Tiny and ancient plant wins 2024 Favourite Plant vote
Dennis GordonI, Date taken: 06/01/2010, Licence: CC BY-NCWhile other elections around the world loom, here in Aotearoa NZ a new Favourite plant has been crowned. For the first time in the competitions 21 year history, this years winner is the first aquatic plant to claim the title.
Trithuria inconspicua a small, ancient, and critically threatened species pulled away from other interesting candidates to take the win. With great support from Northland Regional Council, and the National Wetland Trust it is no surprise this species made it over the line. You can see NRC’s media release here.
Despite being part of an ancient lineage up to 100 million years old, the future for Trithuria looks sadly uncertain. Trithuria likes clean water in healthy lakes, of which changes to land use and introduced weeds have caused the decline of many in the Northland region where it’s found. It is thanks to the work of committed individuals and organisations like the Department of Conservation and Northland Regional Council who are working alongside mana whenua to secure a future for this neat little plant.
Voters were also able to submit comments supporting the votes. Many voters for Trithuria spoke of the species rarity, how special it is, and its role as an indicator for our lake health. One voter commented - “It’s endemic to Northland, Critically Endangered, one of the oldest flowering plants on the planet and now only found in five dune lakes A real “Canary in the coal mine””!”.
Another theme amongst voters was the hope that a win might raise awareness for their favourite species and this was no exception with Trithuria voters. “Hope my vote raises the awareness of these important little plants that hide away supporting unique endangered ecosystems. We have our own waterlilies and the flower is cute!”
Second and third place this year also brought some newcomers to the votes top ten. With Veronica jovellanoides and Mount Peel edelweiss - Leucogenes tarahaoa coming in second and third respectively. For an organistation that advocates for our threatened plant species it is heartening to see the top three made up of relatively small and all very threatened species. A sign perhaps people are more interested in these less common and flashy but equally as incredible parts of our flora.
Both Trithuria inconspicua and Veronica jovellanoides featured in talks at this year’s conference where the vote was launched. No doubt contributing to their success.
The full top ten are as below. Follow the links to their species factsheets to learn more about them.
- Trithuria inconspicua
- Veronica jovellanoides
- Mount Peel edelweiss - Leucogenes tarahaoa
- Ngutu kākā/kākā beak - Clianthus maximus
- Sea holly - Eryngium vesiculosum
- Parmotrema reparatum
- Pittosporum patulum
- Puawānanga - Clematis paniculata
- Striped sun orchid - Thelymitra pulchella
- Kahikatea - Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
Posted: 05/11/2024