Deal to that ginger
Wild or kahili ginger is making its presence known around Waiatarua at the present time in the form of bright orange seedheads. Ginger does most harm because its rhi zomes form plate-like infestations on the forest floor which prevent native plants es tablishing. As it is shallow rooted, it also contributes to land slipping in heavy rains as we have seen with Cyclone Gabrielle. On the other hand it is not the hardest pest plant to control. Seeds last for up to six years so ongoing attention to a site can result in its elimination. Seeds set most on plants on forest margins. In the darkness of the forest they don’t.