Brush wattle and Moth plant seedlings removed in March

[NB this report was on March 18th. Hundreds more seedlings were removed in the last 2 weeks of March, and continue in April]

Probably 100-200 brush wattle seedlings, only 5-20cmH so could have waited, as they are a little hard to pull while the ground is so dry, but most observed have been quickly grabbed while cutting or uprooting dried oxtongue and wild carrot. The wattle seedlings are mostly in groups of 5-10, probably reflecting fallen pods.

We presume there are no birds that spread the seed, which is without fruit or other obvious attraction? And they are too heavy to spread on the wind, except perhaps in high winds while hanging on the tree. Do the pods open explosively, with enough force to move them far?

Moth plant seedlings are fewer in number this month, but some of those found, mostly among dense exotic herbs, have been up to 20cmH. One was c.1mH, on the margin of the Flame Tree Zone and under the karamu and ti kouka where a mature vine was found last year. This one, among a pile of cut Cape Honey Flower wood, may have broken and will need further removal when it regrows, the wood has been moved, and the ground is wetter. Most of the others seemed to be entirely uprooted.

Two Swan plant seedlings, and one on the kikuyu margin under the Flame Tree, were being observed as a novelty, and to perhaps determine which species they are, but after a recent news item about the toxic sap having caused 6 months' blindness in a Whangarei man, we decided to remove them now while they are small.

Posted on March 17, 2019 11:10 AM by kaipatiki_naturewatch