alpine and subalpine Plants from New Zealand

[David Lyttle]

Photo showing folded layers in a rock outcrop on the opposite side of the river.


Out on the flat the terrain is a bit more gentle. Here is a large silcrete boulder covered in lichen.


A grey saxicolous lichen that is very common on exposed stones on the edge of the terrace.


A bright red lichen growing on a rock outcrop next to the river.


 The lichen Haematomma alpinum growing on dead branches of Melicytus alpinus.

[David Lyttle]

Even though the elevation is too low for true alpine plants there are a number of interesting Raoulia species present.

Raoulia beauverdii A dryland species found scattered throughout Central Otago. Not always easy to identify in the field


Raoulia subsericea A common and very widespread species. It ranges from lowland to subalpine.


The uncommon dryland specialist species Raoulis monroi. It is easily recognised by its unique distichous leaf arrangement but is very easy to overlook in the field as it blends in with its surroundings.
 

I found  and photographed one capitulum that was still intact

[David Lyttle]

For all Raoulia growers worldwide, the true Raoulia australis; note the tightly packed cushion and golden flowers. If your plants are not like this then it is not Raoulia australis.
 

One more species, Raoulia parkii. It is not particularly common so finding it in flower was a bonus. It is rather beautiful.
 

A closeup of the flowers

[fermi de Sousa]

Even though the elevation is too low for true alpine plants there are a number of interesting Raoulia species present.

Raoulia beauverdii A dryland species found scattered throughout Central Otago. ...

Raoulia subsericea A common and very widespread species. It ranges from lowland to subalpine.

The uncommon dryland specialist species Raoulis monroi....

Hi David,
some splendid pics from you and Dave!
It's exciting to see that there are dryland raoulia spp as they are more likely to survive here! Unfortunately only R. australis is on our "Allowed List" as I'll need to get onto doing a submission or two to try to get these added! I may send you a PM to get some more info
cheers
fermi

[Leucogenes]

Hello, Fermi.

Is the import permitted by Raoulia glabra and Raoulia subseriaca to Australia? If so, then it says me please. I have harvested fresh seeds.

Thomas

[fermi de Sousa]

Sadly not, Thomas, 
I've sent you a PM referring to recent changes in Australia's import regulations,
cheers
fermi

[Mark Griffiths]

I had R. monroi briefly in the 70s - it came from Jack Drake's nursery where I met Ron McBeath.

I also had a plant labelled R. parkii but it was completely different from the pictures above.

It was a cushion with pointed leaves with a golden sheen - imagine a tiny cushion of Leucogenes leontopodium in gold - any ideas what that would have been?

[ranunculus]

I have so many images from our lecture tour to NZ and so little time to post at the moment ... I will get around to sorting them out in the fullness of time!  Just a taster for today, a roadside shot on beautiful Mt Hutt ... so many species ...

[t00lie]

Absolutely incredibly... Dave. Beauty cannot end a year... or? Actually, I get no more presents at Christmas. Now, nevertheless, I have got another one... your pictures. 😁😁
Thomas

Wow Toolie fantastic pictures of Raoulia youngii and Haastia sinclairii.
Thanks very much for posting

Thanks guys for all these wonderful images of great plants and scenery brings back fond memories of my visit.

A fabulous tour. Thank you.

Thanks all

Fiddlers Flat looks an interesting area David.As you have mentioned Raoulia parkii is beautiful.

I took the poor mans 4 wheel drive up onto the Old Man Range yesterday.A warm sunny day not at all like our visit Ian Y. of a few years back.



Quite a number of the plants in the extensive cushion fields are having a year off from flowering.



Not so Craspedia lanata yellow form .....



or Raoulia hectori var hectori



and a few Hebe imbricata.

[t00lie]

Around Tors



in cooler positions Chionohebe glabra .



Cliff ledges Aciphylla simplex.



Nearby Gentianella bellidifolia

[David Lyttle]

I also had a plant labelled R. parkii but it was completely different from the pictures above.

It was a cushion with pointed leaves with a golden sheen - imagine a tiny cushion of Leucogenes leontopodium in gold - any ideas what that would have been?

Hi Mark,

As with many other Raoulias there is some variation in the foliage colour. I looked through my image library and found the following picture not particularly golden but tending that way.

[t00lie]

Around late snowbanks and moist areas.



Phyllachne rubra



Polystichum cystostegia not yet in full growth



Ourisia glandulosa



and the moss like mats of Raoulia subulata

[t00lie]

Finally

Acaena saccaticupula in full flight.




Cheers.

[Leucogenes]

Particularly impresses me today Gentianella bellidifolia... in a bed of Kelleria(?)   A wonderful arrangement.

And the red motorcycle... great contrast. 😊

[David Lyttle]

in cooler positions Chionohebe glabra .

It looks like you had a good day. I am surprised Hilda is letting you out of the house at the moment after some of your more recent escapades.

I used to think the Chionohebes at the base of the tors (similar to the one you have posted) were Chionohebe glabra until I found the real one growing on very wet sites in snowbank areas. It sort of keys out to Chionohebe pulvinaris which has been recorded from Otago, but it does not make a lot of sense since Chionohebe pulvinaris has a more northern distribution. The question I would pose and I don't think there is an answer to it yet is "Are these plants more similar genetically to Chionohebe thomsonii which you will find growing on the exposed cushion field a few metres away or to Chionohebe pulvinaris which is found predominantly in the northern part of the South Island"