Acaena microphylla
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acaena microphylla, the bidibid or piripiri,[4] and outside New Zealand, New Zealand-bur,[5] is a small herbaceous, prostrate perennial flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae, native to both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.[2] There are two varieties:
| Acaena microphylla | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Acaena |
| Species: | A. microphylla |
| Binomial name | |
| Acaena microphylla | |
There are no synonyms.[2]
Description
Taxonomy and naming
Acaena microphylla was first formally described in 1852 by Joseph Dalton Hooker.[2][3] The genus name Acaena is derived from the ancient Greek word akaina, meaning "thorn" or "spine",[7] referring to the spiny calyx of many species of Acaena. The specific epithet microphylla derives from the Greek words, mikros (small) and phyllon (leaf), to give an adjective meaning "small-leaved".[8]
Distribution
It is found on both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand.[2]
Conservation status
In 2013, the variety Acaena microphylla var. pauciglochidiata was classified as "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. By 2018, due to an actual decline, the status changed to "At Risk - Declining". (The area of occupancy had decreased to 100 km2 or less, and the predicted decline was 10 to 50%).[1] However, the variety Acaena microphylla var. microphylla was classified as "Not Threatened" in 2004, 2009 and 2012,[4] and again in 2018.[1]
