Tree species in the Pinaceae are some of the most widely introduced non-native tree species globally, especially in the southern hemisphere. In New Zealand, plantations of radiata pine ( Pinus radiata D. Don) occupy c . 1.6 million ha and form 90% of planted forests. Although radiata pine has naturalized since 1904, there is a general view in New Zealand that this species has not invaded widely. We comprehensively review where...

Information about Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae), the most widespread and important New Zealand indigenous shrub species, is reviewed. L. scoparium is a variable species, requiring more study of the genetically based differences between New Zealand populations and the affinity of these populations to Australian populations and other closely allied Australian species. Improved understanding of the species’ variation will as...

An experiment was conducted over two years to investigate the effect of Coriaria arborea, a native nitrogen‐fixing shrub, on soil seed banks at sites representing a post‐volcanic successional sequence on Mt Tarawera, New Zealand. The sites ranged from bare volcanic ash and lapilli substrate, through low‐growing pre‐Coriaria vegetation, to dense stands of Coriaria scrub. Soils (to a depth of 50 mm) under recently established Co...

The ecology of Alseuosmia quercifolia, a small endemic shrub, was investigated, focussing on its habitat requirements, population dynamics, phenology and reproductive biology, and conservation status. This species occurs most commonly in lowland native forests of the Waikato region of the North Island (north of latitude 38°05'S), but is also found in scattered populations to North Cape. In the Waikato region it typically occup...

Alseuosmia quercifolia A.Cunn., previously treated as a hybrid (A. ×quercifolia) or as an entity informally known as A. sp. “Hakarimata”, is reinstated as a distinct species. This species occurs most commonly in lowland native forests of the Waikato region (from 38OS), but also occurs in sparse populations as far north as North Cape. Although lamina morphology is somewhat variable, A. quercifolia has a set of morphological cha...

A new, diploid species of Coprosma, C. pedicellata (2n = 44) is described and illustrated. It has a close morphological affinity with the northern New Zealand hexaploid species C. parviflora ( 2n = 132), which may be an ancient amphidiploid derivative. C. pedicellata is readily identified by its distinctive growth habit, habitat, and pendant pedicellate violet drupes. It is known from a few disjunct localities along the foothi...

A new species, Sporadanthus ferru‐gineus (Restionaceae), is described from the peat bogs of the northern North Island, New Zealand. It is distinguished from S. traversii by its more robust, brittle culms with swollen bases, different coloured rhizome scales and culms, and smaller, dehiscent fruit. In the past S. ferrugineus has been referred to Sporadanthus traversii , which is now treated as a Chatham Island endemic. Because...