Erigeron bellioides DC., naturalised, collected from Matata Chasm Track car park, Hikutavake.
Noted for its limestone cliffs and coral reefs, relatively little is known about the indigenous and naturalised plants of Niue, a beautiful and solitary small island in the South Pacific.
Peter has recently published a paper in the New Zealand Journal of Botany titled ‘New records for the flora of Niue’ which details previously undocumented flora he noted on two trips to Niue earlier this year.
These represent new naturalised records of Erigeron bellioides DC. (Asteraceae) and Psidium cattleyanum Sabine (Myrtaceae). Crepidomanes saxifragoides (C.Presl) P.S.Green (Hymenophyllaceae) is also an addition to the indigenous flora.
“Crepidomanes is a completely new genus record for the indigenous flora of Niue”, says Peter.
The paper details the background to these new records and information on their biostatus, collections, distribution and habitats.
As a botanist, Peter says it is significant to be able to find records of previously undocumented species.
“It is about knowing what species they have and where they are – and it might seem a simple statement but so much of conservation work is knowing the flora and knowing where the richest parts of the island may be. Then when they know what they’ve got, they will know what they need to do to protect it.”
Part of this work has also been about establishing a simple interactive checklist app called ‘NaturaList’, which can be used by Peter’s colleagues and the public in Niue.
“The app is a tool that runs off an Excel spreadsheet. Data infrastructure in Niue is relatively limited but with this we can ensure people on the island can easily access records of the flora and fungi. We have now documented over 1,200 species of flowering plants, fungi and lichens on the app and over 500 of these are illustrated.”
Peter hopes to extend his work in the Pacific and strengthen the app for use across the region.
Specimens of Erigeron, Psidium and Crepidomanes collected from Niue have been deposited in the Allan Herbarium at Lincoln and include georeferenced location information.
Peter and co-author Huggard Tongatule (Niue Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources) wish to thank Haden Talagi (Director, Department of Environment, Niue) and Poi Okesene (Director, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Niue) for their support of this research.
