VASCULAR PLANTS of the THREE LARGEST CHICKENS (MAROTERE) ISLANDS: LADY ALICE, WHATUPUKE, COPPERMINE: NORTH-EAST NEW ZEALAND by E

Home , Arthropteris tenella, Carex pumila, Collospermum, Cyperus ustulatus, Griselinia lucida, Libocedrus plumosa

TANE 30,1984

VASCULAR PLANTS OF THE THREE LARGEST CHICKENS (MAROTERE) ISLANDS: LADY ALICE, WHATUPUKE, COPPERMINE: NORTH-EAST NEW ZEALAND

by Ewen K. Cameron Department of Botany, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland SUMMARY

Although highly modified by past burning the three major Chickens Islands contain a diverse flora, though many taxa are represented by few individuals. The floristic diversity is rather surprising given the general absence of running water and the lack of varied habitats. A vouchered species list is presented containing all recorded vascular plants for the islands totalling 318 taxa, of which 245 taxa are indigenous to New Zealand. The flora of the Chickens is compared with that of nearby Hen Island (Taranga).

INTRODUCTION

The Chickens (Marotere) Islands (latitude 35°53'S, 174°45'E) lie 12 km (Lady Alice Island) east of Bream Head, in the Hauraki Gulf, north-east New Zealand (Fig. 1,2). This survey concerns the three main Chickens: Lady Alice, Whatupuke and Coppermine Islands. Hen Island (Taranga) and all 8 of the Chickens are collectively known as the Hen and Chickens. They are administered by the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park Board. The three islands are rather similar in physical appearance with their rugged coastlines (Fig. 3,4), few beaches, modified vegetation and general absence of running water. In the summer there were a few trickles in otherwise dry stream beds and a small swamp at the back of West Bay, Lady Alice Island. Kanuka {Leptospermum ericoides) dominates much of the vegetation with coastal forest development generally restricted to the valleys. Lady Alice (Fig. 2) is the largest of the Chickens and covers an area of about 140 hectares, and is approximately 2 x 0.9 km in size. West Bay, the western end of Lady Alice, contains a large sandy beach; the northern coast is very steep and the high point of the island at the eastern end is approximately 150 m A.S.L. Whatupuke is the second largest Chickens Island measuring about 120 hectares; the main body of the island is nearly 1.1 x 1 km. It is steeply cliffed on the northern side; the gradient of the southern basin, facing Starfish Bay is more gradual and well-vegetated. The high point

53 Major CHICKENS ISLANDS

Dolphin Bay? West Bay

LADY ALICE Is COP^"^' WHATUPUKE Is Huarewa

/Starfish Bay

Fig. 1. Place names, localities and spot heights (m) for the three main Chickens Islands. Insets show location with respect to northern New Zealand. near the centre of the island is 236 m A.S.L. Whatupuke is about 500 m away from Lady Alice and only about 150 m from Coppermine. Coppermine is approximately 74 ha in area and is the most-easterly of all the Chickens. It measures approximately 1.7 x 0.5 km, but in most places it is less than 0.5 km wide. Coppermine is steeply cliffed, except for the western end. Huarewa is the highest point on the island, 185 m A.S.L.; at the eastern end the helipad and automatic lighthouse are situated on the local high point of 145 m A.S.L. The field work for this study was carried out during the Offshore Islands Research Group trip to the Chickens Islands, from 31 December 1981 until 7 January 1982 (Hayward and McCallum 1984).

BOTANICAL HISTORY (TABLE 1)

Maoris have had a long association with the islands and it appears they abandoned them in the early part of the last century (Cranwell and LADY ALICE ISLAND

Dolphin Bay

West Bay

South Cove

Location of interesting plants

A Agathis australis C Cortaderia selloana G Griselinia lucida P Prumnopitys taxi folia W Weinmannia silvicola

Fig. 2. Place names (informal names are in italics), localities, major streams and interesting plants for Lady Alice Island.

Fig. 3. Rugged coastline of north-east Coppermine Island. Fig. 4. Rugged coastline of north-west Coppermine Island from Whatupuke. Moore 1935). Evidence of past Maori occupation is still present today, with Whatupuke having the most extensive evidence (N. Prickett pers. comm.). All the Chickens have suffered from past burning, some in European times. Percy (1956) notes that the whole of Lady Alice was swept by fire early in the 19th century and only isolated pockets of bush in the gullies survived. The area in low scrub behind West Bay was burnt again in 1908. Further, he notes that shortly after this cattle were released on the island and were present in fairly large numbers until 1924—5. Also, towards the end of last century flax was taken from the Chickens by barge to Whangarei. Whatupuke has suffered the least from past burning, as it contains the best-developed forest on the Chickens. This forest which is in the large basin on the northern side of Starfish Bay, contains good sized specimens of puriri {Vitex lucens), pohutukawa {Metrosideros excelsa), coastal maire (Nestegis apetala) and kohekohe {Dysoxylum spectabile). Coppermine's vegetation has not only suffered from fire, but also mining. In 1849 and 1896 attempts were made to mine copper, but it was found to be uneconomic. During this period vegetation was burnt, though the western end of the island escaped this and was probably last burnt early last century (Atkinson 1968). There are few early records of the vegetation of the Chickens. Reischeck (1881) noted that the larger Chickens were 'covered with bush, with the exception of a few abandoned Maori plantations, now Table 1. Major previous records of vascular plants for Chickens Islands.

Author(s) Year of Lady Alice Whatupuke Coppermine Field Work

#^ !Q S s 1 5 C I I 1 •3 is 1 < < Jane & Beever 1965 155 32 Atkinson 1968 • • • • 127 25 Ritchie & Ritchie 1970 • • 147 27 156 35 overgrown with flax and scrub'. Cheeseman (1890) wrote that there had been recent fires on the Chickens 'lighted by fishermen on yachting parties'. Cranwell and Moore (1935) in their botanical survey concentrating principally on Hen Island also included Lady Alice and Whatupuke, but not Coppermine. The Auckland University Field Club visited Lady Alice in 1954 and 1964. Arising from these trips are several ecological studies of the vegetation (published in Tane volumes 7,11), including a vegetation map (Percy 1956) and a list of the vascular plants (Jane and Beever 1965). Atkinson (1968) carried out an ecological survey of Coppermine in 1965 and included in his paper a vegetation map and a species list of the vascular plants. Ritchie and Ritchie (1970) carried out an ecological survey of Whatupuke in 1968 and also visited Coppermine. Their paper includes a vegetation map of Whatupuke and a species list for Whatupuke and Coppermine. Parris (1969, 1971) published additional species to the published lists from her visit in 1968 to all three islands.

RESULTS

Species List Three hundred and eighteen vascular plant taxa of native and adventive plants are listed below for the three main Chickens. The floral statistics are presented in Tables 2 and 3. Nomenclature of the indigenous plants follows Allan (1961), Moore and Edgar (1970), Cheeseman (1925) and many combinations of Nomina Nova I, II and III (Edgar 1971, Edgar and Connor 1978 and 1983). Adventive plants follows the checklists of Dicotyledons Naturalised in New Zealand, Nos: 4-15 (New Zealand Journal of Botany, volumes 17- 20), which covers everything except the Compositae and Gramineae which follow Tutin et al (1976 and 1980 respectively). For those names not covered by the above, either a synonym or a separate reference is given. Where specimens exist to support records, the appropriate herbarium sheet number is listed. Herbarium abbreviations follow

57 Table 2. Floral statistics of the three main Chickens, separately and combined, according to plant groupings and native or adventive status. Additional records by past workers are included and also shown separately in parentheses.

Lady Alice Whatupuke Coppermine Combined

9 % > 1 G a I S > •1 1 > cS 1 cd 1 Z 1 < 55 < < Ferns & Fern Allies 42 (5) 37 (5) 36 (7) 51 Gymnosperms 3(1) - - 1 - 3 Dicotyledons 121 (11) 45 (7) 90(15) 26 (8) 100(17) 32 (9) 134 Monocotyledons 51 (6) 17 (3) 38 (8) 11 (4) 42 (7) 14 (1) 57

TOTALS 217 (23) 62 (10) 165 (28) 37(12) 179(31) 46 (10) 245

Holmgren et al (1981). Specimens collected by the following people were examined; the herbarium where the specimens are lodged is in parentheses: R.E. Beever (AKU), R.E. Beever and G. Jane (AK), E.K. Cameron (AKU), P. Hynes (AK), L.B. Moore and L.M. Cranwell (AK), B.S. Parris (AK), C.A. Percy (AKU), E.W. Pook (AKU) and A.E. Wright (AK). I.A.E. Atkinson, M.A. Ritchie and I.M. Ritchie specimens held at CHR were not examined, except a few specific specimens I asked the Botany Division staff to check. Where possible subsequent taxonomic and nomenclature changes have been incorporated when comparing the specimens of previous workers. Misidentifications are discussed under Dubious and Excluded Records.

Key to symbols: Frequency Records unsubstantiated by this survey a = abundant At = Atkinson (1968) c = common CM = Cranwell and Moore (1935) f = frequent JB = Jane and Beever (1965) 0 = occasional Pa = Parris (1969) r = rare Pb = Parris (1971) 1 = locally common Pe = Percy (1956) Po = Pook (1956) RR = Ritchie and Ritchie (1970)

Island L.A. = Lady Alice W = Whatupuke * = adventive species C = Coppermine t = new record Alic e

SPECIES ' tupuk e >ermin e VOUCHERS

Ferns & Fern Allies 1 & Adiantum aethiopicum 3- £Pa 6- AK 123222 A. cunninghamii f f f CHRW 58 1 1 $ &

Ferns & Fern Allies hatup i a VOUCHERS 6 £ O A. diaphanum o o - AK 159992 L.A.; AKU 12387 W A. hispidulum c c 0 AKU 12542 L.A.; AKU 12379 W

Anarthropteris lanceolate. o r • AK 159995, AKU 12537 L.A.; AK 122773 W Arthropteris tenella 1 r At AK 159985 L.A.; AKU 12388 W Asplenium bulbiferum o o 0 AKU 12382, 12389, 12398 W A. bulbiferum x A. flaccidum . RR CHR A. flaccidum ssp. flaccidum (Brownsey r o r AKU 12376-8, 12394 W; 1977) AKU 12354-5 C A. flaccidum ssp. haurakiense (Brownsey a a c AK 103933 L.A.; AK 1977) 122647 C A. lamprophyllum - o - A. oblongifolium (A. lucidum) a a a A. obtusatum ssp. northlandicum o r ot AKU 12504 L.A.; AKU (Brownsey 1977) 12364 W A. polyodon (Brownsey 1977) r 0 r CHRW Blechnum chambersii (B. lanceolatum) f Pb At AKU 12479-82 L.A. B. chambersii x B. membranaceum It - - AKU 12535 B. filiforme f f 1 CHR W; AKU 12324 C B. membranaceum f f f AKU 12484 L.A.; AKU 12380 W; AKU 12325 C B. sp. (B. capense sensu Allan 1961) Pa o o CHR W & C Botrychium australe Pb - - AKU 225 Cheilanthes distans 0 o RR AKU 12541 L.A.; AKU 12366 W; CHR C C. sieberi o 1 RR CHR W Cyathea dealbata f o 0 CHRW C. medullaris o o 0 CHR W Dicksonia squarrosa JB - o Doodia media ssp. australis a a a AK 159994 L.A.; CHR W Histiopteris incisa - - o AKU 15646 Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum - r - AKU 12374 Hypolepis ambigua (Brownsey 1984) rt • It AK 159979, AKU 12477 L.A.; AKU 12327 C H. dicksonioides (Brownsey 1984) - - It AKU 12313 Lastreopsis (Ctenitis) glabella JB - - AK 106091 L. microsora (Ctenitis decomposita) - - o AKU 12315 L. (Ctenitis) velutina o o RR AKU 12540 L.A.; AKU 12370 W; CHR C Lycopodium varium (incl. L. billardieri) JB - r AK 106106 L.A.; AKU 15643 C L. volubile o - RR AKU 12490 L.A.; CHR C Lygodium articulatum - - ot Paesia scaberula Pa RR CHR C Pellaea falcata ot - - AK 159397 P. rotundifolia o r o AK 103810 L.A.; CHR W Phymatosorus (Microsorium) diversiofolius c c f CHR W

59 Avicennia Beilschmiedia Aster P. tremula B. A Alectryon Prumnopitys taxifolia Agathis australis Pyrrosia P. macilenta P. (Microsorium) Apium prostratumssp. Anagallis Libocedrus plumosa Pteris Pteridium Polystichum Pneumatopteris (Thelypteris)pennigera Ferns Dicotyledons Gymnosperms Trichomanes endlicherianum Tmesipteris lanceolata(Chinnock Bidens pilosa B. tawaroa(Wright B. rapassp. B, oleracea* Brassica T. Brachglottis C. C. C. Calystegia Cakile Carduus Cardamine Carmichaelia Centaurium triplex tawa venosum novae-zealandiae) maritima* tuguriorum soldanella subulatus & comans edentula* serpens Fern juncea prostrata tenuiflorus* arvensis* excelsus marinavar.resinifera esculentum sepium debilis richardii erythraea* re sylvestris* arboreavar.(C.aligera} tarairi Allies * panda * * scandens (Beadle (incl. agg. 1984) A. et al. 1972) 1975) a rt rt rt f JB f rt 1 a o f . f f It rt r c 1 Pe ot ot It c f It f 1 It c JB o ct ft JB ft

60 Alice | > - a 0 ?rt f f R - - - a - - r c 0 c - - a Pb o c ot - - ot R - - - c c c f c ?RR upuke a 0 - o r - 0 - - - - - c r f f R c - ?At ot - - R - - rt - c c ct o f o At CHR AKU AK W; AKU AKU CHR AKU AKU AK AKU L.A.; AK CHR AK AKU AK AKU CHR AK AKU AKU CHR AK AKU 122823, AKU 12390 W AKU AKU 159355 C CHRW &C AKU AKU AKU AKU AKU AK 12397 W; CHR AK CHR &C 122784 W; 12399 W; 159991, 159993 123197W 129494 159706 159356 156145, 106079 159709 W W 12488 15634 12478 12487 AKU C 1229,12512 W 12536 697,12486 W 15638 15631 12530 12538 12538 12503 15632 12485,12492 12395W 12491 186750W 12516 W VOUCHERS 123076W 12326 AKU AKU 15628W L.A.; AKU L.A.;CHR L.A.;CHR L.A. L.A.;CHR L.A.;CHR L.A.;AKU L.A.;AKU AKU L.A.; AKU L.A.;CHR L.A.;AKU L.A.; L.A.; C326 12345-6C 12339C L.A.; AK 12336C CHRW AK 12533 AK 12381 L.A.; C W W W W W E. Euphorbia E. G. Eupatorium Entelea arborescens Elaeocarpus Gnaphalium G. E. Einadia Dysoxylum Drosera peltatassp.auriculata Disphyma australe Crepis Coriaria Geniostoma Dichondra Dauchus glochidiatus Crassula Cotula Corynocarpus laevigatas C. C. C. C. C. C. Geranium Galium C. C. C. C. C. C. Coprosma arborea Conyza (Erigeron)floribunda Centella uniflora C. paniculata Clematis cunninghamii Cirsium Cerastium glomeratum* Dicotyledons Chenopodium ambiguum peplus* riparium* trigonos (Gardner spathulata macrocarpa macrocarpa gymnocephalum robusta rhamnoides repens repens macrocarpa lucida ambrosioides* solanderi'largepetals'(Gardne r grandifolia areolata 1972) capillaris* austrails aparine* triandra vulgare* arborea sieberiana xC. solanderi'coarse glauca repens spectabile 1984) ssp. adenophorum*(Beadle rupestre audax dentatus (Beadle xC. xC. rhamnoides trigonos(Wilson (Wilson ssp. propinqua robusta etal1972) var. 1983) hairs' * 1983) 1984)CM etal o ot ft a - o - ft ct a ot c - c - rt ot r c - a JB c rt - a JB rt c o c JB f - c - 0 c JB JB 0 f It 61 Lady Alice - ot a - R - c - It ct c - c R - - - c - - c - c - a R c Pa o a c - a - - c c R f R - - R What upuke - o a f ot - c At - - It 0 c - - - c f c . R f - a r At c 0 a rt c - R a - c - rt f 0 - R R Coppermine0) CHR AK CHR AKU AKU AKU AKU AK CHR CHR CHR AKU CHR AK CHR CHR AK AKU AKU CHR CHR CHR CHR AKU AKU AKU CHR CHR AKU CHR AKU CHR CHR AK CHR AK 12343 C CHR AK AK AK69173, CHR AKU 12368 W; 195575 C CHR 103794,106090 103828 159929W 106181 103827 106087 106084, 106199 186936W,; 95141 12545,12567-8 12563,12570-1 12513 12507 W W W C 186937 W; 12372 W 12367W W 12333C W 12519 W 12578 12577 W W&C W 12331 12500 W W 12531 W&C VOUCHERS AKU AKU 106183 L.A. L.A. inpart L.A.;CHR L.A.;CHR L.A.; L.A.;AKU AKU 12349C 12332C CHR AKU L.A.; 12509 L.A. L.A.; L.A.; W W Dicotyledons & J g VOUCHERS 3 t 8 G. luteo-album c c c AK 106095 L.A.; AK 122797-8 W; AK 159966 C G. simplicicaule* It - - AKU 12561 G. sphaericum JB RR RR AK 106096 L.A.; CHR 199794 W,; CHR 186749 ( G. spicatum* c f f AKU 12566 L.A.; AKU 12392 W; AKU 12403 C Gonocarpus incanus o - RR AK 103946, AKU 12544 L.A. Griselinia lucida rt - - AKU 12524 Haloragis erecta c c f AK 159707 L.A.; CHR W Hebe bollonsii (Fig. 5) f - ot AKU 5816, 12508 L.A. H. stricta var. stricta JB RR r AK 106100 L.A.; CHR W AKU 12337 C H. sp. (Veronica arborea) (Fig. 6) f c o AKU 12393 W; AKU 12318 C Hedycarya arborea c f o AK 104329, 106188 L.A.; AK 12579 W Helichrysum aggregation o CM - AK 106102 L.A. Hibiscus trionum It - - AKU 12501 Hoheria populnea c c o AK 93452 L.A.; AK 123050 W; AK 122660 C Hydrocotyle americana JB - - AK 103952 H. elongata - - At Hypochoeris glabra* - RR - CHR H. radicata* c f c CHR W Ipomoea palmata 1 - AKU 12396 Knightia excelsa f r At CHR W Lactuca saligna* ot - - AK 159710, AKU 12559 Lepidium pseudo-tasmanicum * ot 1 o AKU 12539 L.A.; AKU 12369 W; AKU 12321 C Leptospermum ericoides (Fig. 7) a c c CHRW L. scoparium o - 0 AKU 12335 C Leucopogon fasciculatus It - - AKU 12489 L. fraseri f RR 0 CHRW Linum monogynum c c f AK 106104, AKU 3298 L.A.; CHR W Litsaea calicaris JB CM - Lobelia anceps c c c AK 159960 C; CHR W Lotus angustissimus* - - ot AKU 12338 L. pedunculata* - RR ?RR CHR W & C L. suaveolens* ot o o AKU 12543 L.A.; AKU 12360-1 W; AKU 12344 C Macropiper excelsum var. excelsum a a a CHRW Medicago polymorphs* - - It AKU 15649 Melicope ternata c f f CHRW Melicytus novae-zelandiae c c f AKU 3095 L.A.; CHR W M. ramiflorus c c c AK 106189 L.A.; AK 123043 W Meryta sinclairii (Fig. 8) c c a AKU 12352 C; CHR W Metrosideros excelsa (Fig. 8) a a a CHRW M. perforata - - 1 AKU 15644

62 8 .8 1 f < £ 1 Dicotyledons VOUCHERS 6 M. robusta i- - RR CHR Muehlenbeckia australis JB - - M. complexa c a a CHR W Myoporum laetum f c c AKU 15627 W Myosotis sylvatica* 1 - - AK 106215, AKU 12515 Myrsine australis a c f CHR W M. salicina rt - RR AK 159358 L.A.; CHR C Nestegis ape tola c c f AKU 12493, 12528, 12556-8 L.A.; CHR W N. lanceolata rt - r AKU 12497, 15642 L.A.; AKU 12316 C Olearia albida r . AK 106166, AKU 15637 0. furfuracea f c o AK 159665, AKU 5431 L.A. Orobanche minor* ot RR o CHR W Oxalis exilis f o o AKU 12555 L.A.; AKU 12401 W; AKU 12357 C 0. incarnata* It - - AK 159920, AKU 2468 0. rubens (0. stricta sensu Allan 1961) ft o t ct AKU 12554 L.A.; AKU 12400 W; AKU 12356 C Parietaria debilis c c c AK 159930 W Parsonia capsularis c ct ft AK 123203, AKU 12384 W; AKU 12334 C P. heterophylla ?JB RR RR AK 103809 L.A.; CHR 186898 W; CHR C Pelargonium inodorum o o At CHR W Peperomia urvilleana c c f AK 123053 W Physalis peruviana* 1 - - AK 159708 Phytolacca octandra* f c o CHR W Picris echioides* oT - - P. hieracioides c - - AKU 12560, 15639 Pimelia prostrata c c c AKU 3525 L.A.; CHR W Pisonia brunoniana c c 0 AKU 12523 L.A.; CHR W Pittosporum crassifolium f c f CHR W P. tenuifolium JB - - AK 103812 P. umbellatum c ct At AKU 12529 L.A. Planchonella novo-zelandica c f c AKU 4668 L.A.; CHR W Plantago lanceolata* It - o AK 122666 C P. major* o ot 0 CHRC P. raoulii rt - - AKU 15630 Polycarpon tetraphyllum* a a a CHR W Pomaderris phylicifolia var. ericifolia o - At CHR C Prunus domestica* - - Pa Pseudopanax arboreus c c c CHR W P. ? arboreus x P. lessonii - RR - CHR P. lessonii f c c CHR W; AKU 12353 C Ranunculus hirtus rt - r AKU 12498 L.A.; AKU 12351 C Rhabdothamnus solandri c c f AKU 5983 L.A.; AKU 12383 W

63 puk e 1<. >> 3 8. Dicotyledons OS VOUCHERS

Rorippa gigantea OT rt rt AKU 12534 L.A.; AKU 15629 W; AKU 12329 C Rubus cissoides JB - - AK 106186 Rumex conglomerates* ot - - AK 165023 R. crispus* o - - AK 106096 Sagina procumbens* • - RR CHR Salix ? x chrysocoma* rt - - AK 159357 Samolus repens a a a AK 103972, AKU 5644 L.A.; CHR W Sarcocornia quinqueflora a c a Scandia rosaefolia f f f AK 159403, AKU 4372 L.A.; CHR W Schefflera digitata f c o CHR W Scleranthus biflorus rt - - AK 159970 Senecio bipinnatisectus* (Drury 1974) ot 0 RR AKU 12517 L.A.; CHR W &C S. diaschides* (Drury 1974) 1 AK 104468, AKU 12572-3 S. elegans* It - - AKU 12565 S. glomeratus 0 - At AKU 12522 L.A. S. hispidulus ft c 0 AKU 12574-5 L.A.; CHR W&C S. lautus a a a AK 103973, 106173 L.A.; AK 123194 W S. minimus ft RR o AKU 12520, 12576 L.A.; CHR W; AKU 12328 C S. quadridentatus 1 RR RR AK 159662, AKU 12521 L.A.; CHR W&C

S. scaberulus ft RR • AK 159664, AKU 12564 L.A.; CHR 186728 W Sicyos angulata c c f AK 159984, AKU 3656 L.A.; CHR W Silene gallica* ot . Solarium americanum (S. nodiflorum) ct ct c AK 103974, 106164 L.A.; AK 123047 W S. aviculare ft o o AKU 12502 L.A.; CHR W Sonchus asper* 0 Pb rt AK 123193 W S. oleraceus* c c c AK 106174 L.A.; CHR W; AK 122671 C Sophora microphylla c c o AK 103331, 103823 L.A.; AK 123082 W Spergularia media f . ot AKU 12499 L.A. Stellaria media* ft c o CHR W&C S. parviflora c c c CHR W; AKU 12350 C Streblus heterophyllus var. ellipticus o o r AK 106107 L.A.; CHR W; AKU 15645 C Suaeda novae-zelandiae JB . Taraxacum officinale* - - At Tetragonia trigyna c c c CHR W Trifolium dubium* JB - - AK 106201 Vitex lucens c f c CHR W Wahlenbergia colensoi - RR - CHR W. gracilis ot c o CHR W Weinmannia silvicola rt - - AKU 15636

64 1 puk e >> 3 Monocotyledons 2OS 1 VOUCHERS

$ Co p Acianthus fornicatus var. sinclairii JB RR RR AK 106072 L.A.; CHR W &C Aim caryophyllea* f RR f CHR W Anthoxanthum odoratum* - - 0 Arthropodium cirratum c a f CHRW Astelia banksii c a f CHR W A. solandri ?r| - ?RR CHRC Avena barbata* - - 0 AKU 12340 Briza minor* - - r Bromus arenarius - CM RR AK 165051, CHR W; CHR Q B. diandrus * ft c f AKU 15633 L.A.; CHR W B. hordeaceus ssp. hordeaceus* (B. mollis) ft 0 f CHRW B. willdenowii* (B. unioloides) ft • - Bulbophyllum pygmaeum CM - - Carex breviculmis f RR 0 CHRW C. dissita ot ot 0 AKU 12551 L.A.; AKU 12402 W; AKU 12323 C C. flagellifera ft a f AKU 12525 L.A.; AKU 12386 W; AKU 12348 C C. lambertiana - ot - AKU 12375 C. pumila It - - C. spinirostris a a a AKU 12526, 12553 L.A.; CHRW C. virgata o - ot AKU 12552 L.A.; 12322 C Collospermum nastatum f f o CHRW Cordyline australis c c o AKU 15641 L.A.; CHR W Cortaderia selloana* rt - It AKU 15647 C C. splendens f c c AK 159705 L.A.; AK 123253 W; AKU 12320 C Cynodon dactylon* JB - - Cyperus ustulatus c c o CHR W; AK 159961 C Dactylis glomerata* JB Pb 0 Desmoschoenus spiralis r - - AK 103831 Deyeuxia billardieri 0 0 o AK 110212 L.A.; AK 159934 W Dianella nigra f f f CHRW Dichelachne crinita ct c 0 CHR W; AKU 12342 C Drymoanthus adversus 1 o - AKU 12506 L.A.; CHR W Earina mucronata o rt - AKU 12505 L.A. Echinopogon ovatus ot c 0 AKU 12385 W; CHR C Elymus multiflorus ft - ot AKU 12511 L.A. Festuca arundinacea* rt - - Gahnia lacera at c c CHRW G. xanthocarpa Pe - - Holcus lanatus* CM Pb o AK 98552 L.A; AK 159963 C Juncus usitatus - - rt AKU 12317 Lachnogrostis filiformis var. littoralis ct a a AKU 12518 L.A.; CHR W; AKU 12314 C Lagurus ovatus* ft Pa - Lepidosperma australe - RR At CHR W

65 eu c s I < a >» Monocotyledons S3 s & VOUCHERS J S3 Leptocarpus similis 0 - - Microlaena polynoda 1 - At AKU 12496 L.A.; CHR C M. stipoides ot - ot AKU 12495 L.A. Microtis unifolia o RR r CHR W Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. imbecillis c c c CHR W & R Parapholis incurva* o o - AK 99365, AKU 12532 L.A.; CHR W Paspalum dilatatum* ot ot ot P. vaginatum (P. distichum) o - - AKU 12514 Phalaris minor* ot 0 RR AKU 12547 L.A.; AKU 12391 W; CHR 186639 C Phormium tenax (Fig. 8) a a a CHRW Poa anceps ct c c AKU 12546 L.A.; AK 159928 W; CHR 186634 C P. anceps var condensata - RR RR CHR 186647 W; CHR 186632 C Pterostylis alobula JB RR - AK 103965 L.A.; CHR W P. banksii r r o AKU 15640 L.A.; AKU 12373 W P. graminea JB - - P. trullifolia - RR RR CHR W&C Rhopalostylis sapida f o o CHRW Rhipogonum scandens f c o CHR W Rytidosperma biannulare ot - ot AK 159948 L.A. R. gracile It - - AKU 12548 R. racemosum* It - - AKU 12549 R. unarede ft f f AKU 12494 L.A.; AKU 12362 W; AKU 12319 C Scirpus cernuus c a a AK 159933 W S. nodosus a a a AKU 6733 L.A; CHR W Spinifex hirsutus 1 - - AK 106193 Sporobolus africanus * (Beadle et al 0 - o CHR C 1972) Stenotaphrum secundatum* ot 1 rt AKU 12363 W; AKU 15648 C Stipa stipoides c • - Thelymitra longifolia o RR o CHR W Triglochin striata It - - AKU 12510 Trisetum antarticum ft ft f AKU 12569 L.A.; AKU 12371 W; AKU 12330 C Typha orientalis It - RR CHRC Uncinia uncinata ct c a AKU 15626 L.A.; CHR W Vulpia bromoides* f f f AKU 12550 L.A.; AKU 12365 W; AKU 12341 C Dubious and Excluded Records Geranium molle - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965); most likely misidentified G. solanderi. Gymnelaea (Nestegis) cunninghamii - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965); most likely misidentified N. lanceolata. Haloragis procumbens (Gonocarpus montanus) - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965); because this is only a vegetative specimen (AK 106097), it cannot be distinguished from G. incanus. Coppenriine (Ritchie and Ritchie 1970), the CHR specimen was not examined, but it appears likely there is only one Gonocarpus sp. on the Chickens.

66 Hypolepis rugosula - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965); most likely misidentified H. ambigua or Lastreopsis velutina, Juncus polyanthemus (J. gregiflorus or J. usitatus) - Lady Alice (Pook 1956), recorded it under 'Halophyte community' where neither species would grow. It is most likely misidentified Scirpus nodosus. Lepidium bonariense - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965), is misidentified L. pseudo- tasmanicum (AK 106185). Melicytus macrophyllus - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965), is misidentified Hedycarya arborea(AK 106188). Phalaris canadensis - Lady Alice (Cranwell and Moore 1935); most likely misidentified P. minor. Podocarpus (Prumnopitys) ferrugineus - Lady Alice (Percy 1956), is misidentified Prumnopitys taxifolia (AKU 1229). Polystichum vestitum - Whatupuke (Ritchie and Ritchie 1970), is likely misidentified P. richardii Rhagodia (Einadia) triandra - most of the previous records are referable to E. trigonos ssp. trigonos. Selliera radicans - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965), is misidentified Samolus repens (AK 103972). Solanum nigrum - Lady Alice (Jane and Beever 1965; AK 103974 & 106164) and Whatupuke (Ritchie and Ritchie 1970; CHR 186795) are misidentified S. americanum. Sonchus arvensis - Coppermine (Parris 1971), is most likely to be misidentified S. asper (AK 124366 could not be found).

Table 3. New taxa for the three main Chickens, separately and combined, according to plant groupings and native or adventive status.

Lady Alice Whatupuke Coppermine Combined

0) P p Adventiv e Adventiv e Adventiv e Adventiv e Nativ e Nati v Nati v Nati v Ferns & Fern Allies 7 - 1 - 7 - 8 - Gymnosperms 2 - - - - - 1 - Dicotyledons 28 23 8 3 10 5 17 16 Monocotyledons 18 10 4 1 5 3 8 5

Totals 55 33 13 4 22 8 34 21

Notes on selected species Agathis australis (kauri) - on Lady Alice a single plant about 3 m tall, 2.7 cm d.b.h. (diameter at breast height) was found on 'Kaka Ridge' (Fig. 2). On Coppermine Island in October 1968 Ritchie and Ritchie (1970) discovered a single kauri above Merrick Bay and recorded it was 24.2 cm d.b.h. (76 cm diameter). This erect tree was relocated (3 January 1982) and measured 30.5 cm d.b.h. and at least 12 m tall. Alectryon excelsus (titoki) - on Lady Alice seven small trees, about 3 m tall on the steep coastal, forested slope, facing Whatupuke at about 120 m A.S.L. Avicennia marina (manawa) - a single seedling less than 1 m tall at the back of South Cove, Lady Alice with Leptocarpus similis. After a westerly blow thousands of precociously germinated seedlings Uttered the rocky shore of South Cove. Beilschmiedia tarairi (taraire) - usually small trees or seedlings, but one tree on the mid-face above Starfish Bay, Whatupuke measured 38.2 cm d.b.h. and about 14 m in height. Blechnum - a hybrid swarm was present on the margin of the Ruatuna Creek, Lady Alice.

The principle parents were B. chambersii and B. membranaceum (AKU 12479 - 82, 12484 & 12535), but some forms approached B. norfolkianum (AKU 12483). Cortaderia selloana (pampas) - on Lady Alice two separate clumps; one on the north side of West Bay, the other on the east side of South Cove (Fig. 2). Both clumps were eradicated by Neville Jones, a Lands and Survey Ranger. On Coppermine there were about 20 large clumps of pampas in the rocky gully above Merrick Bay. Dysoxylum spectabile (kohekohe) • common throughout the three islands in all size classes (seedlings, saplings and canopy trees). On Lady Alice two large specimens measured 46.9 cm d.b.h., about 16 m tall by 'Ruatuna Creek' and 46.7 cm d.b.h., about 15 m tall, by 'Staircase Creek'. Elaeocarpus dentatus (hinau) - a single tree on each of Lady Alice and Coppermine. The Coppermine tree was by Haurewa and measured 43.9 cm d.b.h. and about 13 m tall. Eupatorium riparium (mist flower) - a single colony on Whatupuke, north side of Starfish Bay at about 160 m ASL, under forest canopy. Eradication was attempted though the plant roots were not removed. Griselinia lucida (puka) - a single plant on Lady Alice, by the coast, on the north side of West Bay (Fig. 2). Hebe sp. (H parviflora agg.: Veronica arborea) - frequently growing at the top of cliffs or on open coastal slopes. Several plants on Lady Alice were over 5 m tall (Fig. 6). Hibiscus trionum - a single colony of about 30 small plants, on a dry, open coastal slope, south end of West Bay, Lady Alice. Corolla very pale yellow. Ipomoea palmata - Parris (1969) recorded it as abundant on the boulder beach, north-east Whatupuke. It also extends back from this beach and to the top of the very steep coastal face, about 100 m A.S.L. Knightia excelsa (rewarewa) - on Lady Alice the two largest trees seen measured 49.5 cm d.b.h., about 20 m tall, by 'Rautuna Creek' and 48.3 cm d.b.h., about 18 m tall, by 'Staircase Creek'. Lastreopsis velutina - although unrecorded by Jane and Beever (1965) there is a Beever and Jane specimen (AK 106197) collected on Lady Alice in 1954. This fern is particularly common in the rocky area, under a broadleaf canopy, by the junction of 'Staircase' and 'Nikau Creeks', Lady Alice. Lepidium pseudo-tasmanicum - occasional to locally common on all three islands; invariably growing on disturbed sites e.g. by avian burrows. Leucopogon fascicularis (mingimingi) - several shrubs at a single locality under kanuka, at the western end of' Kaka Ridge', on Lady Alice. Medicago polymorpha (bur medick) - only recorded by the helipad, by the lighthouse on Coppermine. Metrosideros excelsa (pohutukawa) - large specimens included; several over 1 m d.b.h., by 'Staircase' and 'Nikau Creeks', Lady Alice; 133.6 cm d.b.h., about 15 m tall, facing Starfish Bay, Whatupuke. Seedling and sapling pohutukawa were uncommon. Microlaena polynoda - on Lady Alice a single extensive population on the main ridge between Dolphin Bay and South Cove. Myosotis sylvatica (garden forget-me-not) - only present by the campsite on Lady Alice (Fig. 2). Myrsine australis (mapou) - a common shrub of the understorey, usually 1-4 m tall. On the main ridge of Lady Alice a large mapou measured 19.7 cm d.b.h., and about 8 m tall. M. salicina (toro) - a single plant, about 5 m tall was found near the Prumnopitys. Nestegis apetala (coastal maire) - trees are in the better forest remnants whereas the seedlings are found throughout. A large coastal maire on Lady Alice in the north-east valley measured 45.5 cm d.b.h., and about 12 m high. N. lanceolata (white maire) - two trees on Lady Alice, one by the stream mouth, west of Koputotara Point, the other about 6 m tall by the top of the ridge leading to Koputotara Point. Also a single tree about 8 m tall on Coppermine by Huarewa above Merrick Bay. Olearia albida - a single plant on the north-east cliff top, Lady Alice, about 160 m A.S.L. Oxalis incarnata - only recorded in the Wildlife Service aviary, South Cove, Lady Alice.

69 Fig. 6. Hebe sp. (Veronica arborea), Lady Alice Island. Parsonia heterophylla - the left hand specimen on sheet AK 103809 appears to be P. capsularis x P. heterophylla Although the flowers are large, 6 mm long, the anthers are well-exerted. Also the calyx reaches about halfway up the corolla tube. Plantago raoulii - a single population; Koputotara Point, Lady Alice. Prumnopitys taxifolia (matai) - a single tree discovered by Nigel Prickett on Lady Alice (Fig. 2), measured 29.8 cm d.b.h., was about 17 m high and had green fruit. The notes accompanying C.A. Percy's matai specimen (AKU 1229) read 'forest tree 50-80 feet high', which indicates it is the same plant. Rhabdothamnus solandri (taurepo) - no unusually large-leaved plants were observed, but a range in flower colour was recorded: red, orange and yellow.

70 Rhopalostylis sapida (nikau) - occasionally in the more diverse forest, but in the valley west of Koputotara Point nikau is abundant. Here under a kohekohe, karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatas), puriri canopy in an area 30 x 60 m there are about 60 nikau; two are large palms, the rest are 1-3 m tall. Rorippa gigantea - usually at the back of rocky beaches, occasionally in disturbed areas by avian burrows. Plants at the back of South Cove, Lady Alice were up to 1 m tall and spreading. Salix x chrysocoma (weeping willow) - a single tree about 4 m tall by the margin of the stream draining the valley behind West Bay, Lady Alice. Presumably this is the same plant recorded as S. babylonica for the island by Cranwell and Moore (1935). Scleranthus biflorus - a single small colony on the coastal rocks at the back of South Cove, Lady Alice. Sophora microphylla (kowhai) - near the high point at the eastern end of Lady Alice the largest kowhai seen measured 34.0 cm d.b.h. and was about 10 m tall. Tmesipteris - T. tannensis was recorded, unvouchered, by Jane and Beever (1965) for Lady Alice, before the New Zealand Tmesipteris revision by Chinnock (1975). During the present survey on the same island only a single population of T. lanceolata was found on a ponga (Cyathea dealbata), 'Ruatuna Stream' valley. It is likely the Jane and Beever record was the same species. The Whatupuke record was from a single plant 15 mm long, shiny and also on a ponga trunk. Trichomanes venosum - present on a single ponga trunk, 'Ruatuna Stream' valley, Lady Alice. Triglochin striata - a single population with Leptocarpis similis at the back of South Cove on Lady Alice. Vitex lucens (puriri) - usually present as trees in the more developed forest. Two large trees on Whatupuke, facing Starfish Bay were about 15 m tall and had d.b.h.'s of 77.7 and 69.8 cm. Weinmannia silvicola (towai) - a single tree on the main ridge above 'Nikau Creek', Lady Alice (Fig. 2) measured 39.1 cm d.b.h.

Two Unusual Habitats Of the three islands, West Bay, Lady Alice (Fig. 7) contains the only sizeable sandy beach, with dunes. Being a very different type of habitat for the Chickens several plants are restricted to, or are predominantly found at this locality. They include: Spinifex hirsutus which is abundant, pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis) - only two plants, harestail (Lagurus ovatus), Carex pumila, sea rockets {Cakile spp.) and shore bindweed (Calystegia soldanella). Another distinct habitat not found elsewhere in the Chickens is the small swamp behind West Bay (Fig. 2). Here raupo (Typha orientalis) grows with Calystegia sepium twisting through it. With time this swamp will be shaded out by the plants growing up by it and through it, which include kawakawa {Macropiper excelsum) and bracken (Pteridium esculentum). The small stream draining the valley behind West Bay has Carex virgata growing on its margins and the single weeping willow.

Floral comparison of the three main Chickens with Hen Island The nearest land mass of significant size is Hen Island, only 6 km to the south. Hen Island appears to have had a similar history to the Chickens and the floral comparison is statistically presented in Table 4.

71 Fig. 7. West Bay, Lady Alice Island which contains the major sandy beach of the Chickens. The vegetation is predominantly kanuka (Leptospermum ericoides). Approximately 77% of Hen Islands vascular plant taxa are shared with the three Chickens. The ferns and their allies are the only plant group which are more diverse on Hen than on the combined Chickens Islands. The adventive plants total 23% of the Chickens flora and 16% of Hen Islands. It is surprising that the floras are a similar size in diversity, considering Hen Island (520 hectares, 460 m A.S.L.) is 1.7

Fig. 8. Koputotara Point, Lady Alice Island with coastal vegetation of flax (Phormium tenax) by the coast, puka (Meryta sinclairii) above it and pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) crowning the ridge. 72 times larger than the combined area of the three Chickens Islands and twice as high as the tallest Chicken. Coastal forest on Hen Island is more extensive than on the Chickens, with development of pure taraire forest in places (Cranwell and Moore 1935). Although the diversity of taxa is similar, the frequency is much higher on Hen, as many taxa on the Chickens are represented by very few individuals. Also the three Chickens Islands have been more extensively botanised than Hen Island to date, so this comparison is probably a little premature.

Table 4. Floral comparison of the three main Chickens Islands with Hen Island. He n h e t n s & 1 i hick e ine d i t o

t a P 5 a

Native Ferns & Fern Allies 42 37 36 51 55 41 Native Gymnosperms 3 - 1 3 1 1 Native Dicotyledons 121 90 100 134 123 99 Adventive Dicotyledons 45 26 32 53 35 28 Native Monocotyledons 51 38 42 57 54 37 Adventive Monocotyledons 17 11 14 20 10 7

Totals 279 202 225 318 278 213 * Figures adapted from Wright (1978).

DISCUSSION

The general absence of streams and the serai stage of most of the vegetation has resulted in a 'dry' understorey. In places ferns which are usually epiphytes completely carpet the ground under relatively mature canopies e.g. Blechnum fraseri and Phymatosorus diversifolius form 100% of the ground cover in places. A porous subsoil would also have this effect, but Ritchie and Ritchie (1970) discussing Whatupuke state that 'the subsoils are almost invariably impermeable'. The introduced plants are predominantly annuals and herbaceous plants which have a minor impact on the vegetation. The exceptions to this are: 1. Pampas (Cortaderia selloana) which could still be eradicated relatively easily. 2. Mist flower (Eupatorium riparium) because it is shade tolerant, it can persist in mature forest. It should be eradicated from Whatupuke before it spreads. 3. Oxalis incarnata appears to have been introduced with the aviary building materials. Although this species cannot reproduce sexually

73 in New Zealand, it can multiply asexually by bulbils. It should be removed while the population is small and localised.

The major concentrations of weeds were by the campsite in South Cove, and behind West Bay on Lady Alice. The only other area was on Coppermine by the helipad and lighthouse. This is not surprising, as these locations are the three main areas of present day human activity on the Chickens. Plants which have been recorded on the Chickens by previous workers and were not found during this survey were undetected, or were inconspicuous because of the time of year i.e. the terrestrial orchids, or else they have become extinct. The majority of new records will have been undetected in the past; others, especially the introduced species will be new arrivals. It is interesting that 12% of Lady Alice's, 20% of Whatupuke's and 18% of Coppermine's total recorded vascular plant flora was not seen during this survey.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank all the O.I.R.G. party for their assistance in the field, especially R.E. Beever, and A.E. Wright for many new records and Anne Grace for her invaluable help with the field work. I am grateful to P.J. Brownsey, T.C. Chambers, A.P. Druce, E. Edgar, R.O. Gardner, P.J. Garnock-Jones, W.R. Sykes and A.E. Wright for confirmation and identification of several specimens. This paper was critically reviewed by J.E. Braggins and typed by Heather Kronast.

REFERENCES

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