TRIP REPORT : “Beauley” – Mangapakeha Taipo, Wairarapa

 6 – 7 December 2003 :   “Beauley” – Mangapakeha Taipo, Wairarapa

We used a species list abstracted by Pat Enright from an A P Druce 1972 list of Wairarapa taipos, updated by Enright, Kirby and Palmer in 2001, and Enright and Bichan in November 2003.   On Saturday we entered a gully where under podocarp / broadleaf forest we found Adiantum diaphanum, Asplenium gracillimum, and after several careful inspections, confirmed Metrosideros colensoi as well as M. diffusa.   As we climbed the steep, greywacke slopes on unstable talus, we noted the absence of tree ferns and the predominance of species that are characteristic of the warm, dry conditions in Wairarapa, e.g. kanuka, tawa, titoki and matai.   Ngaio was noticeably common throughout, and there were some impressive pukatea streamside.   On top for scroggin, we had wide-ranging views followed by a steep descent, noting Cheilanthes humilis on sun-baked rocks and several flowering Brachyglottis greyi, Arthropodium candidum, Galium propinquum, Clematis paniculata, Freycinetia baueriana, Rytidosperma gracile, Corybas trilobus, Asplenium colensoi, Ctenopteris heterophyllus, Cyathea dealbata, C. medullaris, Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum, Pneumatopteris pennigera, Streblus heterophyllus were additions on the day.

On Sunday we climbed the taipo by another route, after inspecting Doodia australis (= media) in a gully.   Later we saw two tiny plants of the BotSoc logo fern, Anogramma leptophylla, and Corybas trilobus (both additions) in a damp spot, and nearby, was a profusion of Craspedia uniflora var. grandis in flower.   Sweating profusely in the heat, we struggled steeply up through a remarkable entanglement of wiry Helichrysum aggregatum to the bush edge where Emil found Pomaderris phylicifolia.

We thank Len and Chrissy for permission to botanise, for use of their vehicle, and for comfortable shearers’ quarters.   We also thank Aiden Bichan, QEII National Trust Regional Representative, for devoting two days to guiding us.

Participants: Beth Andrews, Aiden and Helen Bichan, Co-leaders Geoff and Jenny Doring, Brian Halliday, Dave Holey, Chris Hopkins, Chris Horne, Rodney Lewington, Barbara Mitcalfe, Emil Schmieg, Darea Sherrat.

Barbara Mitcalfe