Carmichaelia nana

Carmichaelia nana is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Its conservation status in 2013 was assessed as "At Risk " under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, but in 2018 its risk under the same system became "Threatened-Nationally Vulnerable".

Description

Carmichaelia nana is a dwarf, spreading shrub growing in a dense mat from 20 to 60 mm high and 0.5 m wide.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by George Bentham as C. australis var. β nana. It was raised to species level by William Colenso in 1864 in Joseph Dalton Hooker's "Handbook of New Zealand Flora". The specific epithet, nana, is a Latin adjective meaning "diminutive" or "dwarfed".

Habitat

It is found from both lowland to alpine habitats in alluvial river beds, terraces, and moraines.