Thread: Native plant identification

They can have my ragwort too while ya at it Rushy.There are so many nasty weeds in our beautiful bush.

Ngaio (Myoporum Laetum)

Can be used to repel sandflys and mosquito by rubbing the leaves on your skin.

Can also be toxic to stock.

Originally Posted by ebf

I'm keen to increase my practical plant id skills. In broad terms, I want to work on a list of 5-10 of the most important plants in the following categories:

Deer food:

Seven Finger / Pate / Schefflera digitata
Five Finger / Whauwhaupaku / Pseudopanax arboreus
NZ Broadleaf / Kapuka / Griselinia littoralis
Stinkwood/?/Coprosma foetidissima

Nasty

Gorse / ??? / Ulex europaeus
Stinging nettle/ Onga Onga / Urtica Ferox
??? / Tutu / Coriaria arborea
Cutty grass / Toetoe / Austroderia
Hookgrass/?/Uncinia spp.
Leatherwood/?/Oleria colensoi and others
Bush lawyer/?/Rubus cissoides

Usefull / Medicinal

Dock / ??? / ???
??? / Kawa Kawa / ???

Edible (human)

Fern root / Aruhe / ???
??? / Hinau / Elaeocarpus dentatus
??? / Tawa / Beilschmiedia tawa
??? / Kiekie / Freycinetia banksii
Black tree fern / Mamaku / Cyathea medullaris
Supplejack/?/Ripognum scandens soft growing tips and the red berries
bush lawyer/?/Rubus cissoides and R. parvus berries like blackberry but smaller. parvus has the biggest berries only seen it once in the Burke R near Haast Pass

Pls help me flesh out the lists...

I've added some in blue.
Bush lawyer is the vine with little barbs, catches on your clothes. Stinging nettle has 10cm soft serrated leaves with delicate furry hypodermics underneath.
I've found it quite hard to get a book which is useful for identfying an unknown plant in the bush. Most, like Salmon's Native Tees focus on trees. Ferns and vines are harder to reference. Look for Andrew Crowe's "Which native tree ?' and "Which native forest plant ?" Publ Penguin 1992 and 1994 and reprinted. and he did a hardcover book "A field guide to the native edible plants of New Zealand" pbl Collins 1981

ta, been a bit slack with updating, will work my way thru the last few additions later this morning

Sorry slight off topic and this can be tidied up later, but has anyone seen that program (perhaps it was just the one episode?) about NZ 'native' birds and the whole Gwandana land / Zealandia / New Zealand movement of land etc..? It was really interesting but I wish they had a similar thing for plants!! It was about the evolution of birds and how for example the Kiwi actually started in Aussy.

Visit Welly library and get "Ghosts of Gondwana" by Greorge Gibbs.

Has fauna and flora from a tectonic movement perspective. Includes the divericate plants and proof of moa browsing, as well as some interesting chapters on hebe group of plants and similarities between South America and NZ.

The visitor centre at Zealandia has an awesome visual display from 200 M years ago to today about Gondwana breakup, how Antarctica functioned as a land bridge etc.

Latest updates...

Tx to those providing info

Deer food:

Broadleaf / Kapuka / Griselinia littoralis
Bushmans Friend / Rangiora / Brachyglottis repanda
Crown Fern / Kiokio / Blechnum discolor - Whitetail
Five Finger / Whauwhaupaku / Pseudopanax arboreus
Seven Finger / Pate / Schefflera digitata
Stinkwood / Hūpiro / Coprosma foetidissima
Pepper Wood / ??? / ???
Whiteywood / Mahoe / Melicytus ramiflorus
Wild Irishman / Matagouri / Discaria toumatou - Fallow

Nasty

??? / Karaka / Corynocarpus laevigatus - has a poisonous seed in its fleshy orange fruit
??? / Tītoki / Alectryon excelsus – contains cyanide-producing poisons
Bushmans Lawyer / Tātarāmoa / Rubus cissoides
Cutty grass / Toetoe / Austroderia
Blueberry lilly, Inkberry / Turutu / Dianella Nigra - (purple) berries poisonous
Gorse / ??? / Ulex europaeus
Hookgrass/ ??? / Uncinia spp.
Kangaroo Apple / Poroporo / Solanum aviculare, S. laciniatum – their unripe green berries are poisonous
Kowhai / Kowhai / Sophora species – its yellow seeds are poisonous if chewed.
Leatherwood / ? / Oleria colensoi
Mousehole Tree / Ngiao / Myoporum Laetum - has poisonous leaves
Spear Grass / ??? / ???
Stinging Nettle / Onga Onga / Urtica Ferox
Tutu / Tutu / Coriaria arborea - just about every part of the tree (roots, bark, berries) is poisonous

Usefull / Medicinal

??? / Koromiko / Hebe stricta - eating young leaves is a remedy for constipation
??? / Kowhai / Sophora spp.
Dock / ??? / ??? - treatment for Onga Onga sting
Flax / Harakeke / Phormium colensoi & tenax - pulp of leaves & roots, heated, use for infections and boils
Manuka / Manuka / Leptospermum scoparium - leaves made into tea for fever, ash for dandruff
Mousehole Tree / Ngiao / Myoporum Laetum - repel sandflys and mosquito by rubbing the leaves on your skin
Pepper Tree / Kawa Kawa / Macropiper excelsum - toothache, upset tummy
Pepperwood / Horopito / Pseudowintera colorata - leaves & tender branches steeped, use for chafing, wounds, bruises, cuts
Rata / Rata / ???

Edible (human)

??? / Hinau / Elaeocarpus dentatus
??? / Karaka / Corynocarpus laevigatus - flesh of berries, seed is poisonous
??? / Kiekie / Freycinetia banksii
??? / Tawa / Beilschmiedia tawa
Black tree fern / Mamaku / Cyathea medullaris
Cabbage tree / Ti Kouka / Cordyline australis - center of the head of the tree ,the base or pith(the white bit) of the spear like center can be eaten raw
Fern root / Aruhe / Pteridium esculentum - carbohydrate, root cooked, then beaten to remove hard outer skin
Sow Thistle / Puha / ???
Suplejack / Kareao / Ripogonum scandens - soft tips are edible
Watercress / Kowhitiwhiti / ???

Deer food:

Broadleaf / Kapuka / Griselinia littoralis
Bushmans Friend / Rangiora / Brachyglottis repanda
Crown Fern / Kiokio / Blechnum discolor - Whitetail
Five Finger / Whauwhaupaku / Pseudopanax arboreus
Seven Finger / Pate / Schefflera digitata
Stinkwood / Hūpiro / Coprosma foetidissima
Pepper Wood / ??? / ???
Whiteywood / Mahoe / Melicytus ramiflorus
Wild Irishman / Matagouri / Discaria toumatou - Fallow


Nasty

??? / Karaka / Corynocarpus laevigatus - has a poisonous seed in its fleshy orange fruit
??? / Tītoki / Alectryon excelsus – contains cyanide-producing poisons
Bushmans Lawyer / Tātarāmoa / Rubus cissoides
Cutty grass / Toetoe / Austroderia
Blueberry lilly, Inkberry / Turutu / Dianella Nigra - (purple) berries poisonous
Gorse / ??? / Ulex europaeus
Hookgrass/ ??? / Uncinia spp.
Kangaroo Apple / Poroporo / Solanum aviculare, S. laciniatum – their unripe green berries are poisonous
Kowhai / Kowhai / Sophora species – its yellow seeds are poisonous if chewed.
Leatherwood / ? / Oleria colensoi
Mousehole Tree / Ngiao / Myoporum Laetum - has poisonous leaves
Spear Grass / ??? / ???
Stinging Nettle / Onga Onga / Urtica Ferox
Tutu / Tutu / Coriaria arborea - just about every part of the tree (roots, bark, berries) is poisonous



Usefull / Medicinal

??? / Koromiko / Hebe stricta - eating young leaves is a remedy for constipation
??? / Kowhai / Sophora spp.
Dock / ??? / ??? - treatment for Onga Onga sting
Flax / Harakeke / Phormium colensoi & tenax - pulp of leaves & roots, heated, use for infections and boils
Manuka / Manuka / Leptospermum scoparium - leaves made into tea for fever, ash for dandruff
Mousehole Tree / Ngiao / Myoporum Laetum - repel sandflys and mosquito by rubbing the leaves on your skin
Pepper Tree / Kawa Kawa / Macropiper excelsum - toothache, upset tummy
Pepperwood / Horopito / Pseudowintera colorata - leaves & tender branches steeped, use for chafing, wounds, bruises, cuts
Rata / Rata / ???


Edible (human)

??? / Hinau / Elaeocarpus dentatus
??? / Karaka / Corynocarpus laevigatus - flesh of berries, seed is poisonous
??? / Kiekie / Freycinetia banksii
??? / Tawa / Beilschmiedia tawa
Black tree fern / Mamaku / Cyathea medullaris
Cabbage tree / Ti Kouka / Cordyline australis - center of the head of the tree ,the base or pith(the white bit) of the spear like center can be eaten raw
Fern root / Aruhe / Pteridium esculentum - carbohydrate, root cooked, then beaten to remove hard outer skin
Sow Thistle / Puha / ???
Suplejack / Kareao / Ripogonum scandens - soft tips are edible
Watercress / Kowhitiwhiti / ???

Great thread ebf

I've made a few notes for myself that I take with me out hunting including some on deer browse plants. They aren't to hand at the moment but I'll hunt them out and compare notes.
Just looking at your list now off the top of my head...
Matagouri I'm not sure deer browse on these shrubs [as they have pretty thorny defences] but you often find deer, or sign, around them. I'd say that deer are there for the grass and the matagouri offers them the security of being able to graze within the cover of the shrubs.
Pepperwood I don't think this is a favourite deer fodder, I'm sure they will browse on it when their other options are limited, but it's not something they'd seek out. Maybe it's a seasonal thing ie in the hard times of winter.

I'd add my favourite alpine snack to your human edibles list Snowberries - yum
Also Kawakawa makes a nice tea -hardly dilmah, but is quite refreshing.

One thing I've been meaning to ask about is -are there any clear plant preferences that the stags have for stripping or polishing their antlers?

Originally Posted by footsore

Deer food:

Broadleaf / Kapuka / Griselinia littoralis
Bushmans Friend / Rangiora / Brachyglottis repanda
Crown Fern / Kiokio / Blechnum discolor - Whitetail
Five Finger / Whauwhaupaku / Pseudopanax arboreus
Seven Finger / Pate / Schefflera digitata
Stinkwood / Hūpiro / Coprosma foetidissima
Pepper Wood / ??? / ???
Whiteywood / Mahoe / Melicytus ramiflorus
Wild Irishman / Matagouri / Discaria toumatou - Fallow


Nasty

??? / Karaka / Corynocarpus laevigatus - has a poisonous seed in its fleshy orange fruit
??? / Tītoki / Alectryon excelsus – contains cyanide-producing poisons
Bushmans Lawyer / Tātarāmoa / Rubus cissoides
Cutty grass / Toetoe / Austroderia
Blueberry lilly, Inkberry / Turutu / Dianella Nigra - (purple) berries poisonous
Gorse / ??? / Ulex europaeus
Hookgrass/ ??? / Uncinia spp.
Kangaroo Apple / Poroporo / Solanum aviculare, S. laciniatum – their unripe green berries are poisonous
Kowhai / Kowhai / Sophora species – its yellow seeds are poisonous if chewed.
Leatherwood / ? / Oleria colensoi
Mousehole Tree / Ngiao / Myoporum Laetum - has poisonous leaves
Spear Grass / ??? / ???
Stinging Nettle / Onga Onga / Urtica Ferox
Tutu / Tutu / Coriaria arborea - just about every part of the tree (roots, bark, berries) is poisonous



Usefull / Medicinal

??? / Koromiko / Hebe stricta - eating young leaves is a remedy for constipation
??? / Kowhai / Sophora spp.
Dock / ??? / ??? - treatment for Onga Onga sting
Flax / Harakeke / Phormium colensoi & tenax - pulp of leaves & roots, heated, use for infections and boils
Manuka / Manuka / Leptospermum scoparium - leaves made into tea for fever, ash for dandruff
Mousehole Tree / Ngiao / Myoporum Laetum - repel sandflys and mosquito by rubbing the leaves on your skin
Pepper Tree / Kawa Kawa / Macropiper excelsum - toothache, upset tummy
Pepperwood / Horopito / Pseudowintera colorata - leaves & tender branches steeped, use for chafing, wounds, bruises, cuts
Rata / Rata / ???


Edible (human)

??? / Hinau / Elaeocarpus dentatus
??? / Karaka / Corynocarpus laevigatus - flesh of berries, seed is poisonous
??? / Kiekie / Freycinetia banksii
??? / Tawa / Beilschmiedia tawa
Black tree fern / Mamaku / Cyathea medullaris
Cabbage tree / Ti Kouka / Cordyline australis - center of the head of the tree ,the base or pith(the white bit) of the spear like center can be eaten raw
Fern root / Aruhe / Pteridium esculentum - carbohydrate, root cooked, then beaten to remove hard outer skin
Sow Thistle / Puha / ???
Suplejack / Kareao / Ripogonum scandens - soft tips are edible
Watercress / Kowhitiwhiti / ???

Great thread ebf

I've made a few notes for myself that I take with me out hunting including some on deer browse plants. They aren't to hand at the moment but I'll hunt them out and compare notes.
Just looking at your list now off the top of my head...
Matagouri I'm not sure deer browse on these shrubs [as they have pretty thorny defences] but you often find deer, or sign, around them. I'd say that deer are there for the grass and the matagouri offers them the security of being able to graze within the cover of the shrubs.
Pepperwood I don't think this is a favourite deer fodder, I'm sure they will browse on it when their other options are limited, but it's not something they'd seek out. Maybe it's a seasonal thing ie in the hard times of winter.

I'd add my favourite alpine snack to your human edibles list Snowberries - yum
Also Kawakawa makes a nice tea -hardly dilmah, but is quite refreshing.

One thing I've been meaning to ask about is -are there any clear plant preferences that the stags have for stripping or polishing their antlers?

Stags hunt Tanekaha with a passion for the rub up. But they will use Pepperwood this seems to be second choice. Mountain Celery another choice. If there is not a lot of these species they will use manuka, kanuka and anything else available.

A lot depend on the forest type they live In of course. The deer seemed to instinctively know that the top three tree types give a beautiful brown glow to their antlers. Farm deer will often have a dull grey coloured antler because prefered types are just not available.

Up in the Alpine area we hunt there might only be one tiny Tanekaha in 500 hect of tussock and scrub but the stags find them alright and thrash the hell out of them.

Interesting Tanekaha bark boiled was a favourite for years of the home tanner, It gave the skins a nice brown finish.

Mountain tutu has to be on the deer food list. Sika magnet in spring.

Mountain tutu - Coriaria Plumose

Not to be confused with Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Haha, the "arch", he is such a cool guy ! Awesome sense of humour

Interesting thread, Are there any good books available someone can recommend that I can match the names with pictures so i have a better chance of identifing them on my walks ..

Books:

Andrew Crow
Field Guide to Native Edible Plants
Which Native Fern
Which Native Forest Plant
Which Native Tree

John Dawson & Rob Lucas
Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest

Johanna Knox
A Foragers Treasury

Websites:

Nga Tipu Whakaoranga (Maori Plant Use)
http://maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/native-p...ts and animals

This is one of the most authorative books on our native flora...written by Mrs E C Richards...well worth trying to locate one...

Our New Zealand Trees and Flowers - E C Richards - sella Online Auctions & Classifieds | New Zealand