TRIP REPORT : Eastern Tararua Range, Wairarapa

 Saturday-Sunday :   3–4 December 2005

Drymoanthus adversus.   Photo: Jeremy Rolfe.

Day 1: We botanised impressive forest along the Waiohine Valley track from the swingbridge to Clem Creek, listing about 130 species of indigenous vascular plants.   Among the features were five podocarp and three beech species, hutu / Ascarina lucida, and kiekie / Freycinetia banksii in flower, the latter being evidence of possum control work.

Day 2: We botanised river-terrace forest owned by Trevor and Jenni Bornholdt, on the True Left of the Waiohine River.   We found the orchid, Drymoanthus adversus, epiphytic on titoki, poataniwha, tawa and totara, and outside the fenced area, the mistletoe, Ileostylus micranthus, growing on Coprosma propinqua.   We saw “Hoheria Tararua”, northern rata, two aquatic plants, retoreto / Azolla rubra, and kaarearea / common duckweed / Lemna minor, and listed several adventive plant species.

We thank Pat McLean for accommodation at his Te Pamu covenant on Waiohine Gorge Road, and Trevor and Jenni Bornholdt for permission to visit their property.

Participants :   Bev Abbott, Geoff Doring, Bryan Halliday, Chris Hopkins, Chris Horne (scribe), Brenda Johnston, Gordon and Sheelagh Leary, Pat McLean (leader), Rodney Lewington, Barbara Mitcalfe, Mick Parsons, Darea Sherratt, Glynn Sherratt.