Native Flora of Maungakawa-Te Miro (Waikato)

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 87, 1959, Page 5

Native Flora of Maungakawa-Te Miro (Waikato) By M. C. Gudex [Received by the Editor, June 23, 1958.] The area described in this paper is five to eight miles to the north-east of Cambridge. Its chief features are: (1) a range five miles long running North and South, with a width of two miles; and (2) a short valley and a range running East and West across the northern (Te Miro) end. The highest point in the first range is Maungakawa, 1,260ft high, and the average height of the ridge is slightly more than 1,000ft. The highest peaks in the transverse range are from 1,200ft to 1,460ft. The base of each range is nearly 300ft above sea-level. The steep western slope of the first range is exposed to the winds which sweep across the Waikato Basin, but the eastern, sloping to a trough or basin about 750ft above sea-level, is more sheltered. There are many amphitheatres and small basins; some are still wooded, others contain bogs. Maungakawa is of volcanic origin, the rock being an andesite, but at the northern end the rock is a greywacke. With this diversity of aspect, soil, and height above sea-level, different plant associations have developed. The average rainfall is probably higher than that at Cambridge (50ins per annum for the years 1952–1957). There is reason to believe that almost the whole area was formerly covered with subtropical rain forest, but most of it has been transformed into good farmland. On Maungakawa there is the newly constituted Sanatorium Hill Scenic Reserve, comprising a little over 100 acres. Nearly all the large trees (matai, rimu, kahikatea, etc.) were cut out many years ago, but there is much regeneration of other species. This reserve and all the other remaining wooded areas have been profoundly affected by the continuous and uncontrolled entry of farm animals for over seventy years. Fallow deer were numerous in the district until ten years ago, and their influence on the native vegetation must have been very great. Opossums have established themselves in the Sanatorium Hill Scenic Reserve, with the result that the mahoe, fuchsia, kohekohe and other trees are being stripped of their foliage. Special Features of the Flora 1. Great numbers of mangeao (Litsaea calicaris) on all the higher ground; a considerable number of karaka (Corynocarpus laevigata) on parts of Maungakawa; a profusion of rewarewa (Knightia excelsa), of tree ferns, and of both individuals and species of Metrosideros. 2. Very large rata trees (Metrosideros robusta), including a healthy specimen with a girth of 34 feet. 3. The occurrence of (a) a mistletoe (Elytranthe adamsii) in what is apparently its most southerly habitat; (b) Pseudopanax ferox and Nothopanax laetum, both rare plants in the Waikato Basin. 4. At Te Miro, about the 300ft level, there are great numbers of seedlings of matai (Podocarpus spicatus) and of totara (P. totara). 5. In one sphagnum bog at Te Miro there is a profusion of sundews (Drosera binata), of an orchid rare in the Waikato (Pterostylis graminea) and of Ranunculus rivularis. 6. On a few dry sunny slopes there is a heath association comprising Pteridium esculentum, Dianella intermedia, Leptospermum scoparium, Pomaderris phylicaefolia, Leucopogon fasciculatus, Coprosma robusta, wood rushes, and sedges.

7. Many trees of Pittosporum eugenioides at Te Miro. 8. Lowland ferns at the 300ft level at Te Miro, as in Claudelands Bush, Hamilton. Examples are: Polystichum richardi, Ctenitis decomposita, Athyrium australe, Doodia media, Pellaea rotundifolia, Hypolepis rugosula, Hypolepis tenuifolia. 9. The resemblance to the other lowland bush of the Waikato Basin is heightened by the presence of Melicytus micranthus, of various small-leaved species of Coprosma, and of Paratrophis microphylla. 10. The planting of both native and exotic trees at the site of the old Sanatorium on Maungakawa 70 years ago. These include fine specimens of kauri (one about 70ft high), puriri, Pinus radiata, Cupressus macrocarpa, and oak (Quercus robur). It is interesting to note that some of the oaks carry as many as ten species of native ferns, orchids, and Astelia, and that trees of P. radiata carry Griselinia lucida. The collections of grasses, sedges and rushes are incomplete. Later investigations therefore should add considerably to the present lists of these plants. The Species Abbreviations: A = abundant; C = common; O = occasional; R = rare. Filices Leptopteris hymenophylloides (A. Rich.) Presl—O Lygodium articulatum A. Rich.—A Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum Swartz—O —australe Willd.—R —dilatatum Swartz—O —demissum Swartz—C —scabrum A. Rich.—R —flabellatum Labill.—O —tunbridgense Smith—O Trichomanes venosum R. Br.—O —elongatum A. Cunn.—R Dicksonia squarrosa Swartz—A —fibrosa Col.—O —lanata? Col.—R Cyathea dealbata Swartz—A —medullaris Swartz—A —cunninghamii Hook. f.—O —smithii (Hook. f.)—Domin—O Hypolepis rugosula (Labill.) J. Smith—O —distans Hook.—O —tenuifolia (Forst. f.) Bernh.—O Paesia scaberula (A. Rich.) Kuhn—A Pteridium esculentum (Forst. f.) Diels—A Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J. Smith—C Pteris tremula R. Br.—C —macilenta A. Rich.—C Pellaea rotundifolia (Forst. f.) Hook.—O Adiantum affine Willd.—O —fulvum Raoul—O Polystichum vestitum (Sw.) Presl—O —richardi (Hook.) J. Smith—O Rumohra adiantiformis (Forst. f.) Ching—O —hispida (Sw.) Copeland—O Ctenitis decomposita (R. Br.) Copeland—R —glabella (A. Cunn.) Copeland—O Cyclosorus penniger (Forst. f.) Copeland—A Athyrium ausbrale (R. Br.) Presl—O Blechnum filiforme (A. Cunn.) Ettingsh.—A —vulcanicum (Blume) Kuhn—R —minus (R. Br.) Cockayne—O —lanceolatum (R. Br.) Sturm—O —membranaceum (Col.) Mett.—O —procerum (Forst. f.) Labill.—A —fluviatile (R. Br.) Salom.—O —discolor (Forst. f.) Keys—A Doodia media R. Br.—C. Asplenium falcatum Lam.—C —lucidum Forst. f.—C —bulbiferum Forst. f.—C —flaccidum Forst. f.—A Pyrrosia serpens (Forst. f.) Ching—A Microsorium pustulatum (Forst. f.) Copeland—A —diversifolium (Willd.) Copeland—A Grammitis billardiert. Willd.—O Anarthropberis dictyopteris (Mett.) Copeland—O Ctenopteris grammitidis (R. Br.) J. Smith—O Lycopodiaceae Lycopodium billardieri Spring.—O —volubile Forst. f.—O Tmesipteris tannensis Bernh.—C Taxaceae Podocarpus totara D. Don—C (in parts) —hallii T. Kirk—O —ferrugineus D. Don—C (in parts) —spicatus R. Br.—C (in parts) —dacrydioides A. Rich.—C. (in parts). Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. ex. Forst. f.—C Phyllocladus trichomanoides D. Don—O Typhaceae Typha muelleri Rohrb.—O Pandanaceae Freycinetia banksii A. Cunn.—A

Gramineae Oplismenus undulatifolius Beauv.—O Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R. Br.—C —avenacea Hook. f.—O Cyperaceae Mariscus ustulatus C. B. Clarke—O Scirpus inundatus Poir.—O Gahnia xanthocarpa Hook. f.—A —gahniaeformis A. A. Heller—O Uncinia riparia R. Br.—A Carex ternaria Forst. var. gracilis Cheesem.—A —testacea (Sol. ex Boott.) Hook. f.—O —dissita (Sol.) Hook. f.—O Palmae Rhopalostylis sapida Wendl. & Drude—O Juncaceae Juncus vaginatus R. Br.—C —polyanthemos Buchenau—A —prismatocarpus R. Br.—C Luzula campestris DC.—O Liliaceae Ripogonum scandens J. R. & G. Forst.—C Cordyline banksii Hook. f.—O —australis Hook. f.—O Astelia solandri A. Cunn.—A Collospermum hastatum (Col.) Skottsberg—A Dianella intermedia Endl.—var. —norfolkensis F. B. H. Brown Phormium tenax Forst.—O Orchidaceae Dendrobum cunninghamii Lindl.—O Bulbophyllum pygmaeum (Smith ex Banks & Sol.) Lindl.—O Earina mucronata Lindl. ex Banks & Sol.—A —autumnalis (Forst. f.) Hook. f.—C Sarcochilus adversus Hook. f. ex Banks & Sol.—O Thelymitra longifolia Forst.—C Pterostylis banksii R. Br. ex A. Cunn.—O —trullifolia Hook. f. var. gracilis Cheesem.—O —graminea Hook. f.—O Corybas trilobus (Hook. f.) Reichb. f.—C Piperaceae Macropiper excelsum Miq.—A Moraceae Paratrophis microphylla (Raoul) Cockayne—O Proteaceae Knightia excelsa R. Br.—A Loranthaceae Elytranbhe adamsii Engl.—R Polygonaceae Muehlenbeckia australis (Forst. f.) Meissn.—C Ranunculaceae Clematis paniculata J. F. Gmelin (Syn. C. indivisa, Willd.)—O —hexasepala DC.—O Ranunculus hirtus Banks & Sol. ex Forst. f.—A —rivularis Banks & Sol. ex Forst. f. var. major—O Monimiaceae Hedycarya arborea J. R. & G. Forst.—C Laurelia novae-zelandiae A. Cunn.—C Lauraceae Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Benth. & Hook. f.—A Litsaea calicaris Benth. & Hook. f.—A Cruciferae Cardamine heterophylla (Forst. f.) O. E. Schulz—O Droseraceae Drosera binata Labill.—C (in parts) —auriculata Backh.—O Saxifragaceae Carpodetus serratus J. R. & G. Forst.—O Pittosporaceae Pittosporum tenuifolium Banks & Sol. ex Gaertn.—O —cornifolium A. Cunn.—O —eugenioides A. Cunn.—O Cunoniaceae Weinmannia sylvicola Sol. ex A. Cunn.—O —racemosa Linn. f.—A Rosaceae Rubus squarrosus Fritsch—O —schmidelioides A. Cunn.—C Acaena anserinifolia (J. R. & G. Forster) Druce (Syn. A. sanguisorbae Vahl.)—C Leguminosae Carmichaelia cunninghamii Raoul (syn. C. australis A. Cunn.)—-R Oxalidaceae Oxalis corniculata Linn.—O Meliaceae Dysoxylum spectabile Hook. f.—A Coriariaceae Coriaria arborea Lindsay—O Corynocarpaceae Corynocarpus laevigata Forst.—C (in parts) Sapindaceae Alectryon excelsum Gaertn.—C Dodonaea viscosa Jacq.—O Rhamnaceae Pomaderris phylicaefolia Lodd.—C Elaeocarpaceae Elaeocarpus dentatus Vahl.—A Aristotelia serrata (J. R. & G. Forst.) W. R. B. Oliver—A Violaceae Melicytus ramiflorus J. R. & G. Forst.—A —micranthus Hook. f.—O Passifloraceae Tetrapathaea tetrandra (Banks & Sol.) Cheesem.—O Thymelaeaceae Pimelea prostrata Willd.—R

Myrtaceae Leptospermum scoparium J. R. & G. Forst.—C —ericoides A. Rich.—O Metrosideros scandens (J. R. & G. Forst.) Druce—A —carminea W. R. B. Oliver—A —diffusa (Forst. f.) W. R. B. Oliver—C —colensoi Hook. f.—O —robusta A. Cunn.—O —perforata (J. R. & G. Forst.) Rich.—A Myrtus bullata Sol. ex A. Cunn.—O Eugenia maire A. Cunn.—O Onagraceae Epilobium spp? Fuchsia excorticata Linn. f.—O Haloragidaceae Haloragis erecta (Murr.) Schindler—A Araliaceae Nothopanax edgerleyi (Hook. f.) Harms—O —arboreum (Linn. f.) Seem.—A —laetum Cheesem.—R Schefflera digitata J. R. & G. Forst.—A Pseudopanax crassifolium (Sol.) C. Koch—A —ferox T. Kirk—R Umbelliferae Hydrocotyle elongata A. Cunn.—O —dissecta Hook. f.—O —americana Linn.—O —novae-zelandiae DC.—O Centella uniflora (Col.) Nannfeldt—O Cornaceae Griselinia lucida Forst. f.—O Ericaceae Gaultheria antipoda Forst. f.—O Epacridaceae Leucopogon fasciculatus (Forst. f.) A. Rich.—A Myrsinaceae Myrsine salicina Heward—O —australis (A. Rich.) Allan—A Oleaceae Olea lanceolata Hook. f.—O —montana Hook. f.—O Loganiaceae Geniostoma ligustrifolium A. Cunn.—A Apocynaceae Parsonsia heterophylla A. Cunn.—A Solanaceae Solanum nigrum Linn.—A —aviculara Forst. f.—O Scrophulariaceae Hebe salicifolia (Forst. f.) Pennell—O Rubiaceae Coprosma australis (A. Rich.) Robinson—A —lucida J. R. & G. Forst.—O —robusta Raoul—A —arborea T. Kirk—A —areolata Cheesem.—C —tenuicaulis Hook. f.—C —propinqua A. Cunn.—O Nertera depressa Banks & Sol. ex Gaertn.—A Caprifoliaceae Alseuosmia quercifolia A. Cunn.—O Campanulaceae Pratia angulata Hook. f.—O Wahlenbergia gracilis Schrad.—O Compositae Olearia rani (A. Cunn.) Druce—C Brachyglottis repanda J. R. & G. Forst.—A Senecio kirkii Hook. f.—O Sonchus oleraceus Linn.—A Acknowledgments I wish to thank the following for their help with the identification of specimens: Dr. H. H. Allan, Dr. W. R. B. Oliver, Miss M. Crookes, Miss L. B. Moore, Mr. E. D. Hatch, Mr. A. J. Healy; also Mr. A. C. A. Caldwell for his help in the field. Nomenclature I have followed the nomenclature of Cheeseman's “Manual of the New Zealand Flora” (1925 edition) in most cases, but by the advice of Mr. A. J. Healy I have adopted the changes made by various authorities in the genera Typha, Dianella, Clematis, Metrosideros, Astelia, Rubus, Acaena, Carmichaelia, Pomaderris and Myrsine, and by the advice of the late Dr. H. H. Allan I have adopted the changes in all the ferns except the genera Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes. Mr. M. C. Gudex, 6 Union Street, Hamilton.