''Libertia cranwelliae'' is a species of
flowering plant in the family
Iridaceae. The plant was first described by Dan Blanchon, Brian Grant Murray and
John E. Braggins in 2002, and is native to
New Zealand.
Etymology
The species was named after New Zealand botanist
Lucy Cranwell
Lucy May Cranwell (7 August 1907 – 8 June 2000) was a New Zealand botanist responsible for groundbreaking work in palynology. Cranwell was appointed curator of botany at Auckland Museum in 1929, when she was 21 years old. As well as her work ...
.
Taxonomy
The first known specimens of the plant were collected in 1824 and identified as ''
Libertia ixioides
''Libertia ixioides'' (''mānga-a-Huripapa'', ''mikoikoi'' or ''tūkāuki'') is a flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. The species is endemic to New Zealand. It is a rhizome-forming herbaceous perennial. The Latin ''ixioides'' means like a ...
''. ''L. cranwelliae'' was identified as a distinct species in 2002 due to its elongated rhizomes, smaller ovaries, alongside DNA and molecular evidence.
Description
''Libertia cranwelliae'' consists of leafy fans that emerge from
runners.
Styloid crystals (
Calcium oxalate
Calcium oxalate (in archaic terminology, oxalate of lime) is a calcium salt of oxalic acid with the chemical formula . It forms hydrates , where ''n'' varies from 1 to 3. Anhydrous and all hydrated forms are colorless or white. The monohydrate ...
) are found in the leaves of ''L. cranwelliae''.
Distribution and habitat
''Libertia cranwelliae'' is endemic to
New Zealand, known to only occur in the
Awatere and
Kopuapounamu river valley areas of the
East Cape of the North Island.
References
External links
Holotype of ''Libertia cranwelliae''at the
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute whose focus of research is the environment, biodiversity, and sustainability.
History
Manaaki Whenua was originally part of the Department of Scientific and Industr ...
website
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15576383
cranwelliae
Endemic flora of New Zealand
Plants described in 2002
Taxa named by John Braggins