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Volume 88, 1960-61
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– 357 –

The Native Flora of Bryant House-Whale Bay Area

By M. C. Gudex

[Read before Auckland Institute, September 16, 1959; received by the Editor, October 19, 1959.]

Abstract

This paper records the indigenous species of plants known to occur in a particular region of the Whale Bay area.

The area described in this paper is a strip of the west coast of the North Island, in approximately S. lat 37° 49′, E. long. 174° 49′. It is a little more than two miles long, starting a quarter of a mile to the north-east of Bryant House and ending half a mile beyond Whale Bay. The width varies between a quarter and half a mile, and the vertical range is from 30ft to 450ft above sea level. These limits were imposed by the writer's physical disability.

Most of the area is part of the north-western slope of Mount Karioi, an extinct volcano probably of early Pliocene age, but included in it is a portion of the little valley traversed by the Wainui Stream, flowing to the north-east.

The road to Whale Bay and to Te Toto Gorge, two miles further on, has been open for 60 years, though for many years it was only 4ft wide. As it is unfenced on both sides for nearly all its length, wandering stock and goats have had free access to the bush there for all that time.

The average yearly rainfall at Raglan, three miles away, is 45.5in, the prevailing winds are north-westerly, and frosts are light. The soil is rich, being derived from the basaltic rocks of Mt. Karioi.

The Chief Features

The chief features of the area are:

(a) A heath association, some of it possibly natural and original, but most of it regenerated after fire. A man who has known this place for 60 years states that there have never been in that time any large trees there except kanuka (Leptospermum ericoides).

This association is found on dry portions of the slope, mostly between the road and the sea, but in some places it extends above the road. It is interrupted several times by gullies in which small forest trees, large shrubs, and tree ferns obtain the moisture and the shade that they need—at least for a time. In one little section of 4½ square chains (3 × 1½) I found 52 species of native plants, including the following forest trees and shrubs. Phyllocladus trichomanoides, Knightia excelsa, Dysoxylum spectabile, Hedycarya arborea, Geniostoma ligustrifolium, Suttonia australis, Melicytus ramiflorus, Nothopanax arboreum, Pseudopanax crassifolium, Weinmannia racemosa, Coprosma arborea, Olearia furfuracea, Brachyglottis repanda.

The typical components of the heath are. Pteridium esculentum, Lycopodium volubile, Oplismenus undulatifolius, Cladium vauthiera, Gahnia setifolia, Uncinia riparia, Carex solandri, Cordyline banksii, Dianella intermedia, Thelymitra spp., Pomaderris phylicaefolia, Leptospermum scoparium and L. ericoides, Haloragis procumbens, Gaultheria antipoda, Leucopogon fasciculatus and L. fraseri, Centella uniflora, Lagenophora pumila, and small-leaved coprosmas (C. rhamnoides, parviflora, etc.)

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(b) The presence of coastal species; examples are. Asplenium obtusatum, Entelea arborescens, Melicope ternata, Myoporum laetum, Olearia albida, Vitex lucens, Cassinia retorta Another species occurring here but rare in the Waikato is Corynocarpus laevigata.

(c) The immense numbers of Coprosma arborea at all stages, from seedlings carpeting the ground to trees 15m in diameter and 35ft high.

(d) The presence of (1) a good many trees of Eugenia maire along the Wainui Stream, near the road-crossing. Some of these are 30ft to 35ft high. (2) Several trees and saplings of Mida salicifolia exhibiting a great variety of leaves. Some trees only 10ft high are bearing fruit.

(e) The abundance of these. Gahnia (species and individuals); Sophora microphylla (in restricted areas), Olea lanceolata, Haloragis procumbens; Metrosideros robusta (in Wainui Valley)

(f) The scarcity of Hemitelia smithii, Elaeocarpus dentatus, Hebe salicifolia, Fuchsia excorticata, and the absence of: Alseuosmia, Dicksonia fibrosa, Blechnum discolor and B fluviatile, Gleichenia, Schizaea, Podocarpus hallii.

The scarcity of the following is probably due to their being eaten by horses, cattle, sheep and goats in the last 60 years: Asplenium bulbiferum, Microlaena avenacaea, Astelia nervosa, Schefflera digitata.

Comparison with the Flora of Mt. Pirongia

On the whole, the flora of the Bryant House-Whale Bay area resembles that of Mt. Pirongia, which is only 15 miles away. However, the coastal plants mentioned above in (b) are not found on Mt. Pirongia. On the other hand, the low altitudinal range above sea-level of the Whale Bay area has excluded the following plants found between the 1,000ft and 3,000ft levels on Mt. Pirongia. Cordyline pumilio and C. indivisa, Luzuriaga parviflora, Pseudowintera axillaris and P. colorata, Nothopanax colensoi and N. sinclairu, Griselinia littoralis, Coprosma tenuifolia and C. foetidissima, Quintinia serrata, Ixerba brexioides, Dracophyllum latifolium. Some of these, however, are growing high up on Mt. Karioi— e. g., Dracophyllum latifolium, Quintinia serrata, Ixerba brexioides, Pseudowintera colorata and P. axillaris.

Nomenclature

In most cases I have followed the nomenclature of Cheeseman's “Manual of the New Zealand Flora” (1925), but by the advice given to me by the late Dr. H. H. Allan four years ago I have adopted the changes made in the species names of the genera Metrosideros, Astelia, Rubus and Clematis, and in all the ferns except the genera Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes. I have followed E. D. Hatch in the naming of orchids.

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank Mr. V. J. Cook for his identifications of sedges, Mr. C. M. Smith for advice, and Mr. A. C. A. Caldwell for advice and for help in the field.

The Species

The abbreviations following the names have these meanings: A = abundant:

C = common; O = occasional, R = rare.

– 359 –

  • Filices

  • Marattia salicina Smith — O

  • Leptopteris hymenophylloides (A. Rich) Presl — R

  • Lygodium articulatum A Rich — A

  • Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum Swartz — O

  • — australe Willd. — O

  • — dilatatum Swartz — O

  • — demissum Swartz — O

  • — scabrum A. Rich. — O

  • — flabellatum Labill. — O

  • — multifidum Swartz — O

  • Trichomanes reniforme Forst. f. — R

  • — elongatum A. Cunn. — R

  • Dicksonia squarosa Swartz — A

  • Cyathea dealbata Swartz — A

  • — medullaris Swartz — A

  • — cunningham Hook. f. — O

  • — smithii (Hook. f.) Domin — R

  • Lindsaea linearis Swartz — R

  • Paesia scaberula (A. Rich.) Kuhn — C

  • Pteridium esculentum (Forst. f.) Diels — C

  • Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J. Smith — R

  • Pteris tremula R. Br. — R

  • — macilenta A. Rich. — C

  • Adiantum hispidulum Swartz — O

  • — affine Willd. — A

  • — fulvum Raoul — O

  • Arthropteris tenella (Forst. f.) J. Smith — R

  • Polystichum richardi (Hook.) J. Smith — R

  • Rumohra adiantiformis (Forst. f.)Ching — R

  • — hispida (Sw.) Copeland — O

  • Ctenitis glabella (A. Cunn.) Copeland-R

  • Cyclosorus penniger (Forst. f.) Copeland — C

  • Athyrium australe (R. Br.) Presl — R

  • Blechnum filiforme (A. Cunn.) Ettingsh. — O

  • — minus (R. Br.) Cockayne — O

  • — lanceolatum (R. Br) Sturm — O

  • — membranaceum (Col.) Mett. —O

  • — procerum (Forst. f.) Labill. — O

  • — fraseri (A. Cunn.) Luerss. — O

  • Doodia media R. Br. — A

  • Asplenium falcatum Lam. — O

  • — obtusatum Forst. f. — R

  • — lucidum Forst. f. — O

  • — bulbiferum Forst. f. — O

  • — flaccidum Forst. f. — C

  • — lamprophyllum Carse — O

  • Pyrrosia serpens (Forst. f.) Ching — O

  • Microsorium pustulatum (Forst. f.)Copeland — O

  • — diversifolium (Willd.) Copeland— A

  • Ctenopteris grammitidis (R. Br.) J. Smith — R

  • Anarthropteris dictyopteris (Mett.)Copeland — O

Lycopodiaceae

  • Lycopodium billardieri Spring. — R

  • — densum Labill. — R

  • — volubile Forst f.—C

  • Tmesipteris tannensis Bernh. — R

Pinaceae

  • Libocedrus doniana Endl. — R

Taxaceae

  • Podocarpus totara D. Don — R

  • — ferrugineus D. Don — O

  • — spicatus R. Br. — R

  • — dacrydioides A. Rich. — C (in valley)

  • Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. ex Forst. f. — C

  • Phyllocladus trichomanoides D. Don— O

Typhaceae

  • Typha muelleri Rohrb. — O

Pandanaceae

  • Freycinetia banksii A. Cunn. — C

Gramineae

  • Oplismenus undulatifolius Beauv. — A

  • Microlaena avenacea Hook. f. — O

  • — stipoides (Labill.) R. Br. — O

  • Arundo conspicua Forst. f. — O

Cyperaceae

  • Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. — R

  • Mariscus ustulatus C. B. Clarke — C

– 360 –

  • Scirpus inundatus Poir. var. gracillimus Cheesem. — R

  • — antipodus V. J. Cook — O

  • Schoenus axillaris Poir. — O

  • — tendo Banks and Sol. ex Hook. f. — O

  • Cladium vauthiera C. B. Clarke — C

  • Gahnia setifolia Hook. f. — A

  • — pauciflora T. Kirk — A

  • —lacera Steud. — A

  • — gahniaeformis (Gaud.) A. A. Heller — C

  • Uncinia riparia R. Br. — C

  • Carex ternaria Forst. var. gracilis Cheesem. — C

  • — lucida Boott — O

  • — vtrgata Sol. ex Hook. f. — O

  • — dissita Sol. ex Hook. f. — O

  • — dissita var. ochrosaccus Cheesem. O

  • — dissita var. lambertiana Cheesem. O

  • — solandri Boott — C

  • — vacilans Sol. — O

Palmae

  • Rhopalostylis sapida Wendl. and Drude — O

Juncaseae

  • Juncus vaginatus R. Br. — O

  • — effusus Hook. f. — O

  • — polyanthemos Buchenau — A

  • — planifolius R. Br. — O

  • — prismatocarpus R. Br. — O

  • — holoschoenus R. Br. — O

  • — lampocarpus Ehr. — O

Liliaceae

  • Ripogonum scandens J. R. & G. Forst.—C

  • Cordyline banksii Hook. f. — A

  • — australis Hook. f. — C

  • Astelia solandri A. Cunn. — C

  • — nervosa Banks & Sol. ex Hook. f.— R

  • Collospermum hastatum (Col.) Skottsberg — A

  • Dianella intermedia Endl. var. norfolkensis F. B. H. Brown —A

  • Phormium tenax Forst. — O

Iridaceae

  • Libertia ixioides Spreng. — R

Orchidaceae

  • Dendrobium cunninghamii Lindl. — R

  • Bulbophyllum pygmaeum (Smith, ex Banks & Sol.) Lindl. — O

  • Earina mucronata Lindl. ex Banks and Sol. — A

  • — autumnalis (Forst. f.) Hook. f. —R

  • Sarcochilus adversus Hook. f. ex Banks & Sol. — O

  • Thelymitra longifolia Forst. — C

  • Microtis unifolia (Forst. f.) Reichb. f. — O

  • Pterostylis banksii R. Br. ex A. Cunn. R

  • — trullifolia Hook. f. var. gracilis Cheesem. — C

  • — graminea Hook. f. — R

  • Acianthus fornicatus R. Br. sinclairii Hook f. Hth. — O

  • Corybas rotundifolius Hook. f. — C

  • — macranthus (Hook. f.) Reichb. f. var. macranthus — O

  • — trilobus (Hook f) Reichb f — O

Piperaceae

  • Macropiper excelsum Miq. — C

  • Peperomia urvilleana A. Rich. — O

Moraceae

  • Paratrophis microphylla (Raoul) Cockayne — R

Urticaceae

  • Elatostema rugosum A. Cunn. — O

Proteaceae

  • Knightia excelsa R. Br. — A

Santalaceae

  • Mida salicifolia A. Cunn. — C (in places)

Polygonaceae

  • Muehlenbeckia australis (Forst. f.)Meissn — O

  • — complexa (A. Cunn.) Meissn. —C

Aizoaceae

  • Mesembryanthemum australe Solandr. — O

  • Tetragonia expansa Murr. — O

– 361 –

  • Ranunculaceae

  • Clematis paniculata J. F. Gmelin(syn. C. indivisa Willd.) — C

  • — hexasepala DC. — O

  • Ranunculus hirtus Banks & Sol. ex Forst. f. — A

  • Monimiaceae

  • Hedycarya arborea J. R. & G. Fors.t — A

  • Laurelia novaezelandiae A. Cunn. — O

  • Lauraceae

  • Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Benth. & Hook. f. — O

  • Litsaea calicaris Benth. & Hook. f. — A

  • Cruciferae

  • Cardamine heterophylla (Forst. f.)O. E. Schulz — O

  • Droseraceae

  • Drosera auriculata Backh. — O

  • Saxifragaceae

  • Carpodetus serratus J. R. & G. Forst. — O

  • Pittosporaceae

  • Pittosporum tenuifolium Banks &Sol. ex Gaertn. — R

  • — cornifolium A. Cunn. — O

  • Cunoniaceae

  • Weinmannia racemosa Linn. f. — O

  • Rosaceae

  • Rubus squarrosus Fritsch. — O

  • — schmidelioides A. Cunn. — R

  • Acaena anserinifolia (J. R & G. Forst.) Druce (syn. A. sanguisorbae Vahl. — O)

  • Leguminosae

  • Carmichaelia cunninghami Raoul (syn. C. australis A. Cunn.) — O

  • Sophora microphylla Ait. — C

  • Oxalidaceae

  • Oxalis corniculata Linn. — O

  • Rutaceae

  • Melicope ternata Forst. — O

  • Meliaceae

  • Dysoxylum spectabile Hook. f. — A

  • Coriariaceae

  • Coriaria arborea Lindsay — O

  • Corynocarpaceae

  • Corynocarpus laevigata Forst. — O

  • Sapindaceae

  • Alectryon excelsum Gaertn. — C

  • Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. — O

  • Rhamnaceae

  • Pomaderris phylicaefolia Lodd. — C

  • Elaeocarpaceae

  • Elaeocarpus dentatus Vahl. — O

  • Aristotelia serrata (J. R. & G. Forst.) W. R. B. Oliver — O

  • Tiliaceae

  • Entelea arborescens R. Br. — O

  • Malvaceae

  • Hoheria populnea A. Cunn. — O

  • Violaceae

  • Melicytus ramiflorus J. R. & G. Forst. — C

  • Passifloraceae

  • Tetrapathaea tetrandra (Banks &Sol.) Cheesem. — O

  • Myrtaceae

  • Leptospermum scoparium J. R. & G. Forst. — A

  • — ericoides A. Rich. — A

  • Metrosideros scandens (J. R. & G. Forst.) Druce — O

  • — carminea W. R. B. Oliver — C

  • — diffusa (Forst. f.) W. R. B. Oliver — C

  • — robusta A. Cunn. — C

  • — perforata (J. R & G. Forst.) Rich. — C

  • Myrtus bullata Sol. ex A. Cunn. — O

  • Eugenia maire A. Cunn. — O

  • Onagraceae

  • Epilobium sp. — O

  • Fuchsia excorticata Linn. f. — O

  • Haloragidaceae

  • Haloragis erecta (Murr.) Schindler — C

  • — procumbens Cheesem. — A

  • Araliaceae

  • Nothopanax arboreum (Linn. f.) Seem. — A

  • Schefflera digitata J. R. & G. Forst. — O

  • Pseudopanax crassifolium (Sol.) C. Koch — A

– 362 –

  • Umbelliferae

  • Hydrocotyle dissecta Hook. f. — O

  • Centella uniflora (Col.) Nannfeldt — A

  • Angelica rosaefolia Hook. — R

  • Daucus glochidiatus (Labill.) Fischer — O

  • Cornaceae

  • Griselinia lucida Forst. F. — O

  • Ericaceae

  • Gaultheria antipoda Forst. f. — O

  • Epacridaceae

  • Cyathodes acerosa R. Br. — O

  • Leucopogon fasciculatus (Forst. f.) A. Rich. — A

  • — fraseri A. Cunn. — C (in parts)

  • Myrsinaceae

  • Myrsine salicina Hook. f. — R

  • — australis (A. Rich.) Allan — A

  • Oleaceae

  • Olea lanceolata Hook. f. — C

  • — cunninghamii Hook. f. — R

  • Loganiaceae

  • Geniostoma ligustrifolium A. Cunn. — A

  • Apocynaceae

  • Parsonsia heterophylla A. Cunn. — O

  • — capsularis (Forst. f.) R. Br. — O

  • Convolulaceae

  • Calystegia tuguriorum (Forst. f.) R. Br. — O

  • — sepium (L.) R. Br. — O

  • Dichondra repens Forst — O

  • Solanaceae

  • Solanum aviculare Forst. f. — O

  • — nigrum Linn. — O

  • Scrophulariaceae

  • Hebe salicifolia (Forst. f.) Pennell — O

  • Gesneriaceae

  • Rhabdothamnus solandri A. Cunn. — O

  • Myoporaceae

  • Myoporum laetum Forst. f. — R

  • Rubiaceae

  • Coprosma australis (A. Rich) Robinson — O

  • — robusta Raoul — C

  • — X cunninghamii Hook. f. — O

  • — arborea T. Kirk — A

  • — areolata Cheesem. — O

  • — spathulata A. Cunn. — O

  • — tenuicaulis Hook. f. — R

  • — rhamnoides A. Cunn. — C

  • — parviflora Hook. f. — C

  • — rigida Cheesem. — O

  • — propinqua A. Cunn. — R

  • Nertera depressa Banks & Sol. ex Gaertn. — O

  • — dichondraefolia (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. — O

  • Galium umbrosum Sol. ex Forst. f. — C

  • Verbenaceae

  • Vitex lucens T. Kirk — C

  • Campanulaceae

  • Lobelia anceps Linn. f. — R

  • Compositae

  • Lagenophora pumila (Forst. f.) Cheesem. — A

  • Olearia furfuracea Hook. f. — O

  • — rant (A. Cunn.) Druce — C

  • — albida Hook. f. — O

  • — albida × furfuracea — O

  • Brachyglottis repanda J. R. & G. Forst — A

  • Cassinia vauvilliersii Hook. f.

  • — retoria A. Cunn. ex DC. — A

  • Senecio kirkii Hook. f. — R

  • — lautus Forst. — O

Specimens of some of these plants have been forwarded to the Botany Division in Lincoln for inclusion in the herbarium.

Reference

Gudex, M. C., 1955. The Native Bush Flora of Pirongia Mountain. Trans. Roy. Soc. N. Z.,

Vol. 83, Part 2.

M. C. Gudex, M. A., M. Sc., 6 Union Street, Hamilton.

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