Wild native pathside vegetation
In our ongoing survey we have observed the welcome presence along streamside, bush interior and roadside paths in Kaipatiki Esplanade Reserve and Witheford Reserve of several native herb species outside the path borders, which will not cause problems to path users, and if protected will maintain or produce an ideal dense living groundcover, reducing erosion and dessication, providing habitat for native invertebrates, helping prevent invasion of environmental weeds, and the natural precursors over time to wild native shrubs and trees:
“Esler’s weed” - Senecio eslerii, a ragwort, (v. similar in appearance to Senecio vulgaris “Common ragwort”)
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/25411240
Solanum americanum (similar in appearance to Solanum nigrum “Black nightshade")
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/13880740
“Basket grass” (Oplismenus hirtellus imbeciles) - a soft, fragile grass that is easily compressed, lovely yielding surface to walk on, would not survive frequent trampling.
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/18028485
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/25407681
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/18028486
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/18020066
Basket grass arises throughout forest margins in sun to light shade, tolerating deep pine and tanekaha litter
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/13601480
and is usually present among tradescantia and exotic herbs, and spreads to provide ground cover in forest on hand-weeding, helping reduce invasions of aggressive exotics such as Veldt grass.
Microlaena stipoides "Weeping grass" (looks very similar to Piptatherum miliaceum) - still surviving wild in a few local hedges and road edges, this native grass has been planted in New Zealand and Australia as recreational turf. It is said to be mowable, and hardy enough for moderate pedestrian use
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/25369287
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/20293908
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/22362151
Its larger relative Microlaena avenacea “Bush rice grass” would probably be recognised as native
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/13881930
[NB Both Microlaena stipoides and Basket grass can look superficially similar to the aggressive invasive “Veldt grass” Ehrharta erecta https://inaturalist.nz/observations/19241225]
“Shore lobelia”, Lobelia anceps was observed in 1997-99 only on low estuarine banks and in the saltmarsh margins of coastal cliff
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/13474120
Since 2018 handweeding of exotic herbs and grasses from a wide treeless area near the steps from the downstream footbridge to Fernlea Rise, Shore lobelia’s first straggly stems have been seen in that damp area of run off from housing (and shrub/tree weeds) above the path. This longstanding local native forms attractive dense ground cover in rich soil, with pretty small blue flowers. In May 2019, exotic herbs and grasses, bangalow palms and other invasives were hand weeded from around this occurrence. It is hoped it will spread to adjacent areas presently bare of ground cover.
Haloragis erect, "Shrubby toatoa" was invaluable to the restoration in 1997-99, pointed out to us by Oratia Native Plant Nurseries proprietor Geoff Davidsen as one to be conserved as a nurse-plant for other native seedlings.
A semi-perennial or long-lived annual, it becomes brittle after a year or so and can grow to over a metre high, but the soft young foliage is easily tip-pruned with fingers, or older stems broken by hand or pruned with secateurs.
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/16349483
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/18153578
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/17137642
Carex dissita, lambertiana and uncinata are all present wild in the forest andits margins, and are ideal for pathside
Carex dissita and lambertiana:
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/18028474
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/17390107
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/17983260
C. uncinata:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/25406882
and while Carex geminata is too large and cutty to remain directly adjacent the path, and less common than it used to be before the forest grew up on the Kaipatiki Roadside, some remnants are still providing ideal erosion control and run-off filtration on bank tops where there is no tall vegetation.
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/17583096
Poroporo
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/17152097
and Gahnia lacera
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/18177439
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/15996590
need a little more space, and should be a metre from the path.
Native scrambling fuschsia might be seen wild, but so far has been observed only as a small fragment under harakeke at the Native Plant Trail entry, here:
-https://inaturalist.nz/observations/17549732
While many of these superficially resemble common weeds of arable land and gardens, they are part of the healthy, living environment that has long been the appeal of this stream side that for decades had little or no herbicide use. As they decay naturally these plants contribute to humus build up and thus the germination and development of native tree seedlings. Such lush, vibrant environments are in stark contrast to the dead compacted path edges and borders of many North Shore gardens and Reserves, and, though their components are unrecognised by most Reserve-users, the diverse wild plant communities are what make Kaipatiki Creek paths so appealing to joggers and walkers. Several joggers have told us it is their favourite place to run, because the paths are soft and the surroundings beautiful.
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