Distribution
Carmichaelia muritai - branchlet showing stipule
This plant is restricted to a short section of eroding coastal bluffs consisting of coarse outwash gravels in Clifford Bay, Marlborough, at the Northern end of New Zealand’s South Island.
Ecology
Little is known about the ecology of this species beyond studies made on its germination and seedling biology.
It is restricted to an area of steep, eroding coarse outwash gravels at an altitude of approximately 40m, where it grows with the similarly sized Olearia paniculata.
Mean annual rainfall is approximately 600mm. The exposed position and free-draining soils suggest that water deficit is likely to limit growth during the warmer months and the xeromorphic adaptations shown by this species bear this out.
Flowering abundance varies considerably from year to year. Pollinators are not recorded - the flowers on plants in cultivation in the UK seem to be attractive to beetles.
