{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.03526448362720403, 'fraction_numerical': 0.03736356003358522, 'mean_word_length': 5.189610389610389, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Korthalsella lindsayi distribution and ecology

Sultan et al. (2018) have provided a valuable contribution on Korthalsella mistletoes’ host range, host specificity, regional host preferences, and genetic variability in New Zealand. This comment focuses on Korthalsella lindsayi, expanding the northern distributional limit, and providing additional ecological and environmental interpretation of its eastern-focused distribution. Sultan et al. (2018) state in their discussion (p. 145) that K. lindsayi is absent from the East Cape Ecological Region (ER). They further state (p. 145) that K. lindsayi has not been recorded north of Pureora State Forest in the Western Volcanic Plateau ER and Waikura Valley, Wairoa ER, even though the main host species extend further north. However, K. lindsayi has been known from the East Cape ER since at least 1990 when it was found as part of wider surveys of the Wairoa and East Cape ERs undertaken by staff of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Landcare Research. We briefly provide some background information on the distribution and ecology of K. lindsayi in the Turanga Ecological District (ED) of the East Coast ER and in the nearby Waikura Valley (Tiniroto ED, Wairoa ER), as the alluvial terrace habitats and associated indigenous vegetation are strikingly similar. While undertaking the Protected Natural Area Programme survey of Turanga ED between 1990 and 1991 we recorded K. lindsayi in remnants of alluvial terrace forest proposed as Recommended Areas for Protection (RAPs) (Clarkson and Clarkson 1990, 1991). At Totangi (RAP1), a new northern limit of latitude 38°28′S was reported with Korthalsella hemi-parasitic onMyrsine divaricata. At Sunworth (RAP4), 12 km south, Korthalsella was hemi-parasitic on Coprosma crassifolia and Pittosporum obcordatum. This work highlighted the depauperate vascular epiphyte flora of the drier parts of the Turanga ED (Clarkson and Clarkson 1991, 1994). Korthalsella lindsayi was also recorded between 1990 and 1993 at several sites in the Waikura Valley, Tiniroto ED, including Te Aroha Station (NZFRI 17238), Powha Station (CHR469422) and Waikura Station during surveys of P. obcordatum (Clarkson 1991; Clarkson and Druce 1991, 1994) and Coprosma pedicellata (Molloy et al. 1999; Clarkson et al. 2003). At these sites hosts included M. divaricata and Coprosma virescens.