Nature's Corner
Early Spring Update 2004
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| Puawananga flowers on rangiora |
The Sanctuary is a happening place and it’s a great time to be visiting.
On the bird front, the valley is alive with song as most species are busy mating and establishing new territories preparatory to nesting.
Many plants are in bud or flower, and on others new season’s fruit is forming. Look especially for the bright yellow of the kowhai and the many clusters of white clematis on the hillsides.
The bush too is coming alive with its spring cloak as buds of new leaves open. Some, like the kohekohe are bright green while others, like the rata with their new yellow-red leaves are more colourful.
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| Northern rata | Kohekohe | Rangiora |
Flowerbuds Forming
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| Rangiora flower buds |
Rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda). Throughout the valley and along Lake Road - beige-coloured buds clusters are now forming more open branched sprays preparatory to flowering.
Tutu (Coriaria arborea). New catkin-like flower buds forming. See the bush on the hill side, overhanging Lake Road just south of the short white safety fence.
Porokaiwhiri / pigeonwood (Hedycarya arborea). Pale green flower buds visible among the darker leaves. The best specimens are at the northern end of Tui Terrace.
Rewarewa (Knightia excelsa). New red flower buds forming. Best seen on the tree overhanging the stream on the west side of the second bridge from the southern end of the Te Mahahanga Track.
What is Flowering?
Kowhai (Sophora microphylla). Two large trees on either side of the top dam and a grove at the beginning of the Round the Lake Track before the hides are now in full flower.
Puawananga (Clematis paniculata). One of New Zealand’s native clematis and an early sign of spring. Small patches of white starry flowers are to be seen on the western slopes above the Lower Lake (Roto Kawau) and near the Valley View Track.
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| Ngaio flowers |
Ngaio (Myoporum laetum). The first of these starry white flowers began to show at the end of August on one of the trees where Lake Road meets the weka fence.
Hangehange (Geniostoma rupestre). Throughout the valley - clusters of pale green flower buds are now opening to small starry pale green scented flowers.
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| Whauwhaupaku/Five Finger in flower |
Whauwhaupaku / Five Finger (Pseudopanax arboreus). Throughout the valley. Purply-black flower buds opening to pale green flowers. Check out the male tree half way along the fence on the left in the Heritage area.
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| Kotukutuku flowers turning red after they have been fertilized |
The NZ Tree fuchsia / kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata). Fresh flowers in full nectar production are green with purple markings. The flowers change colour to pink or red once they have been fertilized with pollen and nectar production has ceased. They are then more noticeable to walkers. Along the Swamp and Te Mahanga Tracks and on Lake Road in the vicinity of the Beech Track. Look for the trees with the distinctive flaking reddish-brown bark on their trunks and the red flowers that have fallen on the ground.
Karamu (Coprosma robusta). Throughout the valley - flowering is in the early stages (late August) so flower bud clusters still predominate on many trees. Male flowers dangle delicate stamens. Female flowers are smaller and spiky and often appear while there are still some of last year’s berries on the tree.
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| Kohuhu flowers |
Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium). Green buds opening to dark purple flowers that turn almost black as they age. Throughout the valley but look for the tree along the fence at the Heritage area.
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| Male kawakawa flowers |
Kawakawa (Macropiper exelsum). Throughout the valley. The green ‘candles’ are packed with minute buds. A proportion are flowering - the tall slender males shedding pollen, the females catching it on translucent white stigmas.
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| Akeake flower buds |
Akeake (Dodonaea viscosa). On the hill side of Lake Road, just south of the shag tree, an akeake is now covered with small reddish-brown or purplish buds. Across the valley on the sunny western ridge, some are already flowering.
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| Karaka flowers. |
Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus). Beside Lake Road on the northern side of the Union Mine Track. Small creamy-green flowers were beginning to open in early September.
Makomako (Aristotelia serrata). Throughout the valley and along Lake Road. Clusters of small green-white buds opening to white flowers which change to wine-red as they mature.
Heketara / Bush daisy (Olearia rani). Two large trees on the western hillside opposite the weka gate now covered with creamy white flowers.
Tarata / Lemonwood (Pittosporum eugenioides). Throughout the valley, but look for the bush overhanging the fence at the Heritage area with clusters of spiky cream flowers.
Tataramoa / Bush lawyer (Rubus cissoides). Now in full flower throughout the valley. For the best view look for the vine on the lake side below the road just before the beginning of the Valley View track or on the tree on the left of the entrance to the kaka feeders at the base of the top dam.
New season's fruit forming
Porokaiwhiri / Pigeonwood (Hedycarya arborea). Bunches of dark glossy green berries are developing. Best seen on the trees along the roadside through the weka gate as you approach the southern part of the Valley View track.
Karewao / Kareao / supplejack (Ripogonum scandens). Clusters of new season’s fruit forming. Throughout the valley but easily seen along both the Beech and Swamp Tracks.
Kanono (Coprosma grandifolia). Medium sized pale-green fruit on the female trees throughout the valley and especially along Lake Road.
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Akakura seed capsules forming |
Akakura / scarlet rata vine (Metrosideros fulgens). The flowers previously seen around the western fence line, on the western slopes above the Lower Lake and on the Around the Lakes Track, have dropped their bright orange-red stamens and are developing into seed capsules.
What's fruiting and seeding?
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| Coastal tree daisy |
Coastal tree daisy (Olearia solandri). Look for the small bush growing on the bank opposite the Safety sign at the beginning of Lake Road. The small fluffy seed heads at the front of the bush have dispersed but there are still many seeds on the sheltered side.
Ferns
Manamana or hen and chickens fern (Asplenium bulbiferum). Small plantlets called bulbils (chickens) are appearing on some leaf fronds - plants can be seen throughout the valley, but especially along the Te Mahanga and Swamp Tracks.
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| Manamana fern | Manamana plantlets |
Nature's Corner is written by Sanctuary volunteers Pam Fuller and Allison Buchan.
© All photographs, except where indicated, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary.
Clicking on photos with blue borders will take you to a larger photo.
Published October 28, 2004