Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: kiwi on February 07, 2012, 03:26:21 AM
-
Went for a stroll up the Mt Cheeseman Ski Field today, followed by a family of seven Kea's.
A lot of sweat was spilt to get up to the ridge line (1840 metres)
Found a little community of these alpine fungi around the 1600 metre mark? (David - any ideas)
-
Not a great flowering for Celmisia, Gentianella or Aciphylla up there, but Raoulia grandiflora and Haastia recurva were stunning!
The Haastia had the most powerful, delicious, honeydew aroma - unbelievably beautiful.
Firstly though a small Leptinella dendyi.
-
Craspedia lanata.
Penwiper in seed - notothlaspi rosulatum.
Leucogenes grandiceps and Raoulia x leucogenes hybrid.
The only Gentianella sp. worth photographing.
-
A side trip on the way home pays off! ;)
Montigena novae-zelandiae, been watching these plants for the last three years for another good flowering / seed set.
Declining in the wild, this seed should hopefully save this community for a few more years yet.
It would be a tragedy to loose this stunning plant from our screes.
Right, enjoy! - off to work :-[
Cheers!
Doug.
-
Wonderful pictures Doug, inspite of a less than very best flowering season. The Haastias are very fine as ids Raoulia grandiflora. If you're not careful you'll have the gentleman from the Utterly Butterly Hort Soc changing his allegiance from Ranunculus to Haastia! ;D
-
Hello Doug,
Very nice to see your post as there still seems to be plenty of plants around. Seeing seven keas was pretty good as well _ we only saw one on my last trip to Mt Burns and it was at a distance.
Your mushroom is Entoloma translucidum (syn Entoloma perzonatum). It is perhaps the most frequently encountered mushroom in the alpine zone. Here is a link with some more information. http://nzfungi.landcareresearch.co.nz/html/data_photo.asp?ID=&name=Entoloma~translucidum&NAMEPKey=3389 (http://nzfungi.landcareresearch.co.nz/html/data_photo.asp?ID=&name=Entoloma~translucidum&NAMEPKey=3389)
-
Doug, the photos of the Haastia in flower are the best we have seen. So hard to catch the flowers at their peak and at close range. Superb!
So often the flowers seem insignificant and rather boring... here we see them if great condition and almost looking like live sea anemones. ;)
I had no idea they were fragrant! 8)
-
Maggi, many of our native alpines are very fragrant, a rich, wild honey scent in most cases. It adds an extra dimension to a walk among the plants and is very pleasant.
-
Thanks everyone, when I come across that Haastia my heart skipped a beat or two!!!
It was only a couple of weeks ago Dave had me face planting Haastia pulvinaris for a smell. This one though was so strong I could enjoy it's fragrance from over a metre away. Earlier in the day I had been indulging and thinking 'Lobelia macrodon' must be our most beautiful smelling alpine, but now I'm not sure! Penwipers are also up there with the best.
David, here's a family shot!
-
t00lie has been out in the hills again..... http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=374.msg15050#msg15050 8)
-
Here are a few pictures I took on a recent visit to Mt Patriarch on the the west side of the Wairau River in Marlborough. I did not get to the top on this occasion but still found some interesting plants. Unfortunately the region is converting itself into a coniferous forest so you might feel that you are in Switzerland (or Norway) rather then New Zealand.
1 Mt Patriarch from where we left our vehicle. The road continues from this point but there was a sign suggesting that we should not drive any further. The Wairau Valley is on the left.
2 The summit of Mt Patriarch from our furthest point, The road continues along the ridgeto the trees below the first rocky peak.
3. Lake Chalice at the head of the Goulter Valley. There are various tramping trackand huts in the area.
4. Looking across the Wairau Valley to the Black Birch Range under the clouds.
5 Wairau Valley looking upstream. ( I have not been able to figure out the topographical details- I should have taken a map with me at the time)
6 Wairau Valley looking roughly south east. Note the huge areas of plantation forestry across the valley.
7. Telephoto shot looking in the same direction. I am surmising the mountain is Tapaue-o-enuku the highest point in the Inland Kaikoura Range at 2885 metres.
-
Here are some plants;
1,2,3,4 Helichrysum parvifolium in flower
5 Hebe cryptomorpha
6,7,8 Gentianella tenuifolia. This species grows on forest margins and is fairly prolific.
9 Wahlenbergia albomarginata
10. An Epilobium species
-
1. Mt Patriarch crevice garden with Celmisia hieraciifolia var. hieraciifolia, Hebe gibbsii, Helichrysum parvifolium, Dracophyllum longifolium, Celmisia spectabilis
2,3,4,5 Leucogenes leontopodium
6 Celmisia hieracifolia var hieracifolia
7 Celmisia spectabilis subsp spectabilis This species is very common in the north but does not come as far south as Otago
8 Celmisia allanii This is included in Celmisia incana by some authorities
9 Schizeilema roughii Another species that is restricted to the northern part of the South Island.
-
Following my trip up Mt Patriarch I went up the Black Birch Range with Stuart and Elaine, Stuart was convince it was going to be a good day and it was apart from the fact that I left my lunch behind and it was blowing just a little bit.
1 The summit of Altimarloch with telecommunications equipment (top left). Note the tussocks.
2. View to the west
3 Looking west to the Richmond Range Mt Patriarch is part of this range
4 Looking northwest across the Wairau velley to the Richmond Range.
5. On top of the Black Birch Range
6. Looking southeast to the Inland Kaikoura Range
7. Looking east across the Awatere Valley to the coast (for those who want an idyllic life in paradise there are lots of Awatere vineyards for sale at the moment - you can see some in the photograph near the river)
8. Looking across the Awatere Valley to Lake Grassmere ( where there is a big salt works on account of the dry sunny Marlbourough climate)
9 View to the north west of the Wairau valley and Richmond Range
10 The infamous Waihopai Domes (I am taking a risk posting this picture as I might meet the same fate as Mr Assange)
-
Some plants from Black Birch.
1,2,3,4 A flock of vegetable sheep (Haastia pulvinaris)
5 Close up of Haastia pulvinaris
6 Colobanthus acicularis
7 Celmisia sessiliflora
8 Celmisia spectabilis
9 Celmisia x linearis This is a hybrid between Celmisia sessiliflora and some other species
10 Coprosma cheesemanii
-
Some further plant photos;
1 The tiny eyebright Euphrasia zelandica This species is annual and semi-parasitic so is not in cultivation.
2. Massed Euphrasia zelandica The colour of the flowers and foliage is quite variable
3. Gaultheria deprssa var novae-zelandiae in fruit. The berries are edible
4, 5 Gentianella bellidifolia These plants were flowering profusely. It is a perennial and the Black Birch plants grow as compact clumps different to the taller fewer-stemmed plants that are found here in Otago.
6 Close up of the flowers of Gentianella bellidifolia, The wind was blowing quite hard so I cranked up rhe ISO setting on the camera and took lots of shots to get the photos. A shutter speed of about 1/125 seems sufficient to stop the movement,
7 A lovely coloured form of Gentianella bellidifolia
8 Gentianella corymbifera This species is monocarpic
9 A multi-stemmed plant of Gentianella corymbifera
10 Epilobium pycnostachyum, a common scree species ( 1/125 at f16 ISO 1000) because of the wind - I took one shot and gave it away as I have plenty of pictures if this species. I was looking for penwipers at the time but did not find any.
-
The Gentianellas are really lovely David. I like the coloured foliage and compact habit of some.
I sowed seed of the Gaultheria, from Mahinerangi, earlier this year (went up there to see the wind towers being erected.) The seed started to germinate within a fortnight!
The second lot I collected and sowed at the same time but they took about a month to start. I have them as G. pumila but not sure. Could you confirm or correct pleas? Thanks.
-
This isn't native, but is endemic to Tasmania but here seems a good place to put it because it is close to some of our species of Coprosma. My plant is of garden origin, not collected. Unlike ours, this one is monoecious so doesn't need another to produce fertile fruit. I'll have seed available soon as the fruit shrivel up, if anyone would like a few.
-
Here are a few pictures I took on a recent visit to Mt Patriarch on the the west side of the Wairau River in Marlborough. I did not get to the top on this occasion but still found some interesting plants. Unfortunately the region is converting itself into a coniferous forest so you might feel that you are in Switzerland (or Norway) rather then New Zealand.
David, I wouldn't feel I was in neither Switzerland nor Norway for one split second either with or without conifer forest ;) Both the lines of the landscape and the details of the flora are so different and unfamiliar! Even the grass has an alien look :o 8)
Thank you to both you and Doug for the good experiences you give us (me) ;)
Maggi, many of our native alpines are very fragrant, a rich, wild honey scent in most cases. It adds an extra dimension to a walk among the plants and is very pleasant.
Lesley, what kind of creatures are lured by the fragrance of your native alpine flora?
This isn't native, but is endemic to Tasmania but here seems a good place to put it because it is close to some of our species of Coprosma. My plant is of garden origin, not collected. Unlike ours, this one is monoecious so doesn't need another to produce fertile fruit. I'll have seed available soon as the fruit shrivel up, if anyone would like a few.
Yes please, once again ;)
-
The Gentianellas are really lovely David. I like the coloured foliage and compact habit of some.
I sowed seed of the Gaultheria, from Mahinerangi, earlier this year (went up there to see the wind towers being erected.) The seed started to germinate within a fortnight!
The second lot I collected and sowed at the same time but they took about a month to start. I have them as G. pumila but not sure. Could you confirm or correct pleas? Thanks.
Lesley,
The second lot are Gaultheria macrostigma; Gaultheria/Pernettya pumila is a South American species.
-
Lesley, what kind of creatures are lured by the fragrance of your native alpine flora?
Mostly Lyttles, Coxes, Newalls, Toolies, Logans and similar animals, but also bees and moths, butterflies and smaller crawling or flying insects.
And yes, certainly, your name added to "the Book" to which I've resortd for such reminders. Won't be long though. It may not be fully hardy with you.
Thanks David. Silly of me. I'll relabel immediately.
-
Trond,
Unhappily wildling conifers are becoming a huge problem in many areas. On Mt Patriarch I felt I was documenting a vanishing flora.
Here are some more pictures from Altimarloch
1 The tiny speargrass Aciphylla monroi
2 Anisotome imbricata var prostrata
3,4 Pentachondra pumila; in the second picture the Pentachondra is growing in a cushion of Raoulia bryoides
5 Craspedia lanata (perhaps, but then again it may be something else)
6, 7 Hebe lycopodioides I could not identify this in the field and the plant list for Altimarloch was not a lot of help as it listed only Hebe tetragona, a species found only in the North Island. It looks very different fom Hebe lycopodioides from Otago which is its southern limit. It is surprising how much vatiation there is in some species in the field. The diameter of the branches and growth form of this species showed a considerable amount of variation even on the one mountain.
8, 9 Raoulia bryoides
10 Raoulia subsericea This is a very common species that I do not usually bother photographing
-
Wonderful plants and photos David, and many thanks for these ongoing reports which are fascinating.
The pentachondra is particularly spectacular in its raoulia setting 8)
That Tasmanian coprosma is a little jewel too Lesley. Your dry summers obviously don't bother it.
-
Hello Ashley,
I am pleased you liked the Pentachondra. The tiny hairs on the petals are very reflective and are usually obscure in photos. In this case I got both the flowers and ripe fruit which is a bonus.
Some more pictures for this posting;
1 Brachyglottis bellidioides
2 Brachyglottis monroi This species is a small compact shrub. I grow this plant but it has never flowered as well as these specimens in their natural habitat. The flowers are being visited by an introduced bumble bee.
3 Brachyglottis monroi In this case the flowers are being visited by a small native bee, Leioproctus fulvescens.
4 Brachyglottis monroi an an open hillside These plants are quite a long way a way and were shot with a 200mm lens Stuart was showing me how good his camera was so I had to take a shot as well. The plants are entirely covered with flowers obscuring the leaves There are two species of Aciphylla present as well, Aciphylla glaucecens and Aciphylla aurea.The small trees on the bottom right are Hoheria lyallii distinguished from Hoheria glabrata by the dense covering of hairs on its branches and leaves.
5 Celmisia insignis Not a hybrid (as perhaps Dave Toole would claim) but a local endemic being restricted to the area between the Awatere and Wairau rivers.
6 Helichrysum parvifolium Stuart spotted this stunning plant on the way up the hill and made sure we stopped and photographed it on the way down.
7. Aciphylla glaucescens ( My plant list says Aciphylla aff glaucescens so we will leave it at that)
8 Telephoto view of the Lake Grassmere saltworks The pink colour in the water is due to the brine shrimps in the hyper saline pools.
9 Port Underwood on the southern side of the Marlbourough Sounds
10 Mountains if the Inland Kaikoura Range to the south-east
-
Lesley, what kind of creatures are lured by the fragrance of your native alpine flora?
Mostly Lyttles, Coxes, Newalls, Toolies, Logans and similar animals, but also bees and moths, butterflies and smaller crawling or flying insects.
And yes, certainly, your name added to "the Book" to which I've resortd for such reminders. Won't be long though. It may not be fully hardy with you.
Thanks David. Silly of me. I'll relabel immediately.
Thanks Lesley - as always :) ;D
I can understand the first bunch but the latter? As far as I know colour is more important than fragrance in the mountains here. Colours don't blow away in the wind . . . .
Regarding hardiness - the coldest night this winter was -8C and the mean temperature in February (usually the coldest month) was 2.8C.
-
David, thank you for showing us these beautiful plants. I love them so much, but our local
climate is not suitable for the cultivation of them with only a few exceptions.
-
Trond,
Unhappily wildling conifers are becoming a huge problem in many areas. On Mt Patriarch I felt I was documenting a vanishing flora.
Sorry to hear that! That flora is so different from all here!
Foreign conifers have been planted here for more than 150 years and some of them like Picea sitchensis and Tsuga heterophylla are becoming pests in many places. But the vanishingnative flora isn't that exciting. . . .
10 Raoulia subsericea This is a very common species that I do not usually bother photographing
I would rather have this Raoulia as a common species than dandelions which I never bother photographing ;)
-
Well dandelions can be very handsome as the Bulb Log Man has shown several times. ::)
Trond, if not to attract pollinators, what other reason for the scent of flowers in the wild? Not just to please those who walk among them. :) And we do have days in the hills without wind, wonderful hot days when the very air seems to sing and the skylarks calls can be heard for miles. Wonderful.
-
Well dandelions can be very handsome as the Bulb Log Log has shown sevral times. ::)
Trond, if not to attract pollinators, what other reason for the scent of flowers in the wild? Not just to please those who walk among them. :) And we do have doays in the hills without wind, wonderful hot days when the very air seems to sing and the skylarks calls can be heard for miles. Wonderful.
I see that point, Lesley! But either our pollinators are a different breed (which they are ;)) or my nose deceives me but I rarely notice any scent other than from leaves, bogs - wet soil, animals etc in the mountains.
But I'll put my nose in closer proximity yo the flowers this summer! Maybe I can discern something new to me :)
-
Scented flowers attract night pollinators, such as moths and tend to be white flowered.