Go to National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Volume 83, 1955-56
Previous Article | Table of Contents | Next Article
This text is also available in PDF
(453 KB) Opens in new window
– 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

– 304 –

(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

[The section below cannot be correctly rendered as it contains complex formatting. See the image of the page for a more accurate rendering.]

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.

– 305 –

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.

– 306 –

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.

– 307 –

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.

– 308 –

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.

– 309 –

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.

– 310 –

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.

– 311 –

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

Previous Article | Table of Contents | Next Article