Science and Research Internal Report N0.56 Methods for the Control of Wandering Jew (tradescantia Fluminensis) at “rangitawa’, Rangitikei District, and Notes on Other Aspects of Conserving This Forest Remnant

Methods for the control of wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis) are reviewed and one selected to eradicate this weed from a forest remnant near the lower Rangitikei River. The botanical importance of the forest is assessed in the context of Manawatu Plains Ecological District. Its future conservation management is related to other problem weeds, notably Cobaea scandens, Solanum jasminoides, Passiflora mollissima, Wisteria sinensis, Aegopodium podograria, Lonicera japonica, and Hedera helix. At the invitation of the owner, Mr Bruce McKelvie, representatives of Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (E. Suckling) and Deparhnent of Conservation (B. Lovelock, C Ogle) visited a 12.4ha remnant of forest beside the "Rangitawa" homestead Pryce Line, Kakariki, near Marton, on 15 June 1989. The remnant is fully fenced and divided by a gravelled vehicle track. We inspected both parts of the forest on foot and much of the forest perimeter and the sides of the vehicle track. A list was made of all native plants, and invasive (or potentially invasive) adventive plants. The special problems of controlling wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis) were discussed with the landowner. This paper is a revision of that sent to the Queen Elizabeth 11National Trust in July 1989. Changes to the earlier script mostly involve the more formal citing of plant names references. 2. VEGETATION AND LANDFORM The forest has been substantially stock-free for many years, and its structure contrasts strongly with most other forest remnants of the district, where stock grazing has generally eliminated the understorey and native ground cover. The following are the main forest types observed; there are various mixtures intermediate between the broad types: (a) A canopy dominated by totara (Podocarpus torara) with scattered titoki (Alectryon excelsus), hinau (Elaeocarpus denratus) and matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia); upper understorey of mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus); lower understorey shrubs of Melicope simplex and Coprosma areolata, with the scrambling ground cover of locally common Phymatosorus scandens, replaced by dense mats of wandering Jew in some places. (b) Similar to (a), except that the canopy is dominated by tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa); this appears to occur on less well-drained sites.