Parsonsia praeruptis is a non-twining, non-climbing Parsonsia,[1] endemic to New Zealand and is a member of the dogbane family Apocynaceae.[2][3] It is found only in the shrubland of the Surville Cliffs, North Cape Peninsula, where it scrambles through "openly branched, prostrate windswept shrub(s)".[1]

Parsonsia praeruptis
(photograph: Peter de Lange)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Parsonsia
Species:
P. praeruptis
Binomial name
Parsonsia praeruptis
Occurrence data from GBIF

Possums attack buds, flowers and fruits of this species and where baiting for possums is not possible this plant is in decline because of possum browsing pressure.[4]

Taxonomy edit

Parsonsia praeruptis was first described by P.J. de Lange and M.J. Heads in 1999.[3][1]

Etymology edit

The specific epithet, praeruptis. derives from the Latin, praeruptus, dative or ablative plural for hasty, rash or precipitate.[5]

Conservation status edit

Its status is "Threatened — Nationally Critical".[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c M. J. Heads; P. J. de Lange (March 1999). "Parsonsia praeruptis (Apocynaceae): A new threatened, ultramafic endemic from North Cape, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 37 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1999.9512607. ISSN 0028-825X. Wikidata Q54652870.
  2. ^ a b "Parsonsia praeruptis". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Parsonsia praeruptis Heads & P.J.de Lange | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  4. ^ Lange, Peter de (October 2016). "Parsonsia praeruptis (observation: 4287164)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  5. ^ "praeruptus", Wiktionary, the free dictionary, 16 August 2019, retrieved 20 February 2024

External links edit