Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: kiwi on January 08, 2012, 08:30:52 AM
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Just returned from a botanizing adventure with Dave, Steve and Ann and Joe Cartman through the Awatere valley to Lake Tennyson.
The weather was rank, but our enthusiasm for our alpines prevailed and we battled on through and found some amazing specimens.
Dave requiring some comforting due to the weather conditions.
Haastia pulvinaris.
Celmisia sessiliflora.
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A late Ranunculus insignis.
Another with stunning leaf markings.
Twins...more Haastia.
Raoulia bryoides.
Celmisia insignis.
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Gentianella sp. (corymbifera?)
Wahlenbergia cartilaginea.
Lobelia roughii.
Lignocarpa carnosula.
The view up valley from the Island Pass.
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Beautiful! Sure it isn't sponges you found :o
Even I do not use shorts in that kind of weather ;D
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Super pics,, thanks a lot.. :)
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That dreich weather looks exactly the same as it does out of my window in Scotland this morning.
The plants are much more interesting in NZ however...
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Sensational plants and pictures, Doug!!! Many thanks for posting.
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The Lignocarpa is an extraordinary plant! Does anyone even try to grow this, or am I the only umbel-o-phile who is tempted? Somehow the plants look even better in that dreich weather!
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I managed to germinate Lignocarpa carnosula and keep the seedlings (just two) growing on for two seasons (this was over fifteen years ago), but they remained tiny plants and always looked likely to succumb to any potential danger which, unfortunately, before long they did.
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I think Ian managed to coax Lignocarpa along for about four years.
He had better success with Stellaria roughii which grew well, flowered nicely and made a lovely show plant.... not that the judges paid it much attention .... nowadays they might take more notice :-X
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Thanks for stunning pics as always Doug. Even though the weather wasn't up to Otago/Dunedin quality ( ;D) you obviously had a great trip, always better with friends along. I hope Dave got over his fear and distress. ;D ;D
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Our makeshift 5 star accomodation in the rain was just short of fantastic. Dave kept Steve and I up all night with his sobbing. ;)
Speaking of Stellaria roughii.... not quite flowering.
Notothlaspi rosulatum
Myosotis traversii, yellow form.
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Speaking of Stellaria roughii..........
hurrah! No sooner said than done! 8)
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Suicidal Plant Adventure Tours always aims to please!
The Cartmans pointed out some interesting Celmisia hybrids.
Celmisia X linearis. The first 2, C. sessiliflora hybrids and the 3rd C. insignis X.
Finally, a rather deadly Aciphylla subflabellata. A stunning sub alpine species.
A great weekend despite the weather, awesome plants and company.
Cheers everyone,
Doug.
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Some nice plants there Doug; the overcast weather would help the photography as on bright sunny days the harsh light on those Canterbury screes give too much contrast for good pictures.
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I just love these tours. Thanks. They are fascinating. Love the 5* accommodation! ;D
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Fantastic pictures Doug how I wish I could be there with you -rain and all.
It is such an incredible flora with stunning scenery and the company would brighten the dullest of days.
I have attached a picture of the plant of Stellaria roughii we grew many years ago.
Unfortunately we never got seed from it and it died after flowering so have never tried again- however if there were any seeds around later in the year :P :-X ;)
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Stunning specimen Ian !!!
After seeing it presented in a pot full like that, I will be grabbing some seed for the both of us !!! :)
Cheers,
Doug.
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Here is a trip I did just prior to Christmas but I think I will tack it on to the January thread with some plant pictures I took on another trip last week. The first trip was for two days. I went to the Ida Range near Naseby with a geologist friend. We visited the historical Mt Buster gold diggings and climbed Mt Kyeburn. (because it was there) However we saw and photographed plenty of plants along the way. The gold workings are in an area of quartz gravels at about 1000 metres in altitude. The gold was recovered by sluicing with water being brought to the site by an extensive system of water races that tapped in to streams higher still.
1. View of the gold workings showing exposed gold-bearing quartz gravels.
2. Exposed gravels form fantastic shapes.
3. Tussock covered terrain with St Marys Range in the distance. Mt Bitterness is the peak on the left with Kohurau on the right. Mid-distance are more gold workings and the remains of water race can be seen left foreground.
4. Further up on the Ida Range showing graywacke scree (the most boring rock in NZ according to my friend). The mountains in the background are the Kakanui range. The Kyeburn flows out to right.
5. Looking down from the top of Mt Kyeburn towards the Hawkdun Range. The area is a huge upland plateau between the Hawkdun and St Marys Ranges dissected by various streams that flow into the Otematata River which drains northward into the Waitaki (more or less centre of the picture).
6. The top of Mt Kyeburn (1636 metres).
A series of weather photos; there was a large anticyclone over the South Island at the time so there was a build up of cumulus cloud in Central Otago with th odd shower passing through.
7. Cumulus cloud over Mt Buster on the Ida Range.
8. Cloud from the north east pouring over the St Marys Range. The St Marys Range is sufficiently close to the coast to get what is essentially coastal fog.
9. Another view of the St Marys Range from the Buster Diggings.
10. North-east cloud obscuring Mt Kyeburn At this stage we had completed our climb and were back down at the diggings.
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Now for some plants
1. Acaena saccaticupula in flower
2. Anisotome flexuosa
3. Anisotome ' Bog' , This bog form is found throughout Central Otago and may possibly correspond to Anisotome imbricata var prostrata.
4, 5 I have identified this daisy as Brachyscome longiscapa. It may be something else as these are very confusing.
6. A small Cardamine (for all those gardeners that love this genus)
7. Celmisia alpina
8. Celmisia haastii var haastii, a common snowbank Celmisia.
9, 10 Celmisia laricifolia. This species is almost impossible to photograph because of its slender flower stems and propensity for growing in windy situations.
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In the top and bottom landscapes one could almost expect to find Crocus moabiticus. ;D
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In the top and bottom landscapes one could almost expect to find Crocus moabiticus. ;D
How about Podocarpus nivalis
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Gosh, I'm seeing more of New Zealand in my study! ;D
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How about Podocarpus nivalis
My tiny one would be totally lost!
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Anthony,
There are plenty of interesting places to visit in the southern part of the South Island there are still many places I have not been to. Each mountain range has its own distinctive character. I keep finding new plants each time I go out (new to me at least and a lot of them are undescribed) For todays posting;
1,2 Chionohebe thomsonii. The second plant is growing on a rock outcrop that was falling to bits - not a pleasant place to be as a chunk of rock below the Chionohebe started to fall away as I brushed against it. I very carefully removed it and placed it in a more secure position. If I was a S.PA.T. member I would have dropped ot on my toe or something :).
3, 4 Colobanthus buchananii A small cushion and part of a plant just begining to flower.
5,6 Dracophyllum muscoides A large cushion and close up of the flowers.
7. Dracophyllum pronum
8. Dracophyllum pronum (foreground) with Dracophyllum muscoides behind.
9. The alpine sundew Drosera arcturi. The showy flowers of this plant are insect pollinated but:-
10. Drosera arcturi with a trapped moth. There is a contradiction here.
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More plants;
1,2 Epilobium porphyrium
3. Tiny Galium perpusillum growing in a patch of Muehlenbeckia axillaris.
4. Gaultheria depressa var novae-zelandiae
5. The related species Gaultheria parvula which tends to grow in bogs.
6. Geranium potentilloides ( syn Geranium microphyllum)
7. Geum leiospermum
8. Haastia pulvinaris A scree variant of this widespread species; the aerial parts appear to die down in the winter and regrow in the spring unlike the more common form of this species which is a perennial subshrub.
9, 10 Hebe epacridea Another scree specialist. This the first time I have managed to find and photograph a good flowering specimen.
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Super plants. I wonder if any of those little dracophyllums (or even any of the larger species) have been in cultivation? I know Brian Halliwell when at Kew had an interest and success with some of these and Tasmanian plants but they sound very difficult to grow. Hebe epacridea is really an intriguing looking plant and has been grown quite a bit in the past. I also once had H. cheesemannii, maybe from Graham Hutchins, and these small species are very appealing.
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If I was a S.PA.T. member I would have dropped ot on my toe or something :).
Are you saying we are accident prone? I don't think so.
My safety jandals can easily deflect a falling Chionohebe .I know so, because the manufacturer of jandals claim that after exhaustive clinical tests it has been proven that the structural integrity of jandals were not compromised in any way by the rapid descent of any genus of Scrophulariaceae .
So there!
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Good job they weren't Samoan safety jandals!
David, I find these pictures and plants absolutely fascinating. Once I'm settled and can organise myself better I'll venture into the wilderness. I think your trapped moth is a rusty hebe looper (Dasyuris callicrena)? Its caterpillars appropriately feed on one of the subalpine hebes.
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If I was a S.PA.T. member I would have dropped ot on my toe or something :).
Are you saying we are accident prone? I don't think so.
My safety jandals can easily deflect a falling Chionohebe .I know so, because the manufacturer of jandals claim that after exhaustive clinical tests it has been proven that the structural integrity of jandals were not compromised in any way by the rapid descent of any genus of Scrophulariaceae .
So there!
I am reassured by the thourghness and efficacy of the testing regime of the manufacturer of your footwear. Bruised toes can be very painful.
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David, you make me wonder if I ever live long enough to see all this myself! That is the problem with me - the more pictures I look at from places around the world, the more I am longing for seeing it with my own eyes!
David this is one of your pics, does this fern have a name?
(http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8325.0;attach=326133;image)
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I'm no great lover of ferns especially as they appear with incredible regularity - from where? ??? - in just about all my seed pots BUT I'm thinking that one could be one of the so-called "sun" ferns, a Ceterache species. Mmmm?
Tim, I haven't tried growing the native Dracophyllums but the Tasmanian Richea scoparia, which is closely related, is not only easy to germinate (mustard and cress) but easy to grow too. Not sure about other species.
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It is raining here this morning- It is the first decent rain we have had for about 2 months so it is very welcome.
Tim,
Dracophyllums are not cultivated very much - not entirely sure why as the larger ones (Dracophyllum traversii, Dracophyllum menziesii) are very spectacular plants. Dracophyllum longifolium is easy enough to grow provided the roots do not dry out. They are very similar to Rhododendrons in their cultural requirements, with shallow fibrous roots they need relatively moist conditions and low pH as they tend to grow on peaty infertile soils in the wild. Dracophyllum muscoides grows on very exposed sites where it forms a tight cushion. I do not think it would be easy to maintain this form in cultivation. There are innumerable natural hybrids between some of the smaller species which show a great deal of variation. I have one such plant that I grew from a cutting but my success with striking cuttings has not been great. Hebe epacridea is easy to strike from cuttings and grows well but tends to be difficult to keep as it is a specialised scree plant. I have some in my new crevice garden and it will be interesting to see how well they survive.
Anthony,
The best strategy would be to visit a couple of skifields as they have good road access before venturing further afield. The New Zealand mountains can be very unforgiving.
Some more plants;
1, 2 Hebe pinguifolia growing on a rock outcrop just below the summit of Mt Kyeburn.
3. Hebejeebe densifolia
4. Kelleria dieffenbachii
5,6 Kelleria paludosa This species grows in bogs,
7. Kelleria villosa var villosa This is a cushionfield species growing in higher more exposed sites than Kelleria dieffenbachii.
8. Leptinella pectinata subsp villosa This specimen has slightly pink flowers.
9. Leptinella pusilla This species has a strong honey scent, an observation originally made by Dave Toole who had his nose down in the plant photographing it.
10. Leptinella pectinata subsp villosa and Leptinella pusilla
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David, you make me wonder if I ever live long enough to see all this myself! That is the problem with me - the more pictures I look at from places around the world, the more I am longing for seeing it with my own eyes!
David this is one of your pics, does this fern have a name?
(http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8325.0;attach=326133;image)
Trond,
My sentiments exactly, There is enough to see in the southern South Island to occupy several life times let alone go anywhere else.
The fern in the photo is Blechnum penna marina.
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So that's me told. Thanks David. Sorry Trond. ::)
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More plants;
1,2 Lobelia linnaeoides showing the flowers and foliage. Another plant that is difficult to photograph.
3. Lobelia roughii Not flowering like Doug's picture posted earlier in this thread.
4,5 A curious little woodrush growing on scree. I thought it might be Luzula pumila but it is probably not this species.
6,7 Lycopodium fastigiatum with developing cones.
8. Huperzia australiana ( syn Lycopodium australianum)
9, 10 Melicytus alpinus This particular variant is a more or less prostrate form growing amongst boulders. The fist picture shows the plant in situ and the second is of a branch with flowers and fruit
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It is still raining here so I am still posting
1. Montia fontana subsp. fontana a modest bog turf species.
2. Montia sessiliflora its more showy relative a species of bare sites and disturbed ground. Flourishs on tracks.
3. Muehlenbeckia axillaris
4. Myosotis cheesemanii I was lucky to find this very rare plant flowering on Mt Kyeburn.
5. An un-named species of Myosotis from the Rock and Pillar Range. This species tends to be found at the base of overhanging rocks.
6,7 Nertera balfouriana A common bog species. Named after Prof I. B. Balfour, keeper of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.
8. Oreobulus pectinatus This plant is known as comb sedge and it griws in stiff cushions in bogs.
9. Ourisia glandulosa
10. Pachycladon novae-zelandiae Usually found growing on rock outcrops. Quite a variable plant
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David, an inspiring series of plants and photos here, too many fantastic plants to comment on them individually, but I continue to be astounded by the NZ mountain flora and your fine photos capturing their essence so well. Thank you!
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Thank you Mark for your kind comments. Our New Zealand alpines lack the the bright colours of the corresponding European and North American plants but show considerable diversity none the less.
This year Celmisia argentea flowered profusely to the extent that it was like looking at patches of snow on the ground. Celmisia argentea is an eastern Otago endemic and is similar to Celmisia sessiliflora which is much more widespread.
1,2 Celmisia argentea flowering cushions (and there were lots more)
3. Crowded flowers on Celmisia argentea.
4. Celmisia argentea showing flowers and rosettes
5. Close up of Celmisia argentea flowers.
For comparision here are some pictures of Celmisia sessiliflora from two localities, Mt Kyeburn where there is no Celmisia argentea, and the Rock and Pillars where both species occur of side by side. They are easy enough to tell apart in the field but given the propensity of Celmisa sessiliflora to hybridise with anything I would be surprised if hybrids did not occur between the two species. There seems to be a lot of mis-recording of small forms of Celmisia sessiliflora as Celmisa argentea but I am not clear if hybridisation plays any part in this.
6,7,8 Celmisia sessiliflora from Mt Kyeburn
9,10 Celmisia sessiliflora from the Rock and Pillars. The two species grow together here and there may be some introgression of Celmisia argentea genes into Celmisia sessiliflora plants pictured. I will let the forumists be the judge.
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David, let in Flora of New Zealand not so is a lot of colors, as in Flora of other places, but how many refinement, tenderness and charm! Thanks for such fine photo-stories!
I tried to grow up Celmisia semicordata and Celmisia sessiliflora - and they not bad wintered to steam of winters and I hoped for flowering... But alas, plants have perished in snowless winter at-36oS.:((
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I've discovered a gap in the market, so once I've made my fortune making black bin bags that actually fit black bins and pedal bin bags that actually reach to the bottom of pedal bins I'll have time for travelling. ;D
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Hello Natalia,
I have very much enjoyed your posting on Russia North. The Kola Peninsula is much more mountainous than I would have imagined as I would have thought that most of the mountains would have been flattened by glaciation. Your Lycopodium selago is very similar to our Huperzia australiana ( = Lycopodium australianum). New Zealand alpine regions do not get very cold in winter. At 1500 metres temperatures would seldom get below -15 degrees C and a lot of plants would not even experience temperatures that low. At -36 degrees C I would not expect New Zealand plants to survive. I find Celmisias difficult to grow especially the large ones like Celmisia semicordata as they get stressed in warmer weather and succumb to fungal diseases. I think they would survive very well at temperatures between -5 to -8 but that would require some protection in Russia.
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Exceptional images and interesting details as always, David. When is your book coming out? :)
Anthony - produce those bags and the world will be littered with them.
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Anthony - produce those bags and the world will be littered with them.
I just don't understand why the bags sold are not fit for purpose? If they fitted the bins I would use fewer of them!
The pictures would grace any book. Even that picture of a moth being digested by a sundew shows the moth better than the book I used to identify it! There must be a market for a book on New Zealand alpine flora?
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Hi Cliff,
I am slowly working my way through to the buttercups though there is nothing particularly flashy in this set. I am afraid the daisys are the stars this time.
1. Celmisia prorepens
2,3 Phyllachne colensoi, a small cushion and a close up of the flowers.
4. Pimelea oreophila In a recent revision this species has been split into several subspecies but I have not worked my way through the changes yet.
5. Pimelea aff oreophila I considered it sufficiently different at the time to photograph it. It is less hairy than the preceeding specimen.
6. Plantago lanigera a tiny alpine plantain with flowers.
7. Polystichum cystostegia the alpine shield fern. It dies back during winter unlike the other New Zealand Polysrichum species.
8, 9 The orchid Stegostyla lyallii (syn Caladenia lyallii) There were large colonies of this attractive ground orchid flowering on the Rock and Pillars.
10. Lichenomphalia alpina a lichenised basidiomycete. The green slime below the mushrooms is the algal part of the lichen thallus
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For the penultimate posting here is a series of Raoulias and a Viola
1. Raoulia apicinigra with the flowers just about to open Note the black tips which is diagnostic of this species.
2,3 Raoulia eximia a small vegetable sheep This species is at the southern limit of its distribution on the Ida Range.
4. Raoulia eximia and Raoulia hectori.
5. Raoulia grandiflora The flowers are not quite open.
6. Raoulia grandiflora with completely open flowers and Raoulia subsericea.
Enough Raoulias
7,8 Viola cunninghamii Note the lovely purple markings on the throat of the flower.
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7,8 Viola cunninghamii Note the lovely purple markings on the throat of the flower.
I am indeed noting those markings - so beautiful.
David, an exceptional series of pictures.... some of these plants are the best I have ever seen... it seems a magnificent year for flowering.
Remember Folks : click on the little pictures to enlarge them ... and see the delights even more clearly!
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For the ultimate posting;
1, 2 Ranunculus acraeus I knew this species was present and had hoped to see the screes dotted with golden buttercups. However we found very few plants with none in flower but there were a couple with developing seed heads. I suspect browsing by hares and sheep keep the plants small and numbers low.
3. The cryptic scree buttercup Ranunculus crithmifolius with a seed head I have never seen this species in flower.
4. A very conventional grassland buttercup Ranunculus foliosus (I decided it was this species rather than Ranunculus royi)
5,6 Ranuculus gracilipes a small buttercup found mainly in bogs though the first specimen was sitting under a snow bank.
7. Melicytus alpinus This plant is tucked out of harms way in a pile of shattered rock. Hares browse the twigs quite hard. However these plants evolved to resist being eaten by moas and seem to survive.
8. Melicytus alpinus a branch showing flowers and fruit ftom the preceeding specimen.
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Enough Raoulias
I never thought I would hear those two words used in conjunction! :D
Can we ever have enough of these gorgeous plants (even if they delay the posting of the buttercups for a few moments longer)!
Oops, looks like you have sneaked some in before I could post this David ... I shall away and enjoy.
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I am indeed noting those markings - so beautiful.
David, an exceptional series of pictures.... some of these plants are the best I have ever seen... it seems a magnificent year for flowering.
Thank you Maggi for your generous comments. I have finished this set of pictures and hope you have enjoyed them.
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David I echo all the other comments thanks for sharing with us what appears to be an exceptionally floriferus season .
We are so lucky to have you guys posting from NZ showing us the flora from north and south of the South Island.
This flora has always fascinated me and I have never understood the criticism that all the flowers are white daisies. People who say that have either not seen it or have not looked at what they are seeing.
I hope these superb flowers means that it will also be a bumper year for seed :P
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Trond,
My sentiments exactly, There is enough to see in the southern South Island to occupy several life times let alone go anywhere else.
The fern in the photo is Blechnum penna marina.
Thank you! I didn't recognize it although I grow it in my garden!
So that's me told. Thanks David. Sorry Trond. ::)
Lesley, I do forgive you ;)
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Thank you Mark for your kind comments. Our New Zealand alpines lack the the bright colours of the corresponding European and North American plants but show considerable diversity none the less.
Yes I read that NZ (montane) flora is predominantly white-flowered due to the kind of pollinators there. I can't recall what kind of pollinators are more important but I guess it is insects of some kind?
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David, thank you!
The Kola Peninsula is very diverse in lanshaft. Hibiny and Lovozero tundra - one theory is the two old volcano.
I understand that New Zealand plants live in a much milder climate, but before that terrible winter were a few years with mild conditions:)
I wanted to try ...
And now I would like, but now have to build a greenhouse:)
And when you see your beautiful photos with lobelia ...
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7,8 Viola cunninghamii Note the lovely purple markings on the throat of the flower.
I am indeed noting those markings - so beautiful.
David, an exceptional series of pictures.... some of these plants are the best I have ever seen... it seems a magnificent year for flowering.
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David, the same from me - enjoyed all your pics a lot!
Gerd
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Thank you everyone for all your kind comments. I consider myself fortunate to be able to go on these field trips. I get an immense amount of satisfaction and pleasure from them and am very pleased to be able to share them with all of you through this forum. They are never dull - there is always something novel or something I have never seen before as we have such a varied and diverse flora in a relatively small geographical area. Each mountain range has its own character and set of plants. It is very instructive doing a west to east traverse in a short period as I did last summer and see the changes in vegetation. Contrary to Ian Y's comments it has not been a particularly good season, in fact it has been rather average, and some species, particularly Aciphyllas, have hardly flowered at all. Last season was exceptional. Despite this there is always something to see, photograph and post on this forum.
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David, I'm the one to say thank you! It is a pleassure to follow you on your trips. (My wife can't understand why I've gotten such a PC addiction ;D )
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I've only just caught up with this thread - spectacular as ever! Where will the 2013 conference expedition take us?
If I was a S.PA.T. member I would have dropped ot on my toe or something :).
Are you saying we are accident prone? I don't think so.
My safety jandals can easily deflect a falling Chionohebe .I know so, because the manufacturer of jandals claim that after exhaustive clinical tests it has been proven that the structural integrity of jandals were not compromised in any way by the rapid descent of any genus of Scrophulariaceae .
I am reassured by the thourghness and efficacy of the testing regime of the manufacturer of your footwear. Bruised toes can be very painful.
I take it you've invested in the North Queenland Safety footwear? I got sent a pic after the cyclone clean-up last year
[attachthumb=1]
cheers
fermi
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Fermi: On the Monday immediately following the 2013 Study Weekend, we hope to run with our original plans and organise a day trip to the Craigieburn Skifield. (Just a reminder - the Study Weekend is now rescheduled for Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd February 2013). Look forward to seeing you there!
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Thanks for such magnificent picture they sure make my day as it is Baltic here with some more snow, please can we have some more details about the 2013 conference or is it full ( would not surprise me), cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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Fermi: On the Monday immediately following the 2013 Study Weekend, we hope to run with our original plans and organise a day trip to the Craigieburn Skifield. (Just a reminder - the Study Weekend is now rescheduled for Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd February 2013). Look forward to seeing you there!
Doreen, no info on the NZAGS site.... I presume you'll pass along booking info at some point?
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I haven't been able to keep up! I once tried growing Celmisia sessiliflora and Raoulia grandiflora, surely two of the most delectable alpines in the world - but really the place for them is at home in New Zealand! (Or maybe in Alan Furness's garden).
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We are most fortunate in Scotland that so many New Zealand plants feel at home here. :D
You ought to contemplate a move, Tim!
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We are most fortunate in Scotland that so many New Zealand plants feel at home here. :D
You ought to contemplate a move, Tim!
Then a lot of them should feel at home here too! Unfortunately I haven't had chance to try more than a few :(
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David,
Pictures of different Raoulia are outstanding! Many thanks for sharing!
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Ian (the Christie kind) and Maggi:
Having rescheduled the Study Weekend, we just need now to confirm that all our speakers are able to attend same time same place next year, then we can put the finishing touches to our programme. Hopefully this will be in the next few weeks, then we'll launch into the publicity, so keep watching this space!
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I've only just caught up with this thread - spectacular as ever! Where will the 2013 conference expedition take us?
cheers
fermi
Can you please bring me a pair of them fancy jandals Fermi?
and Doreen , if you look very carefully near Cromwell on the Wanaka Road you will see the Exotic Weed Seed Extraction Team in operation
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Snow on the local hills this morning though it is still summer.
Olga,
I am pleased you liked the Raoulia, I have long been an admirer of your splendid photographs - there will be another Raoulia in this present posting.
Tim,
I find Raoulia grandiflora a very frustrating plant to grow; it increases well and starts forming a good-sized cushion and then dies. I have Celmisia argentea growing well but it is more or less a localand prefers growing in bogs. Celmisia sesiliflora is a bit more difficult but I have managed to keep two different hybridsfor a couple of years.
I went up Mt Burns on wednesday as part of a Botany team re-surveying the MT Burns GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) Here is a link for anyone interestedhttp://www.gloria.ac.at/?a=9 (http://www.gloria.ac.at/?a=9) This invovles spending a lot of time down on ones hands and knees scoring species frequencies in 10 cm2 quadrats. We were taken to the site by helicopter but had to walk back down the hill. Since the main pupose of the visit was a botanical survey I was not able to take as many photos as I would normally have wished.
1. View down into the Grebe Valley filled with morning mist.
2. View of Mt Burns from GLORIA site. The summit is set back behind the tussock ridge. The snowbanks on the face are the location of Ranunculus buchananii.
3. GLORIA site with climate equipment and quadrat.
4. Working at the GLORIA site
5. Looking east across Mt Burns tarns into Pig Creek.
6. String bogs
7,8,9 We never seem to get away from buttercups, Ranuculus lyallii and Ranunculus buchananii.
10 Raoulia hectorii var mollis. This particular form is a lovely golden cushion
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A few more plants
1. Luzula pumila or that is what I thought it was until I talked to Alan Mark today - now I am confused as in Luzula pumila the infloresences should not exceed the height of the leaves.
2. Epilobium porphyrium
3 Hebe murrellii, a Fiordland endemic.
4,5 Ourisia remotifolia, I keyed this one out from the actual specimen rather than from a photo. It is meant to be fairly rare but is quite prolific in the high boulder fields on Mt Burns
6 Ourisia sessilifolia I am pleased to have got a picture of this - it is not uncommon but it is another plant that dies not like being photographed.
7. Celmisia sessiliflora Mt Burns form The rosettes tend to be smaller and the leavesare more sharply pointed than the typical form I am inclined to think that there has been some introgression of genes from Celmisia laricifolia which is also common there.
8, 9 Celmisia hectorii a small plant (it can form huge carpets) and a close up of the flowers. Very much a snowbank species.
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7,8,9 We never seem to get away from buttercups, Ranuculus lyallii and Ranunculus buchananii.
... And why pray would you want to? ;D ;D
Please keep posting these superb insights, David ... they are much appreciated.
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Hello Cliff,
I am sure that picture 2. "View of Mt Burns from GLORIA site " corresponds to your vision of Paradise. On the rocky face dropping from the summit ridge towards the left of the picture you can see a series of snowbanks. As the snow melts Ranunculus buchananii emerges; fresh plants are still coming out in their hundreds. The Ranunculus lyallii occupies relatively sheltered sites in the tussock covered areas. The centre of the GLORIA site (photos 3 & 4) is on a very exposed ridge crest. The plants growing there are typical cushionfield plants ie Dracophyllum muscoides, Leptinella goyenii, Chionohebe ciliolata, Raoulia grandiflora, Racomitrium mosses Some are so stunted you need a hand lens to identify them - they do not make good photographic subjects! However further over to the left and the right off the crest of the ridge you get back into larger plants with Chionochloa crassiuscula, Celmisia viscosa, Aciphylla crosby-smithii, Aciphylla congesta etc. The altitudinal range from Borland Saddle to the summit of Mt Burns is 1000 to 1645 metres so it is very diverse in vegetation terms.
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Beautiful, David!
Although the landscape is somewhat familiar the flora is not but very exiting ;D