This bracken spore profile is part of the pollen and spore record taken from a sediment core in Travis swamp, Christchurch. It shows a dramatic increase in bracken spores in the 13th century, a pattern that has been found throughout New Zealand. This coincided with an increase in charcoal and a pronounced decline in pollen from tall forest trees. These factors suggest that bracken was one of the first plants to colonise forest areas burnt off by early Māori settlers.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Source: Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua
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