Re: NZ Metrosideros (was Street trees)
- Subject: Re: NZ Metrosideros (was Street trees)
- From: B* G*
- Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 02:24:44 -0700
theryans@xtra.co.nz writes:
>This species is hardier than M excelsa and occurs naturally right to the
>southen tip of North Island, including the local bush in our area, but
>many have been lost over the years as it is, alas, a very favoured food
>among our worst local bush pests the Australian Brush-tailed Possums,
>whose tendency to concentrate on one tree until it is totally defoliated
>has led to the death of many a fine Rata. Strenuous efforts have been
>made in recent times to control these creatures and with their reduction
>we hope the remaining mature trees will survive and replacements get the
>chance to grow.
Hmm...i wonder if the Rata has a tendency to go wild in places it is not
native (since you say it is hardier than M. excelsa, i think it would do
just fine here). With it's sometimes epiphytic and then strangler nature i
could see people angrily tearing out beautiful large Rata due to them
invading forests :) (hey, it could happen....i dont think most though
Senicio mikianoides would turn out to be such a pest when they introduced
it in California).
__________________________
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Yeah, well weren't we all once before we felt loss for the first time?
