Rose blooms after long wait

A vulnerable native plant has flowered at the University of Waikato, after a five year wait.

The flower of hades (Dactylanthus taylorii), also known as the wood rose, was planted in 2007 by PhD student Liz Overdyck and the Department of Conservation’s Dr Avibhakta Holzapfel. They had a long wait ahead of them because the plant takes at least four years to flower.

Ms Overdyck is ecstatic about the success of the project.

“I thought I’d peek in and have a look and there it was! That’s the huge hurdle.”

It wasn’t clear if the plant was growing, because it grows underground as a parasite.

“It’s a parasite in that it lives off the host tree. It doesn’t have any green parts,” said Ms Overdyck. The unique plant, which grows only in New Zealand, requires little food and doesn’t damage the host tree.

There is a lot of information for the Hamilton Botanical Society and DoC to discover about the Dactylanthus, including how the separate male and female plants are pollinated. It is believed the sweet and unusual nectar attracts native New Zealand bats which are also a rare species.

“We can learn so much more about this plant, such as what chemical properties in the nectar attract pollinators and which animals disperse seed,” said Mr Holzapfel.

The flowers emerged in a circle, so could have been from one seed. Ms Overdyck said hundreds were planted and it is possible that more of the seeds might still flower.

During the five-year wait for the wood rose to flower, Ms Overdyck planted other rare plants in the university’s threatened plant garden.

“I’d like people to be aware that there are these plants out there,” she said. “New Zealand is very lucky to have some unusual plants.”