Dactylanthus taylorii (woodrose)
Dactylanthus taylorii, also known as the woodrose, is New Zealand's only fully parasitic flowering plant. It grows a root-like stem that is attached to the root of a host tree. The host tree moulds into the shape of a fluted wooden rose, giving the plant its common name, woodrose. It is pollinated by the lesser short-tailed bat.
This plant has never been considered common, and occurs in widely scattered sites. Currently there are likely to be only a few thousand remaining. The woodrose has the threat classification of serious decline. Threats to it include deforestation, collectors and browsing by possums, rats and pigs. Declines in species that are its natural pollinators and seed-dispersers probably also have an impact.
The management of D. taylorii is guided by a recovery plan that incorporates the exclusion of predators by using simple cages and by the hand-pollination of flowers.
Current situation
The woodrose is found from Northland to the Wairarapa, with the largest populations in East Cape and on the Central Plateau. There is also a small population on Little Barrier Island. However, the distribution and number of plants have declined recently and there are likely to be only a few thousand remaining.
The woodrose is currently distributed in only 4 per cent of its former range, with its range decreasing 32 per cent since the 1970s.
Change in distribution of Dactylanthus taylorii
Data source: Department of Conservation.
The map above shows the distribution of the Dactylanthus taylorii (woodrose) in New Zealand, including its estimated pre-human, 1970s and current (2007) distributions. It shows that the range of the woodrose has contracted, with it now occupying about 4 per cent of its original range.
This information has come from the latest national state of the environment report Environment New Zealand 2007.
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Last updated: December 2007
