mana Island. It grows in habitats ranging from coastal to montane.
Ecology
Aciphylla squarrosa is the host plant for Lyperobius huttoni, the Speargrass Weevil.
Etymology
Squarrosa comes from the Latin for 'rough'.
Taxonomy
Aciphylla squarrosa contains the following varieties:
- Aciphylla squarrosa var. squarrosa
- Aciphylla squarrosa var. flaccida
Conservation status
In 2023, it was classified as At Risk – Declining.
References
- "Aciphylla squarrosa". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Citizen science observations for Aciphylla squarrosa at iNaturalist
- ^ "Aciphylla squarrosa var. squarrosa". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Aciphylla squarrosa - The University of Auckland". www.nzplants.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
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