Botanical features of Tiritiri Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

Abstract

The main features of the vegetation and vascular flora of Tiritiri Island at the time when grazing by farm animals ceased in 1972 are recorded, together with comments on changes in the following 3 years. No original forest remains but a few hectares of forest have developed in some gullies. The small stands of mapou (Myrsine australis) followed Leptospermum. Further development has been arrested by grazing animals. Succession now follows different pathways. The extensive Pteridium fernland developing from grassland will give way to broad-leaved shrubs. From there kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile) forest is likely to develop over most of the island, with pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) becoming locally prominent. An annotated species list is presented. Of the 339 plant species and varieties recorded 186 are natives. © 1978 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.