The Native Bush Flora of Pirongia Mountain

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 83, 1955-56, Page 303

The Native Bush Flora of Pirongia Mountain By M. C. Gudex [Read before the Auckland Institute, May 26, 1952; received by Editor, December 9, 1954.] Abstract A general account of the vegetation and a list of the native plant species found on Pirongia Mountain. Pirongia is a mountain situated 20 miles from Hamilton. As Hochstetter noted in 1859, “Pirongia, an ancient dilapidated volcano, with its many peaks and ravines gives to the Waipa country its characteristic scenery”. The mountain is formed of lava flows, agglomerates and breccias, mainly of a basaltic nature. There are also several dykes on the flanks. (Henderson and Grange, in “The Geology of the Huntly-Kawhia Subdivision, pp. 67, 68.) Across the base it measures over eleven miles, and has several peaks which are nearly 3,000ft. The highest is 3,156ft. Pirongia is far from being a regular cone with a circular crater. Instead, it runs into the Kapamahunga Range; indeed, it may be regarded as the highest point of the range, though not on the axis. In January, 1877, and January, 1879, T. F. Cheeseman ascended the mountain, starting from the township of Alexandra (now called Pirongia). An account of his expedition is to be found in Vol. 12 of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. Since his time several botanists have visited the mountain, including Miss Cranwell, Miss Moore, and Mr. Poole, but I can find no record of their investigations. Because of its height and its broken nature, this mountain has provided the means for an interesting flora to be developed. There are sunburnt bare spurs (such as Bald Spur), long regular slopes covered with giant rimu, rata, mangeao and tawa, deep and dark ravines in which streams flow, and mossy fells near the tops of some peaks, and even bogs at a height of almost 3,000ft. Near the base there is the ordinary lowland kahikatea-pukatea-tawa bush intermingled with heaths and swamps. As we ascend, we come to a zone of ferns such as Blechnum fraseri, Blechnum discolor and Marattia salicina. When we reach a height of nearly 1,000ft. we lose the kahikatea and pukatea, and enter a zone where the mangeao and the kohe-kohe are almost predominant. In places, however, there are groves of nikau and of Dicksonia squarrosa, and thickets of supplejack which make progress almost impossible. These thickets occur at all levels between the base and over 2,300ft. At about 1,200ft. we find large numbers of Quintinia serrata, Ixerba brexwides, Coprosma foetidissima, Coprosma tenwfoha, Coprosma arborea, and Weinmannia racemosa, and also of tree-ferns such as Cyathea dealbata, Cyathea medullaris, Cyathea smithii, and a fair number of Cyathea cunninghamii. After 1,400ft. we find a good many plants of that beautiful epiphytic fern, Polypodium novae-zealandiae. It should be noted that this fern was first discovered by Cheeseman, in 1877 and 1879, in this very locality. There are at this level, and indeed at most levels, a great number of individuals of Metrosideros (7 species), of Coprosma (11 species), and of Alseuosmia

(3 species). In many parts of the mountain, Alseuosmia macrophylla is actually one of the chief components of the undergrowth. Beyond the 1,400ft. level we find a good many shrubs of Pseudowintera axillaris, and after 2,000ft. a good many specimens of Pseudowintera colorata. On Bald Spur (from the 2,200ft. to the 2,390ft. level), there is almost a heath association because there is so little soil covering the rock. So we find Lycopodium scariosum, Lycopodium volubile, Gaultheria depressa, Dracophyllum latifolium, Leucopogon fasesculatus, and various coprosmas such as C. robusta and C. lucida. There is even an Arundo conspieua. It is interesting to note that old farmers and bushmen say that Bald Spur is becoming barer than it used to be. From the area between Bald Spur (2,390ft.) and the highest peak of Pirongia (3,156ft.) I have had specimens of the following brought to me: Leptopteris superba, Dicksonia lanata, Cyathea colensoi, Cordyline indivisa, Cordyline pumilio, Luzuriaga parviflora, Libertia pulchella, Nothopanax sinclairii, Nothopanax colensoi, Ourisia macrophylla. From between the peak (3,156ft.) and the Cone I have had a specimen of Libocedrus bidwillii brought to me. A good many trees of this species are said to be growing there. On the mountain there are 18,000 acres of bush in a State reserve, but there are also thousands of acres of bush belonging to private people whose farms run up the slopes. On some of these there has been much cutting of bush in the last few years, and more still is intended. In one case of 250 acres, cutting has been suspended while the owner is negotiating a sale to the Government. In some parts, sheep, horses and cattle have access to the bush. On my ascent of Bald Spur I noticed that cattle had reached a height of 2,000ft., where they were blocked by a small cliff. It appeared that they had been prevented by thickets of supplejack from going far from the track. Wild pigs are still numerous on the mountain, and some areas are torn up by their rooting. The wild pigs do serious damage to Marattia salicina, being very fond of the swollen rootstocks. In some gullies the only specimens left are growing among tree roots where the pigs cannot work. Goats have become numerous, and are doing great damage to the shrubs and young trees on the higher and more remote parts of the mountain. Opossums have entered the area, and we can expect their depredations to increase. Deer are absent, fortunately. There is practically no erosion, because of the bush on most of the mountain, and the thick grassy turf on the farmland covering the slopes. The Florula of Pirongia Note: D = dominant; A = abundant; F = few. Filices Botrychium australe var. millefolium; Prantl —F. Marattia salicina; Smith—A (in parts). Leptopteris hymenophylloides; (A. Rich.) Presl—A. Lygodium articulatum; A. Rich.—A. Sticherus cunninghamii; (Hew. ex Hook.) Ching—A. Hymenophyllum rarum; R. Br.—F.

H. sanguinolentum; Swartz—A. H. australe; Willd.—F. H. dilatatum; Swartz—A. H. demissum; Swartz—A. H. scabrum; A. Rich.—F. H. flabellatum; Labill.—A. H. ferrugineum; Colla—F. H. tunbridgense; Smith—A. H. multifidum; Swartz—F. Trichomanes reniforme; Forst.—F. T. humile; Forst.—F. T. venosum; R. Br.—A. T. elongatum; A. Cunn.—F. Dicksonia squarrosa; Swartz—D. D. fibrosa; Col.—F. D. lanata; Col.—F. Cyathea dealbata; Swartz—D. C. colensoi; Hook. f. Crookes—F. C. medullaris; Swartz—A. C. cunninghamii; Hook. f.—A. C. smithii; Hook.—A. Lindsaea cuneata; (Forst. f), C. Christen.—F. L. viridis; Col.—F. Hypolepis rugosula; (Labill), J. Smith—F. H. distans; Hook.—F. Paesia scaberula; (A. Rich), Kuhn—A. Pteridium esculentum; (Forst. f.)—Diels—A. Histiopteris incisa; (Thunb.), J. Smith—A. Pteris tremula; R. Br.—F. P. macilenta; A. Rich.—F. Adiantum affine; Willd.—F. A. fulvum; Raoul—F. Polystichum vestitum; (Sw.), Presl—A. Rumohra adiantiformis; (Forst. f), Ching—A. R. hispida; (Sw.), Copeland—A. Ctenitis glabella; (A. Cunn), Copeland—F. Cyclosorus pennigerus; (Forst. f), Copeland—A. Athyrium australe; (R. Br.), Presl—F. Blechnum filiforme; (A. Cunn.), Ettingsh.—A. B. patersoni; (R. Br.), Mett.—F. B. vulcanicum; (Blume), Kuhn—F. B. lanceolatum; (R. Br.), Sturm—A. B. membranaceum; (Col.), Mett.—F. B. nigrum; (Col.), Mett.—F. B. procerum; (Forst. f.), Labill.—A. B. fluviatile; (R. Br.), Salom.—A. B. discolor; (Forst. f.), Keys—A. B. fraseri; (A. Cunn.), Luerss. Asplenium flabellifolium; Cav.—F.

A. falcatum; Lam.—A. A. lucidum; Forst. f.—A. A. bulbiferum; Forst. f.—A. A. flaccidum; Forst. f.—A. Pyrrosia serpens; (Forst. f.), Ching—A. Microsorium pustulatum; (Forst. f.), Copeland—A. M. diversifolium; (Willd.), Copeland—A. M. novae-zealandiae; (Baker), Copeland—F (above 1,400ft.). Grammitis billardieri; Willd.—F. Anarthropteris dictyopteris; (Mett.), Copeland—A. Ctenopteris grammitidis; (R. Br.), J. Smith—A. Lycopodiaceae Lycopodium billardieri; Spring.—A. L. densum; Labill.—A. L. scariosum; Forst. f.—A. Tmesipteris tannensis; Bernhardi—A. Pinaceae Labocedrus bidwillu; Hook. f.—F. Taxaceae Podocarpus totara; D. Don—F. P. hallii; T. Kirk—A. P. ferrugineus; D. Don—A. P. dacrydioides; A. Rich—F. Dacrydium cupressinum; Solandr. ex Forst. f.—A. Phyllocladus trichomanoides; D. Don—F. Typhaceae Typha angustifolia; Linn.—A. Pandanaceae Freycinetia banksii; A. Cunn.—A. Gramineae Oplismenus undulatifolius; Beauv.—F. Microlaena stipoides; (Labill.), R. Br.—F. M. avenacea; (Raoul), Hook. f.—A. Arundo conspicua; Forst. f.—A. Cyperaceae Gahnia pauciflora; T. Kirk—F. G. gahniaeformis; (Gaud.), Heller—F. G. xanthocarpa; Hook. f.—F. G. hectori?; T. Kirk—F. Uncinia caespitosa; Boott—F. U. riparia; R. Br.—A. U. filiformis; Boott—A. Carex ternaria (Forst.) var. gracilis; Cheeseman—F. Cladium teretifolium; R. Br.—F. Palmae Rhopalostylis sapida; Wendl. et Drude—A.

Juncaceae Juncus vaginatus; R. Br.—A. J. polyanthemos; Buchenau—A. J. prismatocarpus; R. Br.—A. Luzula campestris; Dc.—A. Liliaceae Ripogonum scandens; Forst. J. R. et G.—D. Luzuriaga parviflora; Kunth—F. Cordyline banksii; Hook. f.—F. C. australis; Hook. f.—F. C. indivisa; Steud.—F. C. pumilio; Hook. f.—F. Libertia pulchella; (R. Br.), Spreng.—F. Astelia solandri; A. Cunn.—A. A. trinervia; T. Kirk—F. A. nervosa; Banks et Solandr. ex Hook. f.—F. Collospermum hastatum; (Col.), Skottsberg—A. Phormium tenax; Forst.—F. P. colensoi; Hook. f.—F. Orchidaceae Dendrobium cunninghamii; Lindl.—A. Bulbophyllum pygmaeum; (Smith, ex Banks & Sol.), Lindl.—F. Earina mucronata; Lindl. ex Banks & Sol.—A. E. autumnalis; (Forst. f.), Hook. f.—A. Sarcochilus adversus; Hook. f. ex Banks and Sol.—F. Thelymitra pauciflora; R. Br. var. pauciflora.—F. Acianthus fornicatus; R. Br. var. sinclairn; (Hook. f.), Hh.—F. Orthoceras strictum; R. Br.—F. Microtis unifolia; (Forst. f.), Reichb. f.—A. Prasophyllum colensoi; Hook. f.—F. Pterostylis banksii; R. Br. ex A. Cunn. var. banksii.—A. Chiloglottis cornuta; Hook. f.—F. Corybas macranthus (Hook. f.), Reichb. f. var. macranthus.—F. C. trilobus; (Hook. f.). Reichb. f.—A. Gastrodia cunninghamii; Hook. f.—F. Piperaceae Macropiper excelsum; Miq.—F. Moraceae Paratrophis microphylla; (Raoul), Cockayne—F. Urticaceae Elatostema rugosum; A Cunn.—F. Proteaceae Knightia excelsa; R. Br.—A. Santalaceae Mida salicifolia; A. Cunn.—F.

Polygonaceae Muehlenbeckia australis; (Forst. f), Meissn.—F. M. complexa; (A. Cunn.), Meissn.—F. Ranunculaceae Clematis indivisa; Willd.—F. C. hexasepala; Dc.—F. C. parviflora; A. Cunn.—F. Ranunculus hirtus; Banks. et Solandr. ex Forst. f.—A. Winteraceae Pseudowintera axillaris; (J. R. et G. Forst.), Dandy—F. P. colorata; (Raoul), Dandy—F. Monimiaceae Hedycarya arborea; Forst. J. R. et G.—D. Laurelia novaezelandiae; A. Cunn.—F. Lauraceae Beilschmiedia tawa; (A. Cunn.), Benth. et Hook. f.—D. Litsea calicaris; Benth et Hook. F.—D. Droseraceae Drosera auriculata; Backh.—A. Pittosporaceae Pittosporum tenuifolium; Banks et Solandr, ex Gaertn.—F. P. cornifolium; A. Cunn.—F. Saxifragaceae Quintinia serrata; A. Cunn.—A. (above 1,500ft.). Ixerba brexioides; A. Cunn.—A. (above 1,500ft.) Carpodetus serratus; Forst. J. R. et G.—A. Cunoniaceae Weinmannia racemosa; Linn. f.—D. W. sylvicola; Solandr. ex A. Cunn.—F. Rosaceae Rubus squarrosus; Fritsch—F. R. schmidelioides; A. Cunn.—A. R. subpauperatus; Cockayne—F. Acaena sanguisorbae; Vahl.—A. Oxalidaceae Oxalis corniculata; Linn.—F. Meliaceae Dysoxylum spectabile; Hook. f.—D. Coriariaceae Coriaria arborea; Lindsay—A. Sapindaceae Alectryon excelsum; Gaertn.—D. Dodonaea viscosa; Jacq.—F.

Rhamnaceae Pomaderris phylicifolia; Lodd.—F. Elaeocarpaceae Elaeocarpus dentatus; Vahl.—A. Aristotelia serrata; (J. R et G. Forst.), W. R. B. Oliver—A. Malvaceae Plagianthus betulinus; A. Cunn.—F. Hoheria populnea; A. Cunn.—F. Violaceae Melicytus ramiflorus; Forst., J. R. et G.—D. M. lanceolatus; Hook. f.—F. M. micranthus; Hook. f.—F. Viola cunninghamir; Hook. f.—F. Passifloraceae Tetrapathaea tetrandra; (Banks et Sol.), Cheeseman—F. Myrtaceae Leptospermum scoparium; Forst., J. R. et G.—F. L. ericoides; A. Rich.—A. Metrosideros umbellata; Cav.—F. M. scandens; (J. R. et G. Forst.), Druce. M. albiflora?; Sol. ex Gaertn.—F. M. carminea; W. R. B. Oliver—A. M. diffusa; (Forst. f.), W. R. B. Oliver—A. M. colensoi; Hook. f.—F. M. robusta; A Cunn.—A. M. perforata; (J. R. et G. Forst.), Rich.—A. Myrtus bullata; Sol. ex A. Cunn.—F. Eugenia maire; A. Cunn.—F. Onagraceae Epilobium erectum; Petrie—F. E. rotundifolium; Forst. f.—A. Fuchsia excorticata; Linn. f.—A. Haloragidaceae Haloragis erecta; (Murr.), Schindler—A. Araliaceae Nothopanax simplex; (Forst. f.), Seem—F. N. colensoi; (Hook. f.), Seem—F. N. sinclairii; Seem—F. N. edgerleyi; (Hook. f.), Harms—A. N. arboreum; (Linn. f), Seem—A. Schefflera digitata; Forst. J. R. et G.—A. Pseudopanax crassifolium; (Sol.), C. Koch—A. Umbelliferae Hydrocotyle elongata; A. Cunn.—F. H. dissecta; Hook. f—F.

H. novaezelandiae; Dc.—F. Centella uniflora; (Col.), Nannfeldt—F. Daucus glochidiatis; (Labill.), Fischer—F. Cornaceae Griselinia lucida; Forst. f.—A. G. littoralis; Raoul—F. Ericaceae Gaultheria antipoda; Forst. f.—A. G. depressa; Hook. f.—F. Epacridaceae Leucopogon fasciculatus; (Forst. f), A. Rich.—A. Dracophyllum latifolium; A. Cunn.—F. Myrsinaceae Suttonia salicina; (Heward); Hook. f.—A. S. australis; A. Rich.—D. Oleaceae Olea cunninghamii; Hook. f.—A. O. lanceolata; Hook. f.—A. O. montana; Hook. f—A. Loganiaceae Geniostoma ligustrifolium; A. Cunn.—D. Apocynaceae Parsonsia heterophylla; A. Cunn.—A. P. capsularis; (Forst. f.), R. Br.—A. Convolvulaceae Calystegia sepium; (L) R. Br.—F. C. tuguriorum; (Forst. f), R. Br.—F. Solanaceae Solanum nigrum; Linn.—A. S. aviculare; Forst. f.—F. Scrophulariaceae Hebe salicifolia; (Forst. f.), Pennell—F. Veronica plebeia; R. Br.—F. Ourisia macrophylla; Hook.—F. Gesneriaceae Rhabdothamnus solandri; A. Cunn.—F. Rubiaceae Coprosma australis; (A. Rich), Robinson—A. C. lucida; Forst., J. R. et G.—A. C. robusta; Raoul—A. X C. cunninghamii; Hook. f.—A. C. tenuifolia: Cheeseman—A. C. arborea: T. Kirk—A.

C. spathulata; A. Cunn.—A. C. tenuicaulis; Hook. f.—F. C. rhamnoides; A. Cunn.—F. C. rigida; Cheeseman—F. C. propinqua; A. Cunn.—F. C. foetidissima; Forst., J. R. et G.—A. Nertera depressa; Banks et Sol. ex Gaertn—A. N. dichondraefolia; (A. Cunn.), Hook. f.—F. Galium umbrosum; Sol. ex Forst. f.—F. Caprifoliaceae Alseuosmia macrophylla; A. Cunn.—A. A. quercifolia; A. Cunn.—F. A. banksii; A. Cunn.—F. Campanulaceae Pratia angulata; Hook. f.—A. Compositae Lagenophora pumila; (Forst. f), Cheeseman—A. Olearia rani; (A. Cunn) Druce—F. O. rani var. colorata; (Col.), T. Kirk. O. virgata; Hook. f.—1 only. Brachyglottis repanda; Forst., J. R. et G.—A. B. rangiora; Buch—F. Senecio kirkii; Hook. f.—A. Sonchus asper; Hill—F. S. oleraceus; Linn.—A. Addendum Dactylanthus taylori Hook. f. was found on the roots of Nothopanax colensoi on Mt. Pirongia by Miss L. B. Moore. (N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 21, 1940, p. 206b.) Acknowledgments I wish to thank the following for their help with the identification of specimens: Dr. H. H. Allan, Dr. W. R. B. Oliver, Mrs. Smith (nee Miss Lucy Cran well), Miss M. Crookes, Mr. E. D. Hatch, Miss Molesworth, Mr. Zotov, Miss L. Moore. I also wish to thank Mr. A. C. A. Caldwell for his assistance and support in the field. Nomenclature It will be observed that I have followed the nomenclature of Cheeseman's Manual of the New Zealand Flora (1925) in most cases, but by the advice of Dr. H. H. Allan, who is at present revising the Manual, I have adopted the new nomenclature for the genera Metrosideros, Astelia, and Rubus, and for all the ferns except the genera Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes. Mr. M. C. Gudex 6 Union Street Hamilton