Rare and Endangered Plants of New Zealand

Reed Books 1981 edition, good condition
One in every ten New Zealand native plant species is estimated to be at risk. The rarest plants may be restricted to a single lonely tree specimen growing on an offshore island, or to a tiny colony of speciments struggling precariously on a high country cliff. Other species - in danger from people, from commercial development, from deer, from wandering farm stock - are known only from collectors' speciments and may already be extinct. Simple human ignorance is often responsible. Groups of the beautiful but rare native weeping tree broom have been destroyed by aerial spraying in Marlborough river valleys. A thriving population of a tropical fern restricted in New Zealand to the far north was destroyed by the construction of a car park. Ironically, some rare species are among our more beautiful native plants: the kaka beak (Clianthus puniceus), the beautiful tree brooms of Marlborough, buttercups in the genus Ranunculus... Here Dr. Given comprehensively describes our endangered plants and their habitats. He outlines ways of protecting rare plants, and proposes a code of conduct for those who come into contact with them...