NOTES ON THE FLORA OF TIRITIRIMATANGI ISLAND,

By E.K. Cameron & C.J. West* Botany Department, University of , Private Bag, Auckland. •Present address: Botany Divisional Regional Station, c/- N.Z. Soil Bureau, Private Bag, Lower Hutt. It is over ten years since Esler (1978) surveyed the flora and vegetation of Tiritiri Matangi and recorded 343 vascular plant taxa. The vegetation has undergone some major changes in selected areas as a result of the recent re vegetation project occurring there. For the current situation see Mitchell (1985). During 1984 and 1985, 65 200 plants were raised on Tiritiri Matangi for planting on the island, over half of which were pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa). Although most of the raised plants are from local seed a few have been introduced. These include kowhai (Sophora microphylla) from Hen Island, Rangitoto Island and Army Bay (); Alseuosmia macrophylla, Pittosporum umbellatum and Rhabdothamnus solandri all from Little Barrier (pers. comm. R. Walter, 1986).

This account records the date when new records of wild plants were first observed and comments on some of Esler's records. The list is incomplete as no full survey of the island was carried out. For location of place names mentioned refer to the map presented by Esler (1978). Where a voucher exists to support the record, the specimen number is given for the Botany Department's herbarium, University of Auckland (AKU). An asterisk (*) denotes an adventive species. Note: Esler did not compare his findings with the earlier records of Cheeseman (1908). West (1980) in Appendix C of her thesis lists 51 plant species recorded for the island by Cheeseman only. A few of these are possibly the same as Esler's records but without vouchers it is difficult to be certain.

NEW RECORDS

Amaryllis belladonna* naked lady Single clump, north-east side of main ridge track close to lighthouse reserve. March 1982. Araujia sericifera* moth plant Present at over twelve sites, first observed in 1983 (pers. comm. R. Walter, 1986). Chrysanthemoides monilifera* bone-seed Two seedlings on Hobbs Beach, both removed. May 1981. Coprosma grandifolia kanono Three small shrubs under heavy canopy, Puriri Creek, March 1986 (pers. comm. I. Stewart). Dipogon lignosus* Spreading with Lonicera japonica from lighthouse reserve boundary hedge into upper Pumphouse Creek catchment, May 1981. Dodonaea viscosa akeake Single plant by Paa Point, March 1986 (pers. comm. I. Stewart). Eupatorium adenophorum* Mexican devil Confined to Wattle Creek, first observed in

TANE 31, 1985-86 121 1983 (pers. comm. R. Walter, 1986). Gnaphalium subfalcatum* silky cudweed Single trackside colony, amongst grass just above jetty, November 1985. AKU 19080. Hibiscus trionum* About 8 plants in two separate localities, main ridge track, January 1986 (pers. comm. R. Walter). Melilotus indica* King Island melilot Back of Hobbs Beach, December 1978. AKU 19212. Oxalis rubens (O. stricta sensu Allan 1961) Main ridge, amongst pasture, May 1981. AKU 13483. Parentucellia viscosa* tarweed Several plants on dry headland, north end of Fishermans Bay, December 1978, AKU 19214. Pomaderris kumeraho kumarahou Single plant 1.5m tall by Paa Point found by R. Walter, February 1986. AKU 19206. This species was also recorded by Cheeseman (1908). Pseudopanax crassifolius x P. lessonii Seedling under forest, Puriri Creek, May 1981. AKU 13489. Psilotum nudum Several terrestrial plants under forest, Puriri Creek, May 1981. AKU 13477. Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. raphanistrum* wild radish Several plants, back of Hobbs Beach, May 1981. AKU 13494. Selliera radicans Single small colony in small bay east of Fishermans Bay, 1979. By October 1983 it had expanded to several large clumps. Senecio glomeratus fireweed Locally abundant with tall Senecio bipinnatisectus and S. hispidulus in cleared bracken areas e.g. the southern seaward ridge leading down to Pumphouse Creek, November 1985. AKU 19077. Both S. bipinnatisectus and S. hispidulus have greatly increased since the survey by Esler (1978). S. skirrhodon* (S. spathulatus sensu Healy 1984) gravel groundsel Single plant, grassy bank, lower Pumphouse Creek, November 1985. AKU 19204. Tmesipteris lanceolata and T. sigmatifolia On Cyathea dealbata, head of Puriri Creek, November 1981. AKU 13491 & 13490 respectively.

TAXONOMIC CLARIFICATION OF SOME PREVIOUS RECORDS

Geranium solanderi* Still plentiful as recorded by Esler (1978) but in 2 forms: G. solanderi "coarse hairs" (AKU 13471) is abundant and G. solanderi "large petals" (AKU 19202) was present on the southern seaward ridge leading down to Pumphouse Creek; May 1981 and November 1985 respectively (see Gardner 1984). Hypolepis ambigua Locally abundant along open creek margins; recorded as H. tenuifolia by Esler (1978) (see Brownsey and Chinnock 1984), May 1981. AKU 13495. Polygonum decipiens Still present in the lower creek areas. Recorded as Polygonum sp. by Esler (1978). May 1981.

NOTES ON SOME PREVIOUS RECORDS

Anagallis arvensis var. coerulea* blue pimpernel More prevalent now than in the late 1970's, October 1981. A. foemina of Esler (1978). Blechnum chambersii Some plants in Puriri Creek are possibly of hybrid origin with B. norfolkianum, May 1981. AKU 13475. Carduus tenuiflorus* winged thistle Much more plentiful than in the late 1970's. October 1981. Coprosma arborea Also present in Puriri Creek, May 1981. C. areolata Also present in Mapou Creek, May 1981. Duchesnea indica* Indian strawberry Has become much more widespread than in the late 1970's. May 1981. Ipomoea palmata The two colonies are expanding. The larger comprises white and mauve flowering plants. The more northern colony is mauve flowering only. May 1981. AKU

122 13486. Myoporum laetum ngaio A new plant noted on Hobbs Beach (AKU 19209). The older established plants have grown markedly. October 1981. Ranunculus urvilleanus Only two plants seen on the eastern side (Trig Creek), but more than 75 plants observed in the two southern catchments west of the lighthouse reserve, November 1985. AKU 19076. Sherardia arvensis* Field madder Locally frequent in low grassy areas, November 1978. AKU 19210. Uncinia banksii Far more common than U. uncinata, May 1981.

LIGHTHOUSE RESERVE

There are a number of cultivated plants present in the lighthouse reserve, mainly as shelter-belt specimens that could potentially spread into the adjacent Scientific Reserve. They include Cootamunda wattle (Acacia baileyana), Eucalyptus sp. or spp., Elaeagnus x reflexa, Pinus radiata, and tree privet (ligustrum lucidum). To date only tree privet has been found outside the lighthouse reserve. The long term aim is to remove all of these shelter-belts (pers. comm. R. Walker, 1986). Note: Esler (1978) excluded the cultivated plants of the reserve from his survey.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Ray Walter and Ian Stewart for several plant records and Ray Walter for his comments.

REFERENCES

Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of . Vol. 1. Government Printer, Wellington. 1085p. Brownsey, P.J. & Chinnock, R.J. 1984: A taxonomic revision of the New Zealand species of Hypolepsis. New Zealand Journal of Botany 22 (1) : 43-80. Cheeseman, T.F. 1908: Letters from A. Hansen — incomplete species list (Tiritiri Matangi Island) held at Auckland Institute and Museum. Esler, A.E. 1978: Botanical features of Tiritiri Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 16 (2) : 207-226. Gardner, R.O. 1984: Geranium solanderi and allies in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 22 : 127-134. Healy, A.J. 1984: Standard common names for weeds in New Zealand, ed. 2. New Zealand Weed and Pest Society, Hastings. 207p. Mitchell, N.D. 1985: The revegetation of Tiritiri Matangi Island: The creation of an open sanctuary. Annual Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (Inc.) 13 : 36-41. West, C.J. 1980: Aspects of regeneration on Tiritiri Matangi Island. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Auckland University. 173p.

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