typification

Holotype: New Zealand: Snares Island, Snares Island Expedition 1969/72, University of Canterbury, December 1969, C. H. Hay s.n., WELT SP077578!

de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Houliston, G.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Mitchell, A.D. 2013: New Lepidium (Brassicaceae) from New Zealand. PhytoKeys 24: 1–147.

Etymology

The specific epithet 'limenophylax' derives from Greek (Ό λιμνοφυλαξ) and, though it strictly means 'lake watcher' (C. Blackford pers. comm.), it is used here in the sense of the alternative meaning of “harbour watcher or coast-guard”, which Green (1994; p. 535) states is the more appropriate derivation (see his comments on the etymology of the Norfolk Island endemic orchid Phreatia limenophylax (Endl.) Benth.). It is given in allusion to the preferred habitat of L. limenophylax on the Snares, i.e. the low turf confined to the exposed ends of rocky headlands jutting out into and overlooking the sea. Historically, it was on these exposed headlands that the World War II coastwatchers were posted to keep watch for signs of enemy shipping (Fleming 1948, McEwen 2005).

de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Houliston, G.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Mitchell, A.D. 2013: New Lepidium (Brassicaceae) from New Zealand. PhytoKeys 24: 1–147.