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| Rapiolephis Umbellata from the Rosacae family Commonly known as Yeddo Hawthorn or Sexton's Bride. A beautiful weed. Photo credit Cathy Currie. |
A home to an abundance of insect fauna and a variety of aquatic, and bird life as well as reptiles and amphibians, and over 500 species of plants both native and exotic. Waikumete Cemetery is teaming with life.
View a selection of the flora and fauna we have captured on camera here: Flora and Fauna and here: Fungi
There were two periods of major planting in the cemetery's early history in which pine and mixed native trees were planted in their hundreds. The original shelter belts along Great North Road became well established, and in 1921 250 eucalpyt trees were planted completing an avenue of gums right around the cemetery. Some of these trees still remain along the boundary on Glenview Road. The cemetery is home to many species of eucalypt.
The numerous plant species found within the cemetery include some natives which are threatened. without adequate control, invasive exotic weeds grow quickly and smother smaller native plants. Just a few of the weeds in the cemetery that require control are agapanthus, gorse, ivy, japanese honeysuckle, monkey apple, pampas, phoenix palm, pohutukawa (on graves), privet, sexton’s bride, wattle and watsonia.
For identification and information of weeds found in New Zealand including some of those found in the cemetery visit the weedbusters website.
http://www.weedbusters.co.nz/weed-information/weed-list/
http://www.weedbusters.co.nz/weed-information/weed-list/
Landscape plants include species of exotic trees such as London plane, ash, elm, oak, cedar, magnolia and bottlebrush as well as natives such as kowhai, kauri, totara, rimu, harakeke, silver fern, cordyline and manuka.
Wildflowers: It is interesting to note that many of the exotic flora in the cemetery have been recognised as wildflowers, and a number have also been identified as being invasive and damaging to the environment.
There are many wildflower species within the cemetery most of them originate from South Africa. The cemetery’s wildflower collection is the largest in the globe of these species outside of South Africa. Most have established themselves from grave plantings and have become naturalised. A one hectare area of wildflowers was set aside as a sanctuary in 1993.
Some of the wildflowers you will see among the graves in the spring are babiana, freesia, ixia, romulea, sparaxis, and watsonia. View some of them here Wonderful Wildflowers
Birds:
You may be fortunate enough to hear or see our beautiful native tui, the little riroriro (grey warbler) or the cheeky piwakawaka (fantail) darting about on your visit to the cemetery. Although silver eye are also regularly spotted and pukeko are often seen scratching among the graves and extracting juicy worms from the lawns, it is however the introduced birds that are most commonly seen. Magpies, thrushes, myna, sparrow, blackbirds, lorikeets, plover and quail being the most common. Pheasants and kotare (native kingfishers) have also been sighted in the heritage areas.
You may be fortunate enough to hear or see our beautiful native tui, the little riroriro (grey warbler) or the cheeky piwakawaka (fantail) darting about on your visit to the cemetery. Although silver eye are also regularly spotted and pukeko are often seen scratching among the graves and extracting juicy worms from the lawns, it is however the introduced birds that are most commonly seen. Magpies, thrushes, myna, sparrow, blackbirds, lorikeets, plover and quail being the most common. Pheasants and kotare (native kingfishers) have also been sighted in the heritage areas.
The Landcare Research website has some useful resources for identifying birds that you may see.
New Zealand Birds Online is also a comprehensive reource which provides information and recordings of bird calls including the tui, grey warbler, pukeko, silver eye, yellow hammers, king fisher, pheasant and others which you may see and hear at the cemetery.
http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/
http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/
Pests:
Rabbits can be seen in the older parts of the cemetery at dusk, their burrowing can unfortunately cause damage to graves.
Rabbits can be seen in the older parts of the cemetery at dusk, their burrowing can unfortunately cause damage to graves.
The many trees and bushed gullies in the cemetery provide feeding and breeding areas for possums which cause vegetative damage. Ferrets and stoats have been sighted in these areas as well, which pose a risk to bird life. As do cats and rats which nest in the phoenix palms.
Sources:
Waikumete Cemetery History Part two
Waikumete Cemetery Book History Part 9
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