Endangered plant caged for protection

A rare endangered plant is being caged to protect it from predators.

Dactylanthus taylorii, commonly known as the wood rose, is one of the rarest plants in Taranaki and the whole country, says Stratford Department of Conservation ranger Jim Clarkson.

It is New Zealand's only full parasitic flowering plant, attaching to the roots of a host plant and dependent on it for food and water.

DoC has caged more than 100 plants. Mr Clarkson says they have a much higher flowering rate than normal.