Pingao (Ficinia spiralis) History and Propagation

摘要

Pingao (Ficinia spiralis), sometimes called the golden sand sedge, is an endemic native sand-binding plant (Fig. 1). It grows naturally on the most active of coastal foredunes and is not found anywhere else in the world.Before European colonisation, pingao was widespread through the North and South Islands of New Zealand (Cockayne, 1911). It was used by Maori to decorate their wharenui (meeting houses), in the tukutuku paneling and in weaving kete (kits), and whariki (mats). However the introduction of farm animals and the spread of goats and rabbits decimated the colonies of pingao. The spread of maram grass (Ammophila arenaria) and lupins (Lupinus sp.) and other European grasses choked out pingao. More recently dunebuggies and trail bikes have mutilated the sand hills.