A common moss often seen growing on Nikau palms and black tree ferns.

Ironically, the plant known as Mamaku, the Black tree fern, is not found in the area.

"It blooms all summer," Ms. Donahue said of the tropical vine scrambling through the furry black tree fern.

Cyathea medullaris, popularly known as the black tree fern, is a large tree fern up to 20 m tall.

The silver tree fern Ponga and the black tree fern Mamuku are the two most majestic of New Zealands fern species.

The black tree fern, Cyathea medullaris, uncoils a giant fiddlehead from the center of its hairy black trunk, which supports giant fronds arching 12 feet into the sky.

Foods from wetlands included roots and pollen from raupoo, berries from kahikatea, matai, and supplejack, fruit from kie kie, the trunk pith and from stems of mamaku (black tree fern), fluid and honey from harakeke (flax).