Field Trip: Coromandel Peninsula, Auckland Anniversary Weekend 28/01/05 to 1/02/05 Newsletter
- Author
- Mike Wilcox, Gael Donaghy, Leslie Haines, Graeme Jane, Carol McSweeney, Maureen Young
- Year
- 2005
- Journal / Source
- Auckland Botanical Society Journal
- Publisher / Organisation
- Auckland Botanical Society
- Volume
- 60
- Number
- 1
- Pages
- 12
- Keywords
- Coromandel, plants, botanical trip
- Summary
- Thirty two Auckland Bot Soc members were based at Te Kouma for the Anniversary weekend camp from 28th January to 1st February 2005. Notable native plants recorded were the coastal shrub Pomaderris rugosa, which we found fairly commonly on open banks in the Te Kouma area; Metrosideros albiflora and Brachyglottis myrianhos in the Manaia Forest Sanctuary of Coromandel Forest Park; Ascarina lucida and Pseudopanax laetus at 530 m in the Mahakirau Forest Estate; parapara (Pisonia brunoniana), Macropiper excelsum subsp. excelsum and Streblus banksii on Motuoruhi (Goat Island); Hebe pubescens subsp. pubescens – the common koromiko on coastal Coromandel cliffs, including the islands; Alseuosmiaquercifolia and Libertia ixioides on the Te Kouma Peninsula; and Korthalsella salicornioides and Austrofestuca littoralis at Otama Beach. Significant exotic environmental weeds encountered were Mexican devil weed (Ageratina adenophora) on Motuoruhi and Motutapere, and elsewhere, bordered panic grass (Entolasia marginata) at Te Kouma and the Mahakirau Forest Estate, and yellow sedge (Carex demissa) in the Mahakirau Forest Estate. Australian ice plant (Carpobrotus glaucescens) was recorded at Otama Beach – a new plant record for New Zealand. Highlights were visiting “Tanenui” – the biggest kauri tree on the Coromandel Peninsula (and sixth biggest in New Zealand), and seeing the huge parapara trees on Motuoruhi.