Disphyma australe (Sol.) J. M. Black

Disphyma australe is a species of flowering plant in the family Aizoaceae and is endemic to New Zealand. It is a prostrate, succulent annual shrub or short-lived perennial plant with stems up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long, leaves that are three-sided in cross-section with a rounded lower angle, and white to deep pink daisy-like flowers with staminodes up to 30 mm (1.2 in) long.

Habit at Punakaiki

Taxonomy

New Zealand authorities recognise two subspecies of Disphyma australe:

• Disphyma australe (W.T.Aiton) N.E.Br. subsp. australe^[2] that mostly grows on clif faces, rock stacks and beaches, rarely in marshes and estuaries and occurs on the Three Kings, North Island, South Island, Stewart and Chatham Islands;^[3]

• Disphyma australe subsp. stricticaule Chinnock^[4] that is endemic to the Kermadec Islands where it grows on cliff faces, beaches and near bird nesting grounds.^[5]

References