Conventions
CONVENTIONS
Criteria for inclusion
This Flora aims to include all non-indigenous taxa of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes, within the New Zealand Botanical Region of Cockayne [ The Vegetation of New Zealand (1928)], that have been collected growing spontaneously outside a fenced area or as weeds in a sown or planted community. This includes taxa that produce viable seed and are fully naturalised, those that form persistent populations by means of vegetative reproduction, as well as those that have been collected only as casuals or persistent discards, but not those known only as seed impurities nor those regenerating naturally only in cultivation. We give full treatments for taxa that are well established or have been repeatedly and recently collected, but plants that have been collected only once or twice and apparently as casuals, or have not been collected recently, are keyed and then given reduced treatments as notes following keys to genera or species. All taxa included at either level of treatment are supported by herbarium specimens; taxa which have been recorded as naturalised in New Zealand, but without substantiating specimens, are rejected.
Arrangement of Flora
As this Volume is part of a continuing series, Flora of New Zealand, the section Annals of Taxonomic Research is again included. This is restricted to the indigenous flora. References to papers on naturalised plants are included where appropriate in the main body of the text.
Following a brief general synopsis indicating the scope of this Volume, each of the main groups of plants, Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae, and dicotyledons, are treated separately; each is preceded by a more detailed synopsis. For the Pteridophyta a key to genera of fern allies (Psilotopsida, Lycopsida, Equisetopsida) is provided followed by treatment of the two families with naturalised species. A key to genera of ferns precedes the treatment of this group (Filicopsida). For the gymnosperms there is a key to all families before the treatment of the two classes, and for the dicotyledons there is a key to all families, and additional keys to families with parasitic and aquatic species. Within each major plant group, families are arranged alphabetically and the genera arranged alphabetically within families. For each genus, the number of native and naturalised taxa is given, with the figure for naturalised taxa including those which are not fully established or have been rarely collected; the species or species equivalents (hybrids etc.) are arranged alphabetically with the naturalised ones placed first followed by the indigenous ones. For some larger families and genera a synopsis is provided in addition to the key.
Keys, descriptions and notes
The descriptions of families and genera, as well as the characters used in keys at these levels, attempt to be as comprehensive as possible. This is important in this Flora as many additional genera and species are in cultivation in N.Z.; those commonly cultivated, those found as relics of cultivation and those with the potential to naturalise are often referred to following the description of the family or under related genera or species.
Keys to, and descriptions of, species, hybrids and infraspecific taxa are based on naturalised New Zealand material. As far as possible descriptions of naturalised species or species equivalents are comparable within each genus. The correct botanical name, authorities and place of publication are given for each species. Common names, given above the description, generally follow Healy, A. J., Standard Common Names for Weeds in New Zealand ed. 2 (1984); alternative common names are mentioned in the notes. Flowering and fruiting periods are indicated when appropriate at the end of the description.
The paragraph following the species description comprises the distribution within New Zealand, habitats, region of origin, and date of first published record. Distributions are given first for North, South and Stewart Is, followed by Kermadec, Chatham, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell and Maquarie Is. For the larger islands more precise details are often given. The region of origin, given in brackets and italicised at the end of this paragraph, indicates the presumed natural range of the species. The date of the first record of the species wild in New Zealand is given after the region of origin; details of first records can be found in the checklists to naturalised plants (see Contents).
The notes which follow include reference to poisonous properties as given by Connor, H. E., The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand (1977), discussion of taxonomy and variation, ecology, reproduction, history, cultivation, and distinguishing characters. No formal synonomy is given but names by which the species has been recorded in New Zealand are listed; these include synonyms and misidentifications.
Where more than one infraspecific taxon can be clearly distinguished in New Zealand these are treated formally with a key, usually a description, and distribution statement.
Treatment of indigenous taxa
In the keys to genera of fern allies and ferns, genera with indigenous species only are keyed out but treated in detail no further. In the keys to famlies of gymnosperms and dicotyledons, and within those families that have indigenous and naturalised species, those families and genera with indigenous species only are keyed out but treated in detail no further. In genera of pteridophytes, gymnosperms and dicotyledons with both naturalised and indigenous members, all taxa are included; treatment of indigenous species differs in that they are often given somewhat shorter descriptions, and infraspecific taxa are not treated formally, being keyed out as subcouplets of the key to species and included in the main distribution statement following the species description. Information on the distribution of indigenous species not endemic to New Zealand is given.
This Flora incorporates new information on indigenous taxa which has become available since the publication of Volume 1. Revisions of genera with indigenous species only are mentioned under the keys to genera and new genera are accepted for many indigenous plants. Revisions of indigenous species in genera with indigenous and naturalised species are used as a basis in the combined treatment, and in a number of difficult genera the indigenous species have been revised to some extent in the preparation of this Flora. Where new taxa are recognised but have not yet been fully defined or described they are mentioned in the notes under related species. For families which have indigenous but no naturalised taxa, name changes since the publication of Volume 1 can be found in Connor, H. E. and Edgar, E., New Zealand J. Bot. 25 : 115-170 (1987).
