alpine and subalpine Plants from New Zealand

[David Lyttle]

David, it is great to see the Raoulia and hybrids, there seems to be a lot of flower, is this a particularly good year for their flowers?

Ian, it is not a great year for flowering perhaps with the exception of the Raoulias which seem to be doing fine. Aciphyllas are not flowering this year and Celmisia flowering is very sparse.

[Leucogenes]

Dave... what a beautiful picture. What fascinates me absolutely every time is that on the photos of you in the background always the next beautiful plant (in this case a hebe ? ) is to be seen. Are these botanical hot spots, or is it normal that so many different species grow in such a small space?
Impressive... as always. 

David... what are you leading this year's sometimes sparse flowering of some species? Do you think it's connected to the heat?

Greetings to you both
Thomas

[t00lie]

Dave... what a beautiful picture. What fascinates me absolutely every time is that on the photos of you in the background always the next beautiful plant (in this case a hebe ? ) is to be seen. Are these botanical hot spots, or is it normal that so many different species grow in such a small space?
Impressive... as always. 

David... what are you leading this year's sometimes sparse flowering of some species? Do you think it's connected to the heat?

Greetings to you both
Thomas

Sorry for the delay in replying Thomas as it's been rather busy here with our oldest daughters wedding.

It's not unusual to find a wealth of different genera growing close together Thomas .On the other hand large areas of scree tend to be quite bare , their specialized inhabitants seemingly to prefer lack of competition ,just the right aspect ,moisture and soil like fine material .......

Cheers Dave.

[David Lyttle]

This batch of pictures is from the St Marys Range on the day after we visited Mt Ida.

Looking north east across the Waitaki Valley from the crest of the St Marys Range


Kohurau, the highest point on the St Marys Range (2015 metres)


St Marys Range; two views


Looking south west to Mt Ida  more or less where we had been the previous day. Mt Ida is the bump on the end of the far skyline ridge. The ridge which runs to the right is the Hawkdun Range. Behind that on the very far right is Mt St Bathans which is difficult to make out on this sized image.

[Leucogenes]

@Dave
Ohh... my very best congratulations to the newly married couple. Thank you for your information.

@David

... a dreamlike scenery. I especially like the first picture of Waitaki Valley. Fantastic play of light and shadow on the folds of the mountains. I envy you for this brilliant panorama.

Thanks
Thomas

[t00lie]

@Dave
Ohh... my very best congratulations to the newly married couple. Thank you for your information.

Thomas

 

[David Lyttle]

I thought I might show a few plants from Awakino
First a little stream that supports a rich vegetation in contrast to all the screes.


Epilobium macropus grows where there lots of water available. The flowers of this species are quite large and very prolific.


Out on the scree you find Epilobium porphyrium


and close up of  the brilliant red capsules


Brachyglottis haastii. Hugh Wood showed me this plant and told me it is the only one he has ever found at Awakino. However it is relatively common elsewhere.

[David Lyttle]

Moving further out on to the screes  you find the real scree specialists.

Epilobium pycnostachyum




The photographers nemesis (if you have ever tried to photograph it on a bright sunny day) Leptinella atrata subsp atrata


Lobelia roughii


Myosotis traversii var cantabrica which blends into the surrounding scree.

[Leucogenes]

Hello David

Very nice to see these specialists for the scree heaps. I find Myosotis traversii var cantabrica and this fabulous Brachyglottis haastii especially fantastic.

I can only say the following about Leptinella atrata subsp atrata. I've been looking for it all my life. But I can't find anyone who has seeds from this beautiful plant.   I love these bordeaux-coloured flowers very much.

I only have to show Leptinella dendyi... but from 2016.


Thank you very much for the beautiful pictures... David.

Thomas

[Leucogenes]

Hi David

I have just looked at the few pictures on the internet that exist of Myosotis traversii var cantabrica. A really impressive little plant. Beautiful foliage with great hair.

[David Lyttle]

Hi Thomas,
I saw more Myosotis traversii the following day. There was a very good clump in flower which I will post. The screes are a feature of this part of the South island and have their own specialised plant flora.The underlying geology of the mountains is graywacke rock which fragments into screes. The schist rock of Central Otago does not form screes so the vegetation is very different. Many of the plants I have been showing you are at their southern limit.

[Leucogenes]

Hi David

I find that there are especially beautiful species of alpine flora in these barren screes. Worldwide. Also in Patagonia or in some alpine semi-deserts in Asia I find the flora extremely brilliant.

I would therefore be very happy to receive more pictures and information from these specialists from your home country.

Thomas

[Leucogenes]

Today I made some cuttings... most of them are of course New Zealanders. Please wish me luck they're rooting..😁

[hamparstum]

Helllo Thomas, your cuttings get any bottom heat to accelerate root formation? Do you just place them outside in your sheltered plunge? ....meanwhile I definitely wish you all the possible success!

[Leucogenes]

Hi Arturo

The cuttings do not receive separate heat from below. They now stand in a generally heated room at the window and additionally receive some artificial light and a glass cover. This increases the humidity.

Thomas