NZ Field Trips 2009

[Paddy Tobin]

Doug,

A great set of photographs, brilliant flowers. Many thanks, really enjoyed viewing them.

"Penwiper", that's a very odd name. How did it come to be so named?

Paddy

[Lvandelft]

As for the Pratia macrodon, it does grow in dense mats up there. The lower basins were covered and the scent was divine. You could smell them from the car park!

Doug, a plant with so many advantages should be taken in culture!
I only know Pratia angulata, but don't if it has any scent. Never tried.

[kiwi]

Hi Paddy - Quoted from Lawrie Metcalf's book, Alpine plants of New Zealand.
"The penwiper was named as it resembles an old fashioned, victorian cloth pen-wiper, formerly used to wipe ink from the nib pens used in those days."
There you go!

Hi Lvandelft, I will ask around to see anyone has had luck with Pratia macrodon in the garden, I would love to give it a shot, I'll have to see how it goes from seed.

[kiwi]

Why we're on the hybrids, heres one of my favourates.
Raoulia loganii (Leucogenes leontopodium x Raoulia rubra)
Seems to be doing great in my garden, though it needs rain protection through the winter.

[David Lyttle]

Hi Doug,

Pratia macrodon is now Lobelia macrodon. A second species Lobelia glaberrima that is very similar has been described.  They differ in details of the flower that of Lobelia macrodon being larger and more showy. Lobelia glaberrima has a more southern distribution than Lobelia macrodon so you are unlikely to see it in Canterbury.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Stunning Raoulia loganii Doug ! 

[David Lyttle]

Here is my posting for tonight some alpines from the Thousand Acres Plateau.

Pimelea gnidia flowers
Pimelea gnidia Shrub in full flower
Helichrysum intermedium (white flowered form) This species is extremely variable with some forms having yellow flowers.
Helichrysum intermedium flowers.
Myosotis species (possibly a local endemic)
Craspedia lanata
Celmisia lateralis
Dolichoglottis lyallii
Hebe epacridea
An Epilobium species. This particular species has the largest flowers of any Epilobium I have ever seen. It is a stunning plant but I do not know its name.
The Epilobium is Epilobium vernicosum. It is allied to Epilobium glabellum but is found on base-rich rock.

[ranunculus]

An Epilobium species. This particular species has the largest flowers of any Epilobium I have ever seen. It is a stunning plant but I do not know its name.

Absolutely beautiful, David ... could almost be Dryas octopetala blooms ...

[Gerdk]

Indeed, fantastic! Flowers as big as our native weedy Epilobium angustifolium!
Gerd

[Lesley Cox]

Pratia (Lobelia) macrodon does indeed make a very good cultivated plant, in garden or pot. It is so tight-growing and hugs the ground as closely as a skin. Someone needs to collect seed for the AGS and SRGC seed lists.

[Lvandelft]

Pratia (Lobelia) macrodon does indeed make a very good cultivated plant, in garden or pot. It is so tight-growing and hugs the ground as closely as a skin. Someone needs to collect seed for the AGS and SRGC seed lists.

So I spotted a good garden plant Lesley.
Be glad I am not there in the mountains.
I am sure I would have problems resisting taking a cutting or two.
I believe the same with the Epilobium sp. That is a real beauty.
Here in Holland many NZ plants are difficult to keep, but these would have a chance.

[cohan]

Gerd
Here is another close up of the Viola taken on Sunday.
It has a wide range throughout most of NZ .

What a lovely little viola.

i agree--interestingly enough, we have one here that is very similar looking!
i presume it to be V renifolia, but not certain--here is a shot from last may, this is a tiny thing, no more than a couple of inches high..
cohan

[cohan]

* Saw some fabulous plants ---particularly this wonderful specialized scree plant in flower --Lignocarpa carnosula --it's congested leaves remind me somewhat of deers antlers .
Cheers Dave.

wow wow! seriously cool!
cohan

[cohan]

Spot the difference, Pictures of Lignocarpa and Stellaria taken on the same scree at the same time.

another wow! much nicer than the average chickweed around here, even though we do have some pretty flowers and cute fuzzy leaves...lol

[Gerdk]

Gerd
Here is another close up of the Viola taken on Sunday.
It has a wide range throughout most of NZ .

What a lovely little viola.

i agree--interestingly enough, we have one here that is very similar looking!
i presume it to be V renifolia, but not certain--here is a shot from last may, this is a tiny thing, no more than a couple of inches high..
cohan

Thank you Cohan!
Pretty little thing - I guess renifolia is right.

Gerd