On this lovely Friday I'll be sharing some photos of epiphyte and vine species that I enjoyed on a recent adventure in forest near Kawhia on the west coast of the North Island. It was very dry in the forest yet none of the epiphyte or vine species I came across were wilted. The orchid species were common on the ridges while the vines were abundant in the valleys. Please feel free to share your recent epiphyte/vine/mistletoe finds!
Piripiri (Ichthyostomum pygmaeum) was abundant on rewarewa (Knightia excelsa). Photo: C. Kirby.
From the ridge top I spotted these tawa that were covered by Kareao (Ripogonum scandens - on right) and Rata (Metrosideros fulgens - on left). Photo: C. Kirby.
Peka-a-waka (Earina mucronata) were displaying seed capsules. Photo: C. Kirby.
Raupeka (Earina autumnalis) were getting ready to flower. Photo: C. Kirby.
Nest epiphytes provided habitat for many other species - spot the orhids and ferns in the foreground and puka (Griselinia lucida) in the background. Photo: C. Kirby.
New rātā (Metrosideros fulgens) growth looked very glossy in the sunshine. Photo: C. Kirby.
Drymoanthus adversus had large seed capsules. Photo: C. Kirby.
Mangemange (Lygodium articulatum) was densely smothering tree trunks or hanging across the track in thick curtains. Photo: C. Kirby.
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