Metrosideros bartlettii

Bartlett's rātā
M. bartlettii (centre) observed by botanist Peter de Lange in 2011
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Metrosideros
Species:	M. bartlettii
Binomial name
Metrosideros bartlettii J.W.Dawson

Metrosideros bartlettii, commonly known as the Bartlett's rātā, is a tree endemic to only a few parts of the Northland Region in New Zealand's North Island. It is one of twelve Metrosideros species in the family Myrtaceae. The Bartlett's rātā was first discovered in 1975 by New Zealand botanist and schoolteacher, John Bartlett. There are three known patches of dense native forest near Piwhane / Spirits Bay that contain Bartlett's rātā: Radar Bush, Kohuronaki Bush, and Unuwhao Bush. Bartlett's rātā has a high chance of becoming extinct unless immediate conservation measures are taken, due to its ongoing decline. As of 2018, only 13 adult trees are known to exist in the wild. Bartlett's rātā is common in cultivation, with it being found in several private and botanic gardens throughout New Zealand. Its current conservation status was assessed by the IUCN Red List in 2013 as "Critically Endangered" and its population trend was assessed as "Decreasing".

Description

Leafage of Bartlett's rātā (M. bartlettii) in Ōtari-Wilton's Bush

Metrosideros bartlettii (Bartlett's rātā) is a rare tree endemic to the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It grows to a height of up to 25 m (82 ft) with a trunk up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter. Its twigs are often coloured dark red. Its bark is "papery" and pale grey to whitish in colour. The leaves are chartaceous to coriaceous in character, glossy, palish-green in colour with lamina being 30–50 × 15–26 mm long. There are 3–4 pairs of cymules (very small flowers) on an inflorescence (flower spike) with densely spreading white hairs.

Compared to other species in the genus Metrosideros, flowering of the Barlett's rātā is unpredictable, making it unlikely the small wild population can regenerate without human assistance. Flowering generally occurs from October to November. It produces white coloured pedicels of up to 3 x 1, 2.5–3 mm high, 2–2.5 mm wide, and spreading 1–1.5 x 1–1.5 mm. Fruiting occurs from March to April, producing a hypanthium fruit being 2.0–2.5 × 2.5–3.0 mm long, with persistent, deflexed sepals and 1.5–2.5 mm-long capsules. The pale orange-yellow seeds are 2.3–3.0 mm long and narrowly elliptic to narrowly oval-shaped.

Taxonomy

It was first discovered in 1975 by New Zealander John Bartlett, a schoolteacher and botanist from Hamilton. Bartlett discovered the tree in Radar Bush, 9.5 km (5.9 mi) south-east from Cape Reinga. It was discovered while Bartlett was searching for liverworts in the Northland Region of New Zealand, where he found a specimen growing at the base of a large tree. Bartlett realised it was a new species of rātā, but was unable to reach any branches, so he instead took fragments of the bark to the Victoria University of Wellington. Botanist John Dawson incorrectly thought the find was northern rātā (M. robusta). Bartlett later returned to the area and was able to collect a branch, which he brought back to Wellington. Bartlett's rātā is closely related to northern rātā; its leaves are of similar size and share characteristics to southern rātā (M. umbelata) and northern rātā. Bartlett's rātā's flowers are significantly smaller than those of northern rātā. M. oreomyrtus, endemic to New Caledonia, is the only other tree in the genus Metrosideros with white-coloured flowers.

Etymology

The etymology of Bartlett's rātā's genus, Metrosideros, translates to English to 'iron heart'. Metrosideros derives from the Greek language; the word metra means 'core' or 'heart', and sideron means 'iron'. The scientific name, bartlettii, is the Latinisation after the tree's discoverer John Bartlett. Bartlett's rātā is also commonly known as rātā moehau.

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  Close up of Bartlett's rātā's white-coloured flowers
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  "Papery" bark of Bartlett's rātā
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  Recently formed buds of the tree

Ecology

Bartlett's ratā is often observed to be utilised by birds and insects (such as bees and flies), which may help spread pollen from other Metrosideros species. New Zealand species of Metrosideros are pollinated by nectar-feeding birds, such as the tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) which are known to forage over distances of 15 km (9.3 mi). Wind and rain may cause self-pollination but the likelihood of producing viable seeds is low or non-existent. A 2022 study by the Pacific Conservation Biology revealed cross-pollination is the only method that produces viable Barlett's rātā seeds that can be utilised in other augmented wild populations.

A 2021 study by the New Zealand Journal of Botany conducted scientific analyses of Bartlett's rātā at Ōtari-Wilton's Bush (in Wellington). The study confirmed the self-incompatibility of Bartlett's rātā; individuals depend on pollen from unrelated individuals to fruit. Recent and historical genetic research has confirmed hybridisation and introgression are possible between closely related species in the genus Metrosideros. The average germination of the seeds from hand pollination in this study was low, which is consistent with other species in the family Myrtaceae, such as pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) and mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium).

Distribution

Bartlett's rātā is endemic to New Zealand's North Island to the Northland Region. It is only known to be located in Te Paki, in three patches of forest remnants near Piwhane / Spirits Bay; these being Kohuronaki Bush, Radar Bush, and Unuwhao Bush. It is usually found growing near bodies of water (such as streams) and in swamplands. An article from Molecular Ecology, published in 2000, documented 31 adult trees. A 2018 study by the New Zealand Journal of Botany has since documented only 13 adult trees, and most of these trees are located on private land. Bartlett's rātā was likely never a common tree. A number of surveys conducted in the 1990s revealed individuals were only present in three populations.

Conservation

Bartlett's rātā historical decline is largely due to land use changes following settlement, and the introduction of brushtail possums.

Its current conservation status was assessed by the IUCN Red List in 2013 as "Critically Endangered" and its population trend was assessed as "Decreasing". The historical decline of Bartlett's rātā is largely due to land use changes following settlement, and the introduction of brushtail possums (an invasive species in New Zealand). Although Bartlett's rātā is uncommon in the wild, it is common in cultivation, with it being found in several private and botanic gardens throughout the country (such as Ōtari-Wilton's Bush).

Bartlett's rātā habitat disturbance began with the arrival of the Polynesian settlers. Many forests were later cleared when the European (Pākehā) settlers arrived later, starting in the early 1800s. Its habitat retreated into the steeper valleys, especially those under intense fire shadows. It was not until the late 1960s that the far north's native forest area began to decline. Although the forests in Northland are gradually recovering, the population of Bartlett's rātā remains low and widely scattered.

Bartlett's rātā has a high chance of becoming extinct unless immediate conservation measures are taken, due to its ongoing decline, small population size, and reproductive failure. Bartlett's rātā breeding strategy favours cross-pollination, and has little inbreeding. Bartlett's rātā under cultivation has low levels of genetic variety, which might restrict its ability to contribute to its overall conservation.

See also

• List of trees native to New Zealand

References

Works cited

Journals

• Dawson, J. W. (1985). "Metrosideros bartlettii (Myrtaceae) a new species from North Cape, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 23 (4): 607–610. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1985.10434231.
• Drummond, R. S. M.; Keeling, D. J.; Richardson, T. E.; Gardner, R. C.; Wright, S. D. (2000). "Genetic analysis and conservation of 31 surviving individuals of a rare New Zealand tree, Metrosideros bartlettii (Myrtaceae)". Molecular Ecology. 9 (8): 1149–1157. doi:10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00989.x. PMID 10964234. S2CID 20499423.
• Van der Walt, Karin; Alderton-Moss, Jennifer; Lehnebach, Carlos A. (1 March 2022). "Cross-pollination and pollen storage to assist conservation of Metrosideros bartlettii (Myrtaceae), a critically endangered tree from Aotearoa New Zealand". Pacific Conservation Biology. 29 (2): 141–152. doi:10.1071/PC21054. ISSN 1038-2097. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
• Galloway, D. J.; Edgar, Elizabeth (1987). "Obituaries". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 25 (1): 173–178. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1987.10409963. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
• Nadarajan, Jayanthi; van der Walt, Karin; Lehnebach, Carlos A.; Saeiahagh, Hassan; Pathirana, Ranjith (2 January 2021). "Integrated ex situ conservation strategies for endangered New Zealand Myrtaceae species". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 59 (1): 72–89. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2020.1754245. ISSN 0028-825X.
• Pattabiraman, Nimeshika; Morgan-Richards, Mary; Powlesland, Ralph; Trewick, Steven A. (2022). "Unrestricted gene flow between two subspecies of translocated brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in Aotearoa New Zealand" (PDF). Biological Invasions. 24 (1): 247–260. doi:10.1007/s10530-021-02635-z. ISSN 1387-3547. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
• Bylsma, Rj; Clarkson, Bd; Efford, Jt (3 July 2014). "Biological flora of New Zealand 14: Metrosideros excelsa, pōhutukawa, New Zealand Christmas tree". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 52 (3): 365–385. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2014.926278. ISSN 0028-825X.
• Lehnebach, C. A.; Van der Walt, K. (2018). "About the birds and the bees and the flowers of Bartlett's rātā; pollination studies to assist conservation of a threatened—nationally critical species" (PDF). Trilpedia. 172: 2–3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2022 – via New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.

Miscellaneous

• De Lange, Peter (2014). "Bartlett's Rata, Metrosideros bartlettii". IUCN Red List. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T34295A62743272.en. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
• De Lange, Peter (2024). "Metrosideros bartlettii". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
• Judd, Warren (2000). "Rata: an export success". New Zealand Geographic. No. 47. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
• Bercusson, Linda; Torrence, Jacinda (1998). Pohutukawa: tree of Aotearoa. Auckland, New Zealand: Tandem Press. ISBN 9781877178351 – via the Internet Archive.
• Wassilieff, Maggy (24 September 2007). "Tall broadleaf trees — Tree rātā". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
• Stowell, Laurel (25 November 2017). "Rare tree flowers at Virginia Lake". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.

External links

• Media related to Metrosideros bartlettii at Wikimedia Commons