On the 31st of August, a large team of Waikato explorers set off on an adventure to Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve, in the Hauraki Gulf of the Auckland region.
The weather was absolutely stunning and we were rewarded for our early start with a wonderful 8 hours wandering around the lava flows of this 600 year old volcano.
The scoria of this island is very well drained and extremely exposed to sun and wind... doesn't this sound familiar? The volcanic environment is very similar to the canopy habitat of epiphytes, they both have very little water storing capacity and a vulnerability to high light and winds. As a result... Rangitoto Island is inhabited by many epiphytic species, by the end of the day we were calling it Epiphyte Island!
The weather was absolutely stunning and we were rewarded for our early start with a wonderful 8 hours wandering around the lava flows of this 600 year old volcano.
The scoria of this island is very well drained and extremely exposed to sun and wind... doesn't this sound familiar? The volcanic environment is very similar to the canopy habitat of epiphytes, they both have very little water storing capacity and a vulnerability to high light and winds. As a result... Rangitoto Island is inhabited by many epiphytic species, by the end of the day we were calling it Epiphyte Island!
Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve OR Epiphyte Island! Photo: C. Kirby.
Here is a list of species growing on the scoria of Rangitoto that commonly occur as epiphytes:
- Puka Griselinia lucida
- Kōwaowao Microsorum pustulatum subsp. pustulatum
- Peka-a-waka Earina mucronata
- Winika Winika cunninghamii
- Kahakaha Collospermum hastatum
- Kōwharawhara Astelia solandri
- Raurenga Cardiomanes reniforme
- Kohurangi Brachyglottis kirkii var. kirkii
- Filmy ferns Hymenophyllum species
- Whiri o Raukatauri Phlegmariurus varius
- Mawake Asplenium flaccidum
- Petako Asplenium polyodon
- Pānako Blechnum filiforme
- Piripiri Ichthyostomum pygmaeum
- Mokimoki Microsorum scandens
- Whisk fern Psilotum nudum
- Ngārara wehi Pyrrosia eleagnifolia
- Fork fern Tmesipteris elongata
Puka (Griselinia lucida). Photo: C. Kirby.
Raurenga (Cardiomanes reniforme) and Kōwaowao (Microsorum pustulatum subsp. pustulatum). Photo: C. Kirby.
These Rangitoto plants are growing saxicolously (on rock) which is not uncommon for epiphytic species.
We all highly recommend spending some time on this beautiful island - it is a completely different world - full of interesting species!
A clump of kahakaha (Collospermum hastatum) and puka (Griselinia lucida). Photo: C. Kirby.
Everywhere you look are species that usually occur as epiphytes. Photo: C. Kirby.
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