alpine and subalpine Plants from New Zealand

[Leucogenes]

Hello David and Dave

After a long time once again a question to you specialists...

 Yesterday I received a small copy of Selleria radicans as a gift from a friend from an alpine gardener. He knows my preference for NZ plants. However, he had no further information. After a short research in the internet I saw some pictures of very large areas with this ground cover.

Therefore my question...Is it advisable to establish this plant in the New Zealand part of the Alpinum? Unfortunately, my place is not infinite and I also want to cultivate other species.

I thank you in advance and hope you had a good time and are in good health.

Thomas

[t00lie]

Hello Thomas

Selleria radicans grows further down the coast from our residence and forms large growths so for that reason I have never introduced it into our garden.

Gentianella saxosa seems to cope well with the competition and seeds away merrily so maybe the Sellaria is a suitable ground cover however seeing how well you grow NZ plants I suspect in your conditions it might take off .

[Leucogenes]

Hi Dave

So I had the right premonition.

I don't think I'll be establishing this plant in my alpinum to be on the safe side. However, I would like to continue to observe them out of botanical interest. So a large pot becomes the new home for this plant.
As always, the pictures are magnificent.

cheers
Thomas

[Leucogenes]

...as always, I looked at the photos in detail. I noticed a partial similarity of the flower shape with Mazus radicans. At least the petals also point forward. The word "radicans" has not left me alone. Can either of you tell me if there's a connection? I can't find a botanical definition for the word "radicans".

I also noticed that the shape of the flower of Gentianella saxosa differs significantly from my clone. My G. saxosa has narrower flowers on short stems. The picture from nature shows much thicker flowers that almost sit on. An absolute splendour. To kneel down on. Are there different growth forms also with this species?

Please excuse my curiosity...but my botanical interest multiplies almost daily.  My wife says I'm ready for the madhouse. 😂😂

Thomas

[Maggi Young]

"radicans"  means that the plant has rooting stems.

This website - http://www.plantlives.com   is one that includes a useful set of  botanical definitions

[Leucogenes]

Hi Maggi ...

Yes, of course. Thank you for the advice. I've been thinking about it all morning. In the end, I had a little hunch in that direction. Because I was thinking Cotoneaster radicans. This has also a very large urge to the surface covering growth... exactly like the two species specified here. Thank you for your profound knowledge.

I learn something new here every day... wonderful.

Thomas

[Leucogenes]

Veronika densifolia (Chionohebe densifolia) of today. But hibernated under glass...so a little earlier. The specimens in the Alpinum are not yet ready...but they have survived this winter very well. 

[David Lyttle]

Hello Thomas,

Your V. densifolia looks very good. You have done very well to keep it alive and get it to flower. I have flowered it but is does not thrive in cultivation and  I usually end up losing my plants.

Last weekend I went on a trip to the Rock and Pillar Range inland and to the north west of Dunedin. I was conducting a workshop on photographing alpine plants. The day was clear with a southerly wind and bitterly cold. However we found a sheltered spot and went ahead anyway. At this stage of the year there is not much in flower but still plenty of subjects to photograph.

Looking west from McPhees Rock (1300 m) across the Loganburn reservoir to the high tussock covered plateau of the Lammermoor/Lammerlaw Ranges.



Looking north across the valley of the Taieri River where it it takes a bend around the northern end of the Rock and Pillar Range. The mountains in the distance (from left to right) are Mt St Bathans, Hawkdun Range, Ida Range and Kakanui Mountains.



Looking south back towards Dunedin and the coast.



Some of the massive boulders formed by weathering of the schist outcrops.

[David Lyttle]

There is a big open basin 100 m below the ridge crest witha network of subalpine bogs along the course of the creek draining it. The slopes above the basin would have originally been covered with Chionochloa tussock grassland but most of this is now gone and has been replaced by a smaller tussock Poa colensoi.

Looking back to the crest of the hill showing the different vegetation types. The shrubland middle distance is almost all Veronica (Hebe) odora with a large boggy area in the foreground.



Veronica odora form these lovely hemispherical mounds. The Celmisia in the foreground is Celmisia prorepens



The bogs are drained by little creeks



The cushion bogs are dominated by Dracophyllum muscoides



Lichens and mosses (Racomitrium sp) are abundant as well. This cushion of Dracophyllum muscoides has conspicuous cover of the lichen Thamnolia vermicularis

[David Lyttle]

More cushion-forming species,  the red berries belong to Montitega dealbata (syn Cyathodes pumila) often confused with Pentachondra pumila and  the silvery cushions are Celmisia argentea.

[David Lyttle]

A cushion of Celmisia argentea with Veronica odora in the background.



and another cushion of Celmisia argentea with a single flower.



A lawn of Gaultheris parvula covered in fruit in a sphagnum bog. This species is very much at home in these these damp bogs.



On a much drier site a single plant of Gentianella bellidifolia in flower. There is a diverse assemblage of other species here including Phyllachne colensoi, Raoulia grandiflora, Celmisia prorepens, Coprosma perpusilla, Argyrotegium mackayi, Poa colensoi + a few more.



Last a close up of Gentianella bellidifolia.

[Leucogenes]

Hi David

What a pleasure to hear from you again.

These pictures...indescribable. Fantastic vegetation and impressive rock formations. I will spare you my enthusiasm for the individual photos. But I think you know how happy these pictures make me.

The workshop for the photography of alpine plants sounds very interesting. Please tell me more about it. Is this organized by the NZAGS? How many participants were there? Please excuse my curiosity.

As always I am looking forward to more pictures and information from the country of my dreams. 😊

Best regards
Thomas

[David Lyttle]

Hello Thomas,

I organised the photography workshop for the Botanical Society of Otago, a group I belong to. We hold an annual photographic competition and produce a calendar. The workshop was aimed a improving members photographic skills. There were 8 people in addition to myself on the day. NZAGS is based in Christchurch. I am not a member.

[fermi de Sousa]

We hold an annual photographic competition and produce a calendar. The workshop was aimed a improving members photographic skills...

Hi David,
a botanical calendar? Can you post a link to where it can be bought or is it only sold locally?
When will the next calendar be produced?
cheers
fermi

[Leucogenes]

Hi David

It was certainly a very nice event...even if it was cold. The number of interesting motifs is probably infinite. I'd have to improve my photographic skills, too.

I just checked the website of the bso again. An interesting organization. You offer a lot of events. Enviable.

I looked at your photos again... as always. If you have a big imagination, you can see two faces in the middle of the rocks in the third photo. A fat man and a skinny man...

Of course I would also be interested in the next calendar. If it's available, you can let me know...you should be the first to know...Mr. Chairman. 😊

Thomas