Rhabdothamnus solandri

Numerous small specimens of this distinctive shrub remain present, as in 1997, on the steep, almost weed-free streambanks above the Native Plant Trail. The occurrence appears to be about the same density as remembered, and the size of the plants not significantly more, but this may be a failure of memory and observation.

Great care needs to be taken not to endanger these specimens, as though the species is not considered endangered, propagation on the mainland is rare due to local extinction of bird species required for pollination of the seeds. So though these plants are long-lived, they are unlikely to be replaced when they die. Thus a slow long-term extinction is said to be already in progress for this species, unless reversed by careful site restorations. We have not yet learned the bird species required for pollination of Rhabdothamnus, but read somewhere that the species involved are all now extinct. When time permits we will research this further, and appreciate any info available.
See
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_debt

Posted on August 27, 2019 01:11 AM by kaipatiki_naturewatch