Our Flora

The reserve is a thriving habitat for a wide variety of flora, including at least 192 plant species of which at least 154 are native and 10 are threatened, as well as an incredible diversity of fungi and lichen.

Plants

The reserve contains a number of distinct floral zones:

• Podocarp-broadleaf forest

• Coastal vegetation with an array of Coprosma, tree ferns and tree fuchsia

• A small sphagnum-and-sedge wetland

• Rewilding pasture with sedges, bracken and various grasses

The forest is dominated by kamahi (Weimannia racemosa), rata (Metrosideros umbellate), rimu and miro trees. The coniferous rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) may live up to 900 years and grow to 50 metres in height, and there are many fine examples of these giants of the forest within the Reserve.

A list of the plants identified by Chris Stowe, and Brian and Chris Rance, during recent plant surveys can be found here.

Environment Southland’s High Value Areas Report on Mamaku Point can be viewed here.

Fungi & Lichen

The reserve is home to an extremely diverse range of fungi and lichen, as detailed by visiting biologist Silvia Rodriguez, in her research report that can be accessed here.

Conservation Projects

The Trust’s strategy is to conserve the existing native flora and to help facilitate the rewilding of those areas that were previously cleared for farm grazing. 

The Mamaku Point Restoration Plan, which details the full range of conservation projects we intend to initiate over the next 10 years, can be viewed here.