Threat category:
Threatened: Nationally Vulnerable?Regions:
Northland, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, SouthlandDistribution:
North Island and South Island
Key Features
- A narrow shrub or small tree, typically reaching 4-5 m height but sometimes taller, with branchlets closely interlacing.
- On young plants, the leaves are narrow, to 2-3 cm, and often lobed or toothed.
- Adult leaves are smaller and rounded or heart-shaped.
- Flowers occur in small clusters along the branchlets, and are pale yellow with red-tipped petals that curl back at the tips.
- Flowers develop into small capsules that split in half to reveal the sticky, black seeds.
Distribution and Habitat
- North Island and southern South Island.
- Lowland forest and shrublands on alluvial flats that are subject to flooding.
Threats
- Habitat modification and loss.
- Recruitment failure due to browsing and weed encroachment.
Management Opportunities
- Survey for new locations.
- Mark known sites.
- Protection of habitat.
- Restrict or control browsing animals.
- Collect seed and propagate for re-establishment in appropriate habitat.
- Ensure that forest owners are aware of potential habitats and can recognise the species.
Monitoring Options
- Check existing populations annually.
- Report new locations to DOC, NZPCN.
Further Information and Support
- New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN). http://www.nzpcn.org.nz
- Pest control – Department of Conservation; Regional Councils.
- References:
- Dopson et al. (1999). The conservation requirements of New Zealand’s nationally threatened vascular plants. Threatened Species Occasional Publication 13. Department of Conservation, Wellington.
- Wilson & Galloway (1993). Small-leaved shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch.
- Wilson & Given (1989). Threatened plants of New Zealand. DSIR Publishing, Wellington.
- Peter de Lange, Peter Heenan, David Norton, Jeremy Rolfe and John Sawyer (2010). Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. 472 pp.