Rangitikei tree daisy is now third-rarest tree

Forest and Bird, Issue 292, 1 May 1999, Page 12

Rangitikei tree daisy is now third-rarest tree

DoG, Wanganui

—Jo Priestley,

n endangered tree daisy found in and around Taihape has become the country’s third-rarest tree. Recent research shows the North Island species of tree daisy, now known as Olearia gardneri, is different from its South Island relative, Olearia hectorii, with which it was formerly confused. The ‘tree daisy’ has masses of sweetly scented daisy-like flowers which cover the tree in small bunches in early summer. It can grow up to six metres in height and live for 150 years. It is also deciduous, losing its leaves in winter, which is very unusual for a native tree. A Department of Conservation scientist, Colin Ogle, says there are fewer than 60 known Olearia gardneri in the wild, and only about nine are protected. There are probably six in the Paengaroa Scenic Reserve and three in Ngaurukehu Scientific Reserve. The tree which tops the country’s rare list is Pennantia baylisiana in the Three Kings Islands, of which there is only a single female. Next on the list is Metrosideros bartlettii, or white rata, which number 30. Now the tree has become New Zealand’s third rarest, its position

in the wild has become critical. Much of its future lies in the hands of private landowners and DoC is keen to talk to them about protecting the trees. Half of the total O.gardneri population is on private land in the Hautapu Valley

between Paengaroa and Ngaurukehu, with another 17 or so on private land in the Turakina Valley. Until 1973, the trees were also growing in the Taihape Scenic Reserve, but sadly, are now extinct there after being smoth-

ered with Old Man’s Beard. It became extinct in Hawkes Bay some time after 1958. The three that remain in the Wairarapa are on private land and have been fenced with DoC’s help. ‘As a stop-gap measure, we've planted 16 plants at Paengaroa over the past two years, grown from cuttings from nearby trees, and they seem to be doing well. However, although the cuttings came from some 20 wild plants, there was a poor strike rate and we don’t know how much genetic variability there is amongst those that survived, says Colin Ogle. O. gardneri likes fertile river flats, generally a much soughtafter type of land for farming. Land clearance has undoubtedly contributed to the critical status of this plant, while grazing, coupled with loss of habitat, prevents new seedlings from establishing.