Detection of species and hybrids in Nga roimate o Tohe, Pimelea eremitica

Ngā roimata ō Tōhe (Pimelea eremitica) is an endemic, low sprawling shrub which is listed as a nationally critical threatened plant species in Aotearoa New Zealand. The only known wild population occurs on Maringinoa, which is an exposed summit of a large basaltic outcrop of Maunganui, located on the west coast of Te Taitokerau (Northland).

Te Roroa and the Department of Conservation have been leading ongoing conservation efforts including attempts to eliminate browser activity by fencing, distribution mapping including abseil surveillance of the cliff surface immediately below the summit, as well as harvesting of wild cuttings to propagate more individuals in collaboration with Unitec, Biosense, and the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Despite these efforts, we have seen the wild population decline to severe critical levels, with the last surveillance operation identifying only one individual plant at the summit of Maringinoa, and eight individuals on the cliff face using abseil surveillance with a limited range of movement .

In order to assist our future conservation efforts we need to idenify how many unique individuals of Ngā Roimata ō Tōhe exist in cultivation and in the remaining wild population, and also determine whether the are any potential hybrids with other Pimelea species. The project aims to provide genetic analysis to assist in our understanding of the genetic diversity with all of our remaining individuals of this species, and also to action opportunities for connectivity to, and participation in genetic research between the relevant research organisations and kaitiaki of Te Roroa.

Taoho Patuawa
tpatuawa@teroroa.iwi.nz

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