Mt Owan, Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand

[HamishBrown]

Another Trip, February 2014.  Mt Owan in the Kahurangi National Park is a popular destination for hikers because of the fascinating marble rock features and because it was the location where the Fellowhip of the Ring were filmed exiting the mines of Moria (for anyone who has seen lord of the Rings).  It is a long walk (9 hours from the carpark to the summit) but a good hut and excellent camping make it a good overnight trip.  The attraction for us was the fascinating and unique alpines and they were certainly worth the hike in.

Myostis concinna is endemic to Mt Owan and can be found growing among the many rock crevices


Colobanthus canaliculatus is a charming little cushion plant that favours growing with its roots in the most minute cracks within the rock.


Notothlaspi austral is of similar habit and equally endearing


Ranunculus insignis was putting on a fine display of the effects of temperature on plant morphology, ranging from huge (>50cm) multiple stem plants at the foot of the mountain (1200m) to adorable specimens producing flowers of equal size but on 5cm stems on the summit (1600m).


Many others plants as well but one that delighted us as we were re-entering the forest for the long walk home was this beautiful Stegostyla lyallii

[Maggi Young]

How lucky are NZ children who  have parents who will take them on such fantastic field trips?

[Julia]

Lovely pictures, thanks for showing them to use.

[HamishBrown]

Thanks again Maggi.

We parrents are also lucky to have children who are willing come with us to these places.  Otherwise we will not get to them until the children have left home.

[Lesley Cox]

Did Stegostyla used to be Caladenia?

[HamishBrown]

Yes, according to Mark (2012, Above the Treeline) Stegostyla lyallii was previously called Caladenia lyallii

[HamishBrown]

I have found some landscape photos to attach to this post.  It seemed sensible at the time to store the plant and the other photos separately.
On the way to Mt Owan through a patch of Aciphylla glaucescens.

Campsite at the foot of Mt Owan, not a bad spot to have breakfast.

From the top of Mt Owan looking back to the campsite (tent is the orange dot centre picture

The track down the mountain

Natural rock garden


This place is well worth the hike in

[ashley]

Wonderful walking country Hamish, thanks for taking us along.
Is that a bulbinella beside your tent?  As you were camping there presumably it grows in drier areas than bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) does in this part of the world.

[HamishBrown]

Hi Ashley.  Yes that is a Bulbinella (hookeri I think).  It likes wet sites, where we had the tent pitch was a small dry patch surrounded by bog.

[ashley]

Thanks Hamish.  I have a batch of immature plants from the seed exchange that are making slow progress so must try giving them damper conditions.
Finding the least wet pitch is a useful skill in our mountains too, usually helped by vegetation cues.

[zvone]

Another Trip, February 2014.  Mt Owan in the Kahurangi National Park is a popular destination for hikers because of the fascinating marble rock features and because it was the location where the Fellowhip of the Ring were filmed exiting the mines of Moria (for anyone who has seen lord of the Rings).  It is a long walk (9 hours from the carpark to the summit) but a good hut and excellent camping make it a good overnight trip.  The attraction for us was the fascinating and unique alpines and they were certainly worth the hike in.

Myostis concinna is endemic to Mt Owan and can be found growing among the many rock crevices
(Attachment Link)

Colobanthus canaliculatus is a charming little cushion plant that favours growing with its roots in the most minute cracks within the rock.
(Attachment Link)

Notothlaspi austral is of similar habit and equally endearing
(Attachment Link)

Ranunculus insignis was putting on a fine display of the effects of temperature on plant morphology, ranging from huge (>50cm) multiple stem plants at the foot of the mountain (1200m) to adorable specimens producing flowers of equal size but on 5cm stems on the summit (1600m).
(Attachment Link)

Many others plants as well but one that delighted us as we were re-entering the forest for the long walk home was this beautiful Stegostyla lyallii
(Attachment Link)

Beautiful!

Thank's!

Best Regards!  zvone

[Maggi Young]

Zvone - I think you would really enjoy the chance to hike in these New Zealand mountains, eh?