There are 7 mistletoe species in New Zealand, and one extinct mistletoe. Most are nationally threatened species such is their rareness. Mistletoes are unusual plants, they “live off” another host plant. The New Zealand mistletoes are more unusual still – they take half their nutrients from their host but they can also photosynthesise. The technical term for this is “hemi-parasitic”. Unfortunately most mistletoes don’t have common names as they have never been “common”!
The most noticable flowering mistletoes are the three species of beech mistletoes (Peraxilla colensoi, P. tetrapetala and Alepis flavida), with their spectacular large bright red or yellow flowers. These flowers are almost exclusively pollinated by tui and bellbirds who can twist open the flower to obtain the nectar. Thus the mistletoe needs these specific birds and the birds need the plant. These mistletoes only grow on beech trees so you won’t find them in Otatara. However, you will find three different mistletoe species – Korthalsella salicornioides – the smallest mistletoe in the world! – usually found on manuka or Coprosma propinqua (mingimingi); Tupeia Antarctica – usually found on marbleleaf or lowland ribbonwood and Ileostylus micranthus. The latter species is the most common and has a lot of hosts including many exotic species. To spot Ileostylus look for a plant that looks like broadleaf which seems to be growing on another type of tree or shrub. Although this species has insignificant flowers, it does have bright yellow fruit which are favoured by birds. All mistletoes are “ice-cream” plants for possums and many have become locally extinct in other places in New Zealand for that reason. You can make a difference to mistletoes locally by trapping possums.
You can learn more about these and other native plants on the New Zealand Plant Conservation Website - www.nzpcn.org.nz
Posted: 5 February 2015
While everyone was on holiday the koru maze was still in demand - Donna and her family of ducklings enjoyed running round it!
Posted: 14 January 2015
Bug Jigsaws – some new floor jigsaws have been created by Janet Hodgetts. A giant spider, butterfly and weta have been skilfully cut up into jigsaw pieces by Derek Parkes and will be available for schools and visitors to use soon. The jigsaws were paid for by Southland Branch of Forest and Bird.
The Jo Ogier Art Workshops in February are now fully subscribed, but we do have a “reserves” list in case anyone drops out – so if you would like to be added to the list, email Chris.
Coming up in 2015 are more workshops – “know your native plants”, “foraging” and “beginners nature photography” are some in the pipeline – we do not have dates set yet but if you are interested in any of those workshop ideas email Chris and she will let you know the dates once arranged.
The Nature Centre building is available for hire to hold your own workshops – art, music, health related - look at the following link for more details http://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/education-centre/
And, of course, we welcome more volunteers on Fridays (free plants for help in the nursery), and we have native plants for sale at $5 each (proceeds to the Education Centre) – so come along and join us!
Posted: 14 January 2015
On 19th December 2014, we held our Christmas Break-up at the nursery. A time to look back over the year, thank our volunteers, celebrate and have some fun! The new koru maze was in action again with bubbles and kite flying. Bronwyn lead decoration making, some good food was enjoyed and a little bit of nursery work was also done!
Posted: 14 January 2015
To rival our patron Ruud Kleinpaste – the Bugman, New Zealand’s Mothman Brian Patrick visited in December. He had come to do some surveys for DoC at Awarua but came and stayed with us for a few days with his family. He was impressed with the new giant bug jigsaws that Janet Hodgetts had just finished for the Education Centre. A moth survey undertaken at our place a few years ago (light trapping at night) had collected over 60 different moth species.
Posted: 14 January 2015
