Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: kiwi on December 07, 2010, 09:16:16 PM
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Ranunculus haastii - Jewell of the Southern Alps! :o :o :o
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What pictures , Doug, and what plants! Superb! 8)
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Cue-dizzy spells in Whitworth :P
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Cue-dizzy spells in Whitworth :P
Yes, 'Ranunculus' will be hyperventilating again... but, to be fair, anyone could get excited with buttercups like these, I reckon
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Cue-dizzy spells in Whitworth :P
Yes, 'Ranunculus' will be hyperventilating again... but, to be fair, anyone could get excited with buttercups like these, I reckon
'Be still my knocking knees'!!!! Glory, glory be!!!! ;D ;D ;D
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Be careful of those palpitations Cliff. ;D
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Some more Ranunculus - R monroi and R enysii
Psychrophila obtusa in the fog
Polystichum cystostegia
Celmisia angustifolia
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Wahlenbergia albomarginata
Myosotis australis
Epilobium pycnostachyum
Chionohebe pulvinaris
Hebe haastii
The foliage alone makes you desire R haastii!
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OMG, Ranunculus haastii is utterly fantastic! Doug, I lust for all of these NZ alpines you show, but make special mention of Polystichum cystostegia and Epilobium pycnostachyum :o :o :o :o :o You are right of course, I'd be happy just being able to grow leaves on a plant like R. haastii. Can't wait to see more.
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Be careful of those palpitations Cliff. ;D
What ... at my age Lesley ... more like barely discernible pulses! :D :D :D :-*
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Lovely photos of Ranunculus haastii, Doug. It is interesting to compare them with Ranunculus piliferus. The flowers of R, haastii are well down and the foliage is not as far advanced in growth as in R. piliferus. See photo.
Cliff, next post I will show only small ranunculi - sort of botanical homeopathic treatment as I do not wish to aggravate your condition ;D
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Someone, please scrape Cliff off the ground before he freezes to death. ;D
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Someone, please scrape Cliff off the ground before he freezes to death. ;D
... or at least pass him his camera please? :D The frost patterns are quite pretty here!
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;D ;D ;D
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David---- i saw a number of Ranunculus pilifera earlier in the week while Steve Newall and i had a 3 day stroll ??? around the western edge of the Eyre Mtns.
Unfortunately the hybrids with R. buchananii were still under snow.
Came across plenty of other different 'weeds' in bloom including this interesting one that Steve found--A yellow flowering Celmisia spedenii.
Cheers dave
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Dave,
I thought you had been rather quiet. I was wondering what you were up to. I cannot top a yellow flowered Celmisia. I do not think a yellow-flowered Celmisia has ever been recorded before.
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Dave,
I thought you had been rather quiet. I was wondering what you were up to. I cannot top a yellow flowered Celmisia. I do not think a yellow-flowered Celmisia has ever been recorded before.
I may be wrong David, but I seem to recall two instances of reports of yellow-flowered Celmisias before ... one about five or so years ago and one from at least seventeen or eighteen years ago? If all my books, papers and journals weren't crated up and spread around this village I would be tempted to investigate! (An intended house move fell through and I haven't the heart to unpack them all in case we decide to sell again in the next couple of months).
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David---- i saw a number of Ranunculus pilifera earlier in the week while Steve Newall and i had a 3 day stroll ??? around the western edge of the Eyre Mtns.
Unfortunately the hybrids with R. buchananii were still under snow.
Came across plenty of other different 'weeds' in bloom including this interesting one that Steve found--A yellow flowering Celmisia spedenii.
Cheers dave
Amazing to see something other than white on Celmisia, the light yellow is most pleasing, what an extraordinary find. Somewhere in my less-than-accurate recollections I seem to recall hearing about pinkish Celmisia forms in the past, is that right or am I dreaming? David, hopefully you'll note the locale and go back for seed later on. The profile photo of R. pilifera with the mountain backdrop is awesome too.
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Well remembered Mark ... I suspect that I was thinking of the same instance but MY memories are colour blind ....
"In Search of the pink Celmisia" by Peter Erskine
The Len Beer Memorial Lecture - 20th March 1998
With a land mass seven times that of Wales and mountains rising to 3.5 times the height of Snowdon, South Island New Zealand provides exceptional interest for the alpine plant enthusiast. This is enhanced by geographical isolation and the evolution of endemic species in many families, such as the Asteraceae and Apiaceae.
Peter Erskine, a plantsman with unrivalled knowledge of South Island, explained and illustrated its unique botanical heritage at this year's Len Beer Memorial Lecture, attended by 160 appreciative Friends and members of the Alpine Garden Society.
Although parts of South Island receive even more rainfall than Snowdonia (up to 10 metres per year!), mountainous areas in the NE., such as the coastal Kaikoura Range, are much drier. Dense white hairs and sometimes spines are features of the plants adapted to these rain-shadow regions, as seen in Aciphylla (Bayonet Plant or Speargrass). The genus Raoulia provides outstanding examples of mat forms as well as extreme cushion plants. Some of these grow very large - specimens of R. eximia are often referred to as vegetable sheep! Peter emphasised the value of using tufa rock to cultivate such specialist alpines in this country.
Rising to 3764 metres, Mt. Cook dominates the Southern Alps and is home to several notable alpine buttercups. Best known is Ranunculus lyallii (Mt. Cook Lily), although R. cericophyllous (which caught everyone's eye with its glowing petals) and R. buchanii deserve equal attention, the latter being easier to cultivate too.
Continuing south, Peter highlighted a fine mountain range near Queenstown known as the Remarkables and then an area particularly rich in endemic alpines, the Eyre Mountains. This was the home of his talk's title plant, the Pink Celmisia, a rare form of Celmisia thomsonae. This attractive genus of alpines is virtually restricted to New Zealand in the wild, but has now become a popular and challenging subject for gardeners. Recommending species such as C. semicordata, C. longifolia and C. major var brevis, Peter outlined his criteria for success - a peat/grit mix, sowing seed in March/April, and allowing seedling to grow without disturbance until the following spring.
The genus Celmisia proved an enduring, evocative and illuminating theme throughout this splendid talk, encapsulating the special character of New Zealand and its plant life., which through Peter's expert explanation now means much more to all of us.
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I lust for all of these NZ alpines you show. I'd be happy just being able to grow leaves on a plant like R. haastii. Can't wait to see more.
Mark...if you ever find out how to cultivate these beauties in our climate, give me a call and tell me how you do it.
I used to grow these back in England but wouldn't even dare tempt fate in Kentucky. It'd take fans and almost constant automatic watering to get these past the seedling stage, never mind to full flowering.
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I lust for all of these NZ alpines you show. I'd be happy just being able to grow leaves on a plant like R. haastii. Can't wait to see more.
Mark...if you ever find out how to cultivate these beauties in our climate, give me a call and tell me how you do it.
I used to grow these back in England but wouldn't even dare tempt fate in Kentucky. It'd take fans and almost constant automatic watering to get these past the seedling stage, never mind to full flowering.
Alan, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting ;D Years ago, I tried some of the Australian alpine Ranunculus and had some success and flowered several, R. muelleri var. brevicaulis, R. graniticola, and one other the name of which I can't remember. They were pot grown and over-wintered in cold frames. I have not tried any of these NZ ranunculus, but one can always dream.
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The yellow Celmisia is certainly a wonderful find. Personally, I'm waiting for a soft pink - or maybe sky blue Weldenia. ;D ;D
Can I throw into the ring a probably stupid thought please? Looking at the yellow flower, I wondered whether there is any possibility of a bi-generic hybrid between the C. spedenii and a Dolichoglottis, the yellow one obviously? The flower doesn't look just QUITE like Celmisia.
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Amazing to see something other than white on Celmisia, the light yellow is most pleasing, what an extraordinary find. Somewhere in my less-than-accurate recollections I seem to recall hearing about pinkish Celmisia forms in the past, is that right or am I dreaming? David, hopefully you'll note the locale and go back for seed later on. The profile photo of R. pilifera with the mountain backdrop is awesome too.
Pleased you liked the Ranunculus profile Mark.
Although i live only a couple of hours from the Celmisia i don't plan to be back in that area soon--there are so many other mountain ranges i want to explore this season so i think time will be a problem .
The plant will be easy to locate in 12 months and if it has that yellow colour then ,i will be most interested.
We also found another larger plant totalling about 6 flowering white heads with a smaller ,(younger ?) stem with a similar yellowing ........
As an aside ,i have in the field come across a number of Celmisias that are quite pink in the bud ---which quickly fades to white ---some that come to mind are C.spectabilis ,C.viscosa and (C.philocremna --pic attached).
Cheers Dave
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This is becoming a complicated thread with a lot of issues being raised.
The only true pink Celmisia is Celmisia thomsonii which as Cliff has stated is an Eyre Mountains endemic. It may also have white flowers. As Dave has stated some Celmisias are pink in the bud. Here is an example of Celmisia viscosa taken last Tuesday on the Old Man Range.
To answer Lesley, Celmisia spedenii is an ultramafic specialist and confined to West Dome and the Livingston Mountains. It is unlikely to hybridise with Dolichoglottis.
The NZ alpine scree buttercups R haastii, R acraeus and R piliferus are highly specialised plants and require an extraordinary amount of skill to grow successfully. Some of the other large buttercups are not as fastidious and can be grown relatively easily (eg Ranunculus insignis). The smaller ones are not too difficult (R enysii, R gracilipes R. multiscapus).
Celmisias are a mixed bag again in terms of ease of growth. Many grow better in cultivation in the UK than they do in New Zealand. The larger types C semicordata are not always happy in cultivation though C hookeri from east Otago and C mackaui from the Banks Peninsula seem to survive fairly well. The spreading semi-woody type C brevifolia, C densiflora C incana strike easily from cuttings and flower in cultivation. C bellidioides is one of the easiest species to grow.
The Eyre Mountains are home to several spectacular endemics most notably Celmisia philocremna, Celmisia thomsonii, Ranunculus scrithalis, Aciphylla spedenii. Other Eyre Mountains plants with a wider distribution are Ranunculus piliferus , Hebe biggari, Myosotis glabrescens, Ourisia spathulata. The Eyre Mountains are very rugged and difficult to access. See photos taken from the east from Mid Dome. Why Northern Southland and the Eyres in particular have such a high level of endemicity is a bit of a mystery.
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Got a call from Chris yesterday that a couple of plant lovers were heading up into the St Marys Range, and there was a spare seat if I wanted to come along - thank you guys, Chris, Bronwyn, Hugh, Noel, a dream come true!
We even had an expert guide, Hugh Wood - who originally discovered this amazing plant! He actually knew every plant and position on the mountain!
Hugh Wood, Ranunculus acraeus.
Is there any better place you could possibly eat your lunch?
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I think that weak pulse finally gave out and I have seen heaven!!!!! Of course, they wouldn't let me in.
Why the hell didn't the botanists call it:- Ranunculus Mostestmagnificus?
Thank you SO much, Doug ... sensational images.
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Interesting article >>>
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/news/release.asp?Ne_ID=229
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No worries Cliff, I felt the same!
Lobelia Roughii
Leptinella atrata
Raoulia grandiflora
Aciphylla scott-thomsonii
Ourisia Species (O. spathulata?)
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Aciphylla dobsonii
Need some help from our Southland experts,
Ranunculus gracilipes?
Celmisia densiflora hybrids?
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David, Dave, cheers for the photos and info on the coloured Celmisia's.
I cannot believe that yellow C. spedenii, what a find! Imagine the possible breeding possibilities.
Cheers,
Doug.
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Hi Doug,
Magnificent photos of Ranunculus acraeus - it is flowering well this year as is Aciphylle scott-thomsonii.
Ourisia is Ourisa glandulosa.
Ranunculus gracilipes is correct for Ranunculus.
The St Marys Range Celmisia has puzzled me. I am inclined to think it is a high altitude form of Celmisia densiflora. You can find more typical C. densiflora growing in the tussock lower down.
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Doug, wonderful photos.... and how nice to see Hugh looking so well.... we miss these ex-pats, you know!
Those aciphyllas en masse make a great barrier, don't they? No-one's going to get through those in a hurry. Pity they couldn't be encouraged all around the ranuncs to keep off grazing critters etc!
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Those aciphyllas en masse make a great barrier, don't they? No-one's going to get through those in a hurry.
[/quote]
You'll only try once!!! ;)
Two very interesting alpine dwellers,
Leptinella dendyi, Leptinella atrata.
Celmisia sessiliflora - first flower of the season.
A great flowing year for Ourisia caespitosa and Chionohebe pulvinaris.
Hebe haastii.
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Two very interesting alpine dwellers,
Leptinella dendyi, Leptinella atrata.
I am completely smitten with these Leptinella species, although I've always been an admirer of the genus, the flowers sort of reminiscent of Globularia, or the American Chaenactis, only better.
Chaenactis nevadensis
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0808+0665
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgsbird/2236714607/
I'm going to stare at the screen for the next hour and try to determine which Leptinella is the most alluring, the yellow one of the maroon one. :-\ :o
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And Mark, some have PINK in them. ;D
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And Mark, some have PINK in them. ;D
Okay then, I want to see a photo with pink in the flower!
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Hello all, Dave Doug etc what stunning pictures, we thought that we had seen some of the best but the recent pictures beat everything we saw thank you, Doug, Dave how are the fingers healing you look great on the pics, cheers, Ian the Christie kind.
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Cheers Ian, still on the mend.
Had a trip away with the boys from S.P.A.T. (Suicidal Plant Adventure Tours - Mr Toole and Mr Newall)
A great adventure in some testing conditions!!!
Steve showing the commitment to get the best shot!!!
The Catlin's - home of Celmisia lindsayi
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Acaena saccaticupula
Ranunculus royi
Anisotome imbricata
Myosotis pulvinaris
Aciphylla simplex
Dave with a nice Celmisia hybrid, possible x angustifolia.
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Hectorella caespitosa
Ranunculus buchananii and Anisotome haastii
Celmisia semicordata stricta
Raoulia buchananii
Celmisia philocremna
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Thanks a lot for the wonderful pics. Such a pleasure to watch them :)
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Glad you are enjoying them Magnar. :)
Leucogenes grandiceps
Pimelea oreophila?
2x Aciphylla glaucescens and A. lomondii
Aciphylla lecompteii
Celmisia spedenii - I was also lucky to be shown the yellow forms of A.spedenii also although I was threatened with a silencing contract and to be blindfolded with a pair of Dave's jocks to protect the site. Thankfully they were only joking!!! ;)
The yellow form is devine, awesome discovery guys.
Thanks for showing me around your back yards! Look forward to Fiordland.
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Doug, great photographs, excellent seeing Leucogenes grandiceps growing in the wild, I have only seen it in cultivation, its a splendid thing.
In the photos of Aciphylla glaucescens and A. lomondii, can you tell us which is which?
Thanks.
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Cheers, A.Lomondii has the darker (female) flowering stem on the right. A better shot of it below.
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Hi Doug,
Season's greetings to you lads over there! More magnificent images ... many thanks!
Is R. royi in cultivation in New Zealand? It looks a little gem.
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I have been fascinated by NZ flora for years and that hasn't lessened now! I hope you or others continue showing pics from those extraordinary islands!
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Hi Doug,
Season's greetings to you lads over there! More magnificent images ... many thanks!
Is R. royi in cultivation in New Zealand? It looks a little gem.
Can be deceiving Cliff ---it's just another of the small grassland buttercups that in the flesh,(as least to me),have a weedy look......
A few more pics that haven't been shown
Companions --Steve and Doug .
Celmisia haastii flowering on very wet slopes.
Aciphylla kirkii located on a cool steep rock face ,however can be found on more gentle angles amongst snow tussock.
Raoulia buchananii ---2 pics showing colour variations .
Close up of Ourisia glandulosa which we found as impressive mats.
Brachyglottis revoluta on stable shattered rock.
Cheers dave.
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Thanks Dave ... some more amazing images ... particularly taken with Raoulia buchananii variation 2, very evocative!
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Absolutely fantastic pics guys - how I wish this 'Scotty' could be beamed out to join you and dance around those plant covered hills again.
Keep trekking...........
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Doug and Dave, what magnificent images of NZ Flora again. It's amazing to see all these different growing forms in the mountains.
The Raoulia buchananii colour variations are most interEsting and Brachyglottis revoluta looks like a plant which might have some potential as an easy but good garden plant? Or am I to optimistic in thinking so :)
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Thanks Cliff and Luit.
There are other colour variations of R.buchananii as well --i have a number of pics in my 'library' somewhere but i won't bore you with them all. :)
Luit
I find that Brachyglottis revoluta ,while never reaching the sizeable wide shrub it becomes in the wild ,will happily grow in the garden.I know i have said this many many times before ;D ;D ;D i love it because of it's wonderful scent.
Scottie we do miss you --somehow the NZ trekking scene isn't as much fun without you Ian ;)
Cheers dave.
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One last post from the S.P.A.T. trip.
Hebejeebie densifolia.
Haastia sinclairii.
Best view from long drop ever?
Leptinella pectinata?
Another member of our team, Fiona Newall (Steves daughter) checks out a natural crevice garden.
A nice Celmisia hybrid x C.spedenii.
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Luit
I find that Brachyglottis revoluta ,while never reaching the sizeable wide shrub it becomes in the wild ,will happily grow in the garden.I know i have said this many many times before ;D ;D ;D i love it because of it's wonderful scent.
Cheers dave.
Dave, I didn't know it is a shrub (alas not visible in the picture), and that might be the reason it is not in seen in gardens. Probaby not suitable as a compact plant for pots. Many alpine gardeners only want it when it's good for showing on shows, but overlook such a little bigger plants which would be good performers in the garden. I read in your words that we are thinking on the same line, so maybe there is a big task for you to try to introduce it ;D ;D ::)
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More beautiful plants! I couldn't even dream of their existence!
Is anybody growing Hebejeebie densifolia in the garden?
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Trond, the plant Hebejeebie densifolia was previously Chionohebe densifolia and before that was known as Paederota densifolia...... plenty names for you to try to track it down ! It is grown mostly as an exhibition plant in the UK... not sure if anyone has it out in the garden....... :-\
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Hebejeebie densifolia
Heebie-jeebies, A feeling of anxiety, apprehension or illness.
I'm sure the person or persons who renamed this plant must have had a sense of humour. Unless there is some scientific significance to the jeebies part of the name that I do not know.
This has to be one of the best names for a plant.
Trond - Ian of the Christie kind has it for sale under Chionohebe densifolia. I'm sure he would be able to give you some more information on its performance in the Scottish climate.
http://www.alpine-plants.co.uk/index.php?page=plantlist&atoz=C#results
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Trond, the plant Hebejeebie densifolia was previously Chionohebe densifolia and before that was known as Paederota densifolia...... plenty names for you to try to track it down ! It is grown mostly as an exhibition plant in the UK... not sure if anyone has it out in the garden....... :-\
Thanks, Maggi! I have heard the other two names but Hebejeebie was new! Wasn't even sure it was a real name.
Hebejeebie densifolia
Heebie-jeebies, A feeling of anxiety, apprehension or illness.
I'm sure the person or persons who renamed this plant must have had a sense of humour. Unless there is some scientific significance to the jeebies part of the name that I do not know.
This has to be one of the best names for a plant.
Trond - Ian of the Christie kind has it for sale under Chionohebe densifolia. I'm sure he would be able to give you some more information on its performance in the Scottish climate.
http://www.alpine-plants.co.uk/index.php?page=plantlist&atoz=C#results
Maybe the jeebie part is a native name or word?
Graham, thanks for the link. Think I have to ask Ian with the long name if he dispatch to Norway!
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I'm sure Hebejeebie was Doug's little joke. Hope so anyway. ;D I know it as Chionohebe densifolia but I was told recently that all Hebes, Chionohebes, Heliohebes and others with name changes over recent years are now being put back into the single genus Veronica!!!!! whence they came many, many years ago. I hope this is not right as Hebe at least, is so very distinct from the northern veronicas.
Chionohebe densifolia is very growable in the garden, along with plants like Herpolirion novae-zelandiae and it likes a humusy scree mixture in part sun with ample moisture during summer. It can be burned off only too easily, I found a couple of months ago, by our hot, searing north-west winds.
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http://nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.asp?ID=2151
http://www.botany.otago.ac.nz/bso/newsletters/bso60.pdf
http://www.linz.govt.nz/docs/crownproperty/high-country-leases/leaselist/lake-hawea-crr-pt1.pdf
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/emuwebnswlive/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=45457&reftable=ebibliography :
Veronica densifolia (F.Muell.) F.Muell., Fragm. 2: 137 (1861),
≡ Paederota densifolia F.Muell., Trans. Philos. Soc. Victoria 1: 107 (1855).
≡ Chionohebe densifolia (F.Muell.) B.G.Briggs & Ehrend., Contr. Herb. Austral. 25: 2
(1976).
≡ Leonohebe densifolia (F.Muell.) Heads, Bot. Soc. Otago Newslett. 5: 4 (1987).
≡ Hebejeebie densifolia (F.Muell.) Heads, Bot. Soc. Otago Newslett. 36: 11 (2003).
Type citation: On the highest rocky summits of the Munyang Mountains (6–6500 feet)
[F. Mueller].
Lectotype (here designated): Munyang Mountains, Mount Coskiusko [=Kosciusko],
6000–6500 ft., Mueller, Jan 1855 (MEL 21502!). Residual syntypes: Munyang Mountains,
6000 ft, [Mueller] (MEL 21503!); Munyang Mtns 6000′, F v Mueller (K!, two sheets: one
from Hooker herbarium, the other from Linnean Society); Mount Coskiusko 6000’, F v
Mueller (K!). Possible syntype: Mount Coskiusko, [Mueller?]
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Interesting reading the botany Otago newsletter about the Cook's Scurvy grass they found, as I saw it for the first time on this last trip in the Catlin's. Heres a shot of it for those interested.
Lepidium oleraceum.
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The name Hebejeebei gives me the hebe-jeebies ;D Surely the name is a botanist's inside joke, there are other cases where botanical names are conjured and published inspired by an obvious sense of humor. I once had a link to a list of such joke-inspired taxonomic puns, but can't put my thumb on it at the moment.
http://coo.fieldofscience.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
Those of my readers who are familiar with hebes may have blinked a little there. Our conception of the place of hebes in the botanical world has changed a little in recent years. Not only has there been the transfer of hebes from the Scrophulariaceae to the Plantaginaceae* (Olmstead et al., 2001), there is the small matter of their generic allocation. During the 1800s and early 1900s, most of those New Zealand (and a few South American) species that would later become recognised as hebes were included in the genus Veronica, a genus originally established for an assortment of temperate Northern Hemisphere taxa. The genus name Hebe (after the Greek goddess of youth, the daughter of Zeus and Hera, wife of Heracles after his apotheosis, and the server of ambrosia at the gods' table) was originally established in 1789, but didn't really enter use until the 1920s (Albach et al., 2004). Even after the botanical community recognised the distinctiveness of Hebe, horticulturists still tended for some time to regard the hebes as Veronica (Metcalf, 2006). Over time, everyone seems to have adjusted to the new view, and some groups of 'Hebe' species were even committed to further segregate genera - Parahebe, Chionohebe and (ha ha) Hebejeebie.
*Olmstead et al. (2001) suggested that the family including Hebe be called Veronicaceae, but the Botanical Code requires the correct name to be Plantaginaceae.
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The name Hebejeebei gives me the hebe-jeebies ;D Surely the name is a botanist's inside joke, there are other cases where botanical names are conjured and published inspired by an obvious sense of humor. I once had a link to a list of such joke-inspired taxonomic puns, but can't put my thumb on it at the moment.
This may be the site, Mark, there's some gems here.
http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/puns/puns.html (http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/puns/puns.html)
Enjoy!
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This may be the site, Mark, there's some gems here.
http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/puns/puns.html (http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/puns/puns.html)
Enjoy!
That's it! Thanks Diane. Right off the top, I like the current seasonal:
Ba humbugi Solem, 1983 (endodontoid snail) from Mba island, Fiji. ;D
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Luit
I find that Brachyglottis revoluta ,while never reaching the sizeable wide shrub it becomes in the wild ,will happily grow in the garden.I know i have said this many many times before ;D ;D ;D i love it because of it's wonderful scent.
Cheers dave.
Dave, I didn't know it is a shrub (alas not visible in the picture), and that might be the reason it is not in seen in gardens. Probaby not suitable as a compact plant for pots. Many alpine gardeners only want it when it's good for showing on shows, but overlook such a little bigger plants which would be good performers in the garden. I read in your words that we are thinking on the same line, so maybe there is a big task for you to try to introduce it ;D ;D ::)
Hello Luit
It's not a tall shrub --about 20cm max in height --maybe double that to the top of the flowering stems ( See attached pic which should give you a better idea of its growth).
I'm guessing it is in cultivation somewhere .....
If you are interested i can collect a little seed for you later my friend .
Regards dave
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I'm sure Hebejeebie was Doug's little joke. Hope so anyway. ;D I know it as Chionohebe densifolia but I was told recently that all Hebes, Chionohebes, Heliohebes and others with name changes over recent years are now being put back into the single genus Veronica!!!!! whence they came many, many years ago. I hope this is not right as Hebe at least, is so very distinct from the northern veronicas. Not from all of them! I read several (that's more than 20) years ago that Veronica fruticans (picture) had more in common with the southern Hebes than with the other Veronicas.
Chionohebe densifolia is very growable in the garden, along with plants like Herpolirion novae-zelandiae and it likes a humusy scree mixture in part sun with ample moisture during summer. It can be burned off only too easily, I found a couple of months ago, by our hot, searing north-west winds.
Lesley, we usually have ample moisture here! And no chance of being burned off, the warmest day last summer was 23C. The natural soil here is very humusy too. So I have to track down that plant!
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I like Itibittium, Hunkydora and Ytu brutus, from Diane's link. ;D
These all please me because I had previously been sure all botonists/taxonomists were totally devoid of any kind of sense of humour. I'm happy to be wrong about that. :D
Trond, I'm sure that some time during the summer Dave T or Doug (Kiwi) or another New Zealander will collect seed of the chionohebe and perhaps will make some available to you. I've not seen that pink shade in the first picture but a purple colouring is quite usual.
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I like Itibittium, Hunkydora and Ytu brutus, from Diane's link. ;D
I rather like these spiders:
Notnops, Taintnops, Tisentnops (caponiid spiders) These Chilean spiders were originally placed in the genus Nops, but Platnick separated them into these new genera when he reexamined them
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Luit
I find that Brachyglottis revoluta ,while never reaching the sizeable wide shrub it becomes in the wild ,will happily grow in the garden.I know i have said this many many times before ;D ;D ;D i love it because of it's wonderful scent.
Cheers dave.
Dave, I didn't know it is a shrub (alas not visible in the picture), and that might be the reason it is not in seen in gardens. Probaby not suitable as a compact plant for pots. Many alpine gardeners only want it when it's good for showing on shows, but overlook such a little bigger plants which would be good performers in the garden. I read in your words that we are thinking on the same line, so maybe there is a big task for you to try to introduce it ;D ;D ::)
Hello Luit
It's not a tall shrub --about 20cm max in height --maybe double that to the top of the flowering stems ( See attached pic which should give you a better idea of its growth).
I'm guessing it is in cultivation somewhere .....
If you are interested i can collect a little seed for you later my friend .
Regards dave
Hi Dave, I have been googling a bit on Brachyglottis revoluta and found out that it is related to Senecio greyi, now also called Brachyglottis.
As Senecio greyi is growing here well, this Brachyglottis revoluta might also do well here and is worth a try. And 20 cm. for a small shrub like this seems a perfect plant then.
So whenever you are in the area when the seeds are ripe I would be very happy to try it. :D
Thanks!
Luit
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always gems here! virtually every plant is odd and exotic by north american standards--the leptinellas are especially cool..
they shall remain exotic, as i doubt i could grow any of these here, barring a cool greenhouse ;D
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Is R. royi in cultivation in New Zealand? It looks a little gem.
Can be deceiving Cliff ---it's just another of the small grassland buttercups that in the flesh,(as least to me),have a weedy look......
This one i think is more of a gem Cliff ;)--shot taken yesterday in the wild --Ranunculus pachyrrhizus .
I also took a photo of Hebejeebie trifida ,however i won't go there ........... ;D ;D ;D
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Strange, almost all these mountain buttercups are magnificent. However the common weeds are but a nuisance!
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Is R. royi in cultivation in New Zealand? It looks a little gem.
Can be deceiving Cliff ---it's just another of the small grassland buttercups that in the flesh,(as least to me),have a weedy look......
This one i think is more of a gem Cliff ;)--shot taken yesterday in the wild --Ranunculus pachyrrhizus .
I also took a photo of Hebejeebie trifida ,however i won't go there ........... ;D ;D ;D
I have grown R. pachyrrhizus to flowering size Dave, but the resulting flowers weren't as pretty as in your image. Now long gone, it is another species that I need to try again under more controlled 'grassland' conditions.
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I have grown R. pachyrrhizus to flowering size Dave, but the resulting flowers weren't as pretty as in your image. Now long gone, it is another species that I need to try again under more controlled 'grassland' conditions.
You have 'done' better than me Cliff ---it only lasted a year or two here without blooming. :'(
We may have 'crossed wires' :) While R.pachyrrhizus is a snowmelt sps and found ,sometimes submerged :o, in good numbers in short turf, i have also found it on thin clayish screes and rock ledges close by....
Cheers dave.
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Thanks for clarifying that Dave! I always assumed it to be a high level plant, but must have read Doug's comments about the grassland species, R. royi and, as you gently put it, got my wires crossed. Age doesn't help much either! ;D
If I acquire seed again in the future I will treat it hard, though this approach isn't helping with seed of R. godleyanus, which germinates and dies in the same millisecond (or so it seems)? :D
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I'm late in reading this fascinating thread.
Many thanks Doug and Dave.
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though this approach isn't helping with seed of R. godleyanus, which germinates and dies in the same millisecond (or so it seems)? :D
It happens with me too Cliff, the cotyledons getting a yellowish patch in the centres then the whole damn thing dying away. UNTIL I DISCOVERED a product called Plantmate which I'm sure you'll find anywhere in the horticultural world now, under one name or another. It contains the NZ fungus Trichoderma which we've discussed elsewhere on the Forum from time to time. I bought it for my lettuces which can get that thing called sclero...?somthing and this stuff prevents it totally. In fact my lettuces are just about taking over my whole veg garden.
So I'm trying the Trichoderma stuff just a small pinch at a time, in seed pots where things are reluctant to grow on to a size which can be handled and it works a treat. R. godleyanus makes nice little plants which can soon be potted and I'm adding the Trichoderma to those too. It's supposed to be watered on, this form of it anyway, but I just sprinkle a pinch in the planting hole and BINGO!
It's working well with tiny seedlings of quite difficult plants that I'm introducing to my crevice troughs, where the planting space is too small for a hole, just easing the tiny roots in with a small pinch of Trichoderma and watering in. The little plants are catching on and establishing in no time at all.
If you can't find it, let me know, I'll send a packet.
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Superb information, Lesley ... many thanks.
http://www.ecogrowth.com.au/Datasheets/Mates_broch_ScreenRes.pdf
I must now search for this product over here (any other growers using it?) and I will report back to the forum.
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please do report back, cliff, i'll be very interested to hear!