Distribution of sweet brier, broom and ragwort on Molesworth Station : a report to the Department of Lands and Survey

Abstract

This report is based on a survey of distribution of sweet brier, broom and ragwort on the property made by Mr Stevens during the period November 1972 to February 1973. Most of the property, including the principal weed-infested areas, was reconnoitred on horseback or on foot. The Clarence River was also inspected from the air to enable the upper altitudinal limits of broom to be plotted. Country west of the Wairau River was viewed from the valley road. The Severn, Saxton and Cat River catchments were not inspected. Mr Chisholm and the head stockman, Mr D. Reid, gave information about the comparatively few weeds in these areas.

The relative abundance of weeds in a region was ranked on a five-class scale: dominant, abundant, frequent, occasional or rare. In practice, although a weed such as sweet brier was dominant on some favoured sites, in no zone was any weed mapped as more than abundant. The word "locally" was used to qualify abundance where necessary. For example "locally frequent" indicates dumpiness rather than dispersed distribution. The overall scale is illustrated in Plates 1-4.