Possums and people pests for woodrose

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 571, 31 January 1995, Page 8

Possums and people pests for woodrose

Possums and people are the most likely reason for a decline in the woodrose, Dactylanthus taylorii. The Department of Conservation's, Tongariro Taupo Botanist Cathy Jones, Head of the Dactylanthus Recovery Group said that although people pose a threat to the rara plants by collecting them, possums browse is the main reason for the plant' s decline. "Possums eat the flowers in bud and have been known to dig for them," Ms Jones said. " This prevents bats

and rats, which pollinate the plant, from doing their job." Ms Jones said Dactylanthus is an unusual plant. "It grows underground on the roots of a number of different trees. The woodrose, which the public are probably most familiar with, forms where the plant connects to the host root. "Each summer the plant sends flowers to the surface. These are pollinated by bats and sometimes rats and mice." For the past three years DoC staff at each of the local field centres at Ohakune, Whakapapa, Taupo and Turangi, have surveyed areas in search of dactylanthus. Where plants are found, a protective cage is placed over them with mesh large enough to allow bats and rats access to pollinate but small enough to prevent possums from nib-

bling the buds, "We're still on the look out for Dactylanthus and following up old records," Ms Jones said. "It's hard to find, and we'd certainly like to know if anyone comes across it," Dactylanthus is endemic to New Zealand and only found in the central North Island, parts of the East Cape, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay. Historical information indicates that the plant used to be found in Northland and Wellington. Ms Jones said it would help if the plant was protected on land other than that managed by the Department of Conservation. "In the meantime we encourage people not to sell or buy the woodrose."