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Roadside Rata
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A few weeks ago we took a drive up the coast to Karamea,the northernmost settlement on the West Coast of the South Island.
There is no road going further north from there,only the famous Heaphy Track.
These huge trees were towering over the road near the top of a saddle between Mokihinui and Little Wanganui,not far from Karamea.
Two of them,the closest and furthest of the group of three are Rata,the middle one with fine weeping foliage is Rimu.
(In the workshop you can also see a shot with the road in for scale).
Rata trees, along with the pohutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand. The rata and pohutukawa belong in the myrtle family of trees. Other members of this family include manuka, kanuka and swamp maire. There are two main types of rata, the northern and southern.
Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) usually begins life as an epiphyte or plant perched on a host tree. Its roots grow down to the ground, finally enclosing the host tree and producing a huge tree up to 25 metres high with a trunk of 2.5 metres through. It is found throughout the North Island and in the South Island, south to about Westport.
Southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata) grows from a seed in the ground to become a tree up to 15 metres high with a trunk 1 metre through. It is found from sea level to 760 metres and distributed from Whangarei south to Stewart Island, although it is rare in the North Island.
Rata trees have glossy dark green leaves and trunks that are often gnarled and twisted. However they are best known for their brilliant red flowers that appear in profusion from November to January, depending on location, and can be seen from some distance away. The trees tend to flower well only once every few years and seem to favour the high rainfall conditions of the West Coast. Native birds such as the tui, bellbird and kaka all benefit from the presence of rata trees in the forest.
Since brushtail possum were introduced from Australia in the nineteenth century, they have spread throughout New Zealand. As possum populations have built up in forest areas, there has been a corresponding loss of rata and some other forest species. Possums eat a wide range of plants, but show strong preferences for some species like the rata and are also known to prey on native wildlife such as kokako chicks. Studies have shown that they will often browse one or a few trees, while ignoring others of the same species nearby.
Rata trees cannot tolerate browsing. A mature tree can be killed in three years with intensive browsing and even young trees, although they can survive for longer, will eventually die if browsed regularly. When the browsed trees eventually die back, the canopy, or top layer of the forest, is then opened up. Once the canopy is open, the trees are exposed to storms, insects and diseases and will suffer further. Because possum numbers have increased dramatically in recent years, the threat to rata and other species is even greater. Possum control costs have also increased significantly, compounding the problem. Because of the increase in possum numbers and the cost of controlling them, control efforts have to concentrate on the forest areas that are considered most at risk.
(information from DOC)
Hope you like this shot of another of our larger native trees.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
Steve |
ferranjlloret, Argus, eqshannon, bobcat08, boreocypriensis, Gert-Paassen, jaycee has marked this note useful
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Hi Steve,
A very interesting document. A beautiful landscape. Greetings from the antipodals.
- Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3840 W: 190 N: 11430]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(35227) - [2008-11-29 1:39]
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Wonderful trees: quite different in shape from any European trees Steve.
I like the lighting, taken in your winter and the inclusion of the BG hills are a good way of getting some idea of the habitat. This must be where you take some of your fungi shots. The climate must be wet enough to sustain the epiphytes that are visible here.
A great shot of another fine glimpse of your country and thanks for sharing it.
Cheers,
Ivan
Now this image would make a good cammo place for a person from the emerald Triangle of Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity area...of course in winter it is impossible..but in summer...heheheh..I Know stories...Very neat environmental image Steve!
Bob
Hi Steve,
What a amazing trees are overthere. Are they just so huges as The Tana Mahuta at North Island?? i like your POV. Impressive shot and above the misty background makes this recording is a bit mysterious. Interseting notoes Steve. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice sunday and TFS BOB
Hi Steve, splendid scene capture and also this gigantic Rata trees which you composed them of the center of the frame. Realy relaxing view and well prpared notes on the huge rata trees.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram
Hi Steve,
nice picture of an piece of your land with much green colours.
Good pov and deepthworking.
gert
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- joey
(24727)
- [2008-11-30 10:44]
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Hi Steve,
a nice photo of these big trees.
Superb detail.
Great composition.
Nice colours.
Well done,
Joe
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- jaycee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(21912) - [2008-11-30 10:50]
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Hi Steve,
I have not seen a Rata tree before! What an amazing tree it must be. This is a beautiful study in greens with the various shades on the different trees. The Ratas seem to be towering over the rest and over the mountains in the background. A beautiful scene with the perfect blue sky for a bonus.
Jane
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1220 W: 2 N: 4620]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(13962)