alpine and subalpine Plants from New Zealand

[Leucogenes]

This newcomer is still very small... but for me it is already one of the most valuable NZ in my small collection..... Raoulia eximia x petriensis. I got two little pieces... they're huge to me. 

[Lesley Cox]

As far back as the mid 1960s I and others sent seed of our natives - and small plants too - to Jack Drake and also to a few other people. I remember the great Roy Elliott telling me in 1961, the year I joined the AGS, that he would give his soul for Raoulia eximia. I had a relative at that time managing the sheep station of Mt Nimrod in South Canterbury at that time and was able to send Roy tiny plants as well as seed. I don't recall receiving his soul in exchange but then I wouldn't have known what to do with it anyway. In 1965 when I married, he did send me plants of Calceolaria uniflora, Corydalis cashmiriana (the size of half my little finger nail) and several other precious things. In those wondrous times we could import almost at will.

Bunty Roi of Christchurch (but English I think) managed the NZAGS (then called CAGS, Canterbury AGS) seed exchange for many years and was always on the lookout for donors of native alpine seed. Jack Drake also had a lot of seed from Brian Halliwell, as did others. I in my 20s and 30s was a lot fitter than I am now and regularly joined the field trips and sometimes went privately to collect seed, especially in South Canterbury where I lived and on places like the Rock and Pillar and the Old Man Range in Otago. Them were the days! You are right Mark in that the NZAGS native list is much smaller than in those times. Our Otago Alpine Garden Group has few if any natives listed now in the seed exchange. There are various reasons. One contributor withdrew a few years ago and while a couple try, the opportunities to collect are not now as many as many places are forbidden to collectors. Then too, commercial collectors have taken over the role of the gardener who walks and tramps a bit. I think we used to send seed overseas just because we could, as a way perhaps of exchanging seed with northern gardeners who sent their seed to us of desirable European, American or Asian plants but then our restrictions were brought in and there are so many plants we would love to try from seed but may not.

Tony Hall at Kew told me a few years ago that he believed he had lived through a "golden age" of alpine gardening, when anyone could grow anything they wished from anywhere in the world and new material was available to anyone who went looking for it. The governments of the world are now aware of the value of their native floras and even the great botanic gardens must have the written permission of those governments before they collect seed or plants for scientific collections, let alone for the obscure rock gardener who just wants to grow something new and beautiful as balm to her/his soul.

[Leucogenes]

Dear Lesley,

Thank you very much for the interesting remarks from the past. After all, there are still some very good native NZ seeds at the NZAGS seed exchange. We are grateful for every grain and can only guess how much work it does. Thanks.

The issue of strict restrictions on the import of seeds is a complicated one.
In times of globalization, perhaps it is only in this way that one can try to preserve the unique nature with you.
Unfortunately, there are enough negative examples of the destruction of unique wonders of nature.

However, it is very sad for responsible gardeners and botanists in New Zealand. It's probably only the illegal way...

... the import of "tea" will increase. 

Best greetings and wishes from me

... By the way... for seeds of Raoulia eximia (and many other things) I would also sell my soul. 

[Mark Griffiths]

I remember Roy from the 70s - he was always kind to me - most were, I was a novelty, a teen with a passion for alpines.

I remember the name Bunty Roi too although I never met her.

I possibly grew R. eximea from seed from one of the first AGS seed exchanges I took part in. I grew about 6 seedlings - I took them to Joe Elliott's place - there was a group of people in his shed, Joe, probably Ralph Heywood and some others. When I asked if I'd got R. eximea from seed they laughed. When I showed them what I had it all went VERY quiet. I think the seedlings were actually a mixture, there were some silvery things with pointed leaves but there were a couple that were clearly eximea or at least a member of that little group. I kept them something like 18 moths - 2 years but it was just too hot I think for them in my tiny greenhouse.

I feel in the UK we are still in a good period, I used to read wistfully about buying shortias by the square foot, but things tend to come and go, I remember the invasion of the Dionysias and various other waves. Mind you being a Cyclamen enthusiast I probably have a particularly rosy perspective.

[t00lie]

Fiordland yesterday

Tarns in morning light .



Drosera arcturi enjoying moist positions



as well as Aciphylla pinnatifida.



Nearby a couple of Celmisias.
C. holosericea



and C. coriacea.

[t00lie]

Climbing higher in cloud to the next set of tarns



Donatia novae zealandiae is having a very good year .







Nearby Celmisia verbascifolia.

[Leucogenes]

Hi Dave,

a particularly beautiful and mysterious atmosphere in the clouds. Fantastic. This makes the flowers shine even more brightly.
 
I especially like the Donatia novae zealandiae. I love these mats. Even without flowers they would be beautiful for me.

Thanks
Thomas

[t00lie]

Thanks Thomas

It was an enjoyable trip and outcome as I was able to travel downhill without any pain in both knees ,(especially my right one), after a fall a few weeks back.It's great to know I'm not going to be restricted to flat country.  

Donatia n.z can also be found at sea level in bogs a few miles along the coast from our home.

I have few more images to post later.

Cheers Dave.

[t00lie]

Reaching the uppermost tarns the weather started to clear .....




and close at hand on the slopes in short turf can be found a number of yummy foliated forms of smaller Celmisia hybrids, involving sessiliflora and or viscosa .







As well as a Veronica which I think is V. hectori .(Seems so strange to using Veronica after being so used to Hebe .... sigh . ).

[t00lie]

More tomorrow.   

[Gabriela]

Always a treat to enjoy the great landscapes and see plants from the NZ mountains I hope your knees will serve you well for many years to come Dave.
The Donatia cushion is really impressive - one more new species for me!

[t00lie]

Thank you for those kind words Gabriela. 

More of the short turf community ... some of the plants can be quite cryptic such as this Astelia .



Lovely low form of Gentianella bellidifolia .



Numerous Brachyglottis bellidioides.



Cushions of Phyllachne colensoi starting to bloom.



Then working my way up onto fellfield and cliffs searching for buttercups.

[t00lie]

Unfortunately most of the Ranunculus had flowered and were in seed . I located 3 plants still in bloom including this hybrid of R. lyallii x buchananii,



R .buchananii





Nearby Ourisia remotifolia , front



and back.

[t00lie]

Another Ourisia sps.



Reaching the ridge line, Aciphylla crosby-smithii.



View and a bit of leg porn  .



View in the opposite direction across the valley.



Not a particularly good flowering year down this end of the South island with many genera having a year off ......

Completely by chance I managed to 'bump' into this fellow on the way down as Mr Newall and his daughter Fiona were making their way up .

Steve Newall.



Cheers.



 

[Leucogenes]

Hi Dave....
my best wishes for your knees. Mine is similar... but durable and irreparable.

The low shape of Gentianella bellidifolia is fantastic. Also the picture of Phyllanche colensoi is the madness... so many different species in a small space. Ingenious.
And there's not much to say about Aciphylla crosby-smithii... a dream.

Cheers
Thomas

... by the way, even though it is not botanically correct, my friends and I continue to use the term Hebe. Hebe is New Zealand... Veronica the rest of the world.