Endangered mistletoe damaged by roading crew

A population of endangered mistletoe appears to have been badly damaged by a roading crew.

The Miranda green mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus) population on the coast of the Firth of Thames was estimated to be about 50 plants, the second-largest population in the Auckland region. It is not known how many plants were destroyed during the sealing work.

Green mistletoe is a nationally threatened species and is critically threatened in the Auckland region.

DoC and Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens have been planting more host trees in the area to try to increase the population. In the latest incident the host trees, large propinquas and hawthorn, appear to have been cut down or bulldozed and put through a shredder.

Herald feature: Environment