New Zealand field trips Dec 09.

[David Lyttle]

I took over 100 photos on the Old Man Range so have been too busy processing them to post until now. I will post a batch of Chionohebes. After revising the genus Heidi Meudt (Australian Systematic Botany 6 2008 placed them all in Veronica but I still choose to refer to the genus as Chionohebe.

1-5 Chionohebe densifolia Chionohebe densifolia is also found in Australia. The opening flower buds of this specie often have a mauve/blue colour that quickly fades to white. This can be seen in picture 5.

6-9 Chionohebe thomsonii  This species is a Central Otago endemic. It is typically found on exposed sites in cushion field and high ridges. It often forms hard rounded cushions as in picture 6. Note the fine hairs on the leaves.

10 Chionohebe thomsonii var glabra  (or if you choose Meudt's name, Veronica chionohebe) This species has a restricted distribution to the Pisa Range, Carrick Range, Old Woman Range and Garvie Mountains. The record from the Old Woman Range is from the western side of the Fraser Basin so it is not surprising to find on the Old Man Range on the eastern side of the Fraser Basin. It is a softer looser mat then Chionohebe thomsonii and grows in damper situations. The plant pictured here was growing in a depression at the base of a rock tor which tends to retain snow and hence more moisture than the cushion field sites favoured by Chionohebe thomsonii. Note the lack of hairs on the leaves.

[Paddy Tobin]

Extraordinary plants, David.

Paddy

[Ian Y]

Superb pictures David, If you could cross C. densifolia #2 with #5 and it could keep that colour you would have a stonker.

Not that they are not all beautiful but that would be a great plant for a trough.

[David Lyttle]

Extraordinary plants, David.

Paddy,

they are amazing, especially Chionohebe thomsonii with its hard rounded cushions. That is why I am resisting calling them Veronicas even though logic would support this.

Ian,

We went a little north of where we took you and dropped down a bit to look at some bogs. Unlike the day you were there, it was warm with very little wind. The purplish mauve colour is a transient thing as it does not persist when the flowers are fully open. Chionohebe densifolia is quite variable in its form and can form cushions though usually it a straggling mat. I have been collecting it from various places as it is very easy to strike from cuttings. It is not too difficult to keep it growing and flowering. I guess one could select for a coloured flower as obviously the  genes for colour are there. It does hybridise with Chionohebe thomsonii and some of these hybrids are very attractive desirable plants but I have not collected or
cultivated any of the hybrids.

[cohan]

you seem to have an endless supply of remarkable plants!
love foliage and flowers on these chionohebes..

[ruweiss]

David,
thank you for taking us to the Old Man Range, it reminds me to the trip we took to this splendid
place during Alpines 96.The outstanding flora and scenery there is unforgetable for us.

[David Lyttle]

This batch of pictures are of Ranunculaceae. Hope you are watching Cliff.

1 Ranunculus gracilipes This species is found in bogs.

2. Ranunculus enysii This is the generalist of the NZ alpine Ranunculi. These particular specimens are small then the one I showed earlier in this thread from the Rock and Pillar Range perhaps because the Old Man Range is higher and the conditions are more severe.

3-6  Ranunculus pachyrrhizus A true alpine found in snowbanks. It flowers as soon as the snow has melted. It is another Central Otago endemic.

7-10  Psychrophila obtusa  Another snowbank plant. It is difficult finding flowers that have not been chewed by insects. As soo as the sun comes out various beetles bcome active feeding on the flowers. You can see the little red ladybird beetles in several pictures though they do not fee on the plants.

[ranunculus]

Oh boy, am I watching?   Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

Talk about ladybirds with taste! 

[David Lyttle]

Hi Cliff,

No more buttercups but I have some forget-me-nots.

1 - 3 Myosotis pulvinaris  This cushion Myosotis grow on very exposed sites on the crest of the Range.  In picture 2 there is a plant of Chionohebe thomsonii var glabra on the left of the Myosotis pulvinaris  and a plant of Chionohebe thomsonii on the right. I may be suffering from a some taxonomic confusion here. It seems the name Chionohebe glabra is valid and may be preferable to Chionohebe thomsonii var glabra

4. Mysotis pygmaea. These tiny plants grow in bogs on the crest of the Range.

5 Myosotis tenericaulis This is another little Myosotis also found in bogs but this was growing lower down. This is the first time I have ever seen this species.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Paddy,

they are amazing, especially Chionohebe thomsonii with its hard rounded cushions. That is why I am resisting calling them Veronicas even though logic would support this.
[/quote]

Superb cussions ! Something to dream about again... 

[krisderaeymaeker]

Hi Cliff,

No more buttercups but I have some forget-me-nots.

1 - 3 Myosotis pulvinaris  This cushion Myosotis grow on very exposed sites on the crest of the Range.  In picture 2 there is a plant of Chionohebe thomsonii var glabra on the left of the Myosotis pulvinaris  and a plant of Chionohebe thomsonii on the right. I may be suffering from a some taxonomic confusion here. It seems the name Chionohebe glabra is valid and may be preferable to Chionohebe thomsonii var glabra

4. Mysotis pygmaea. These tiny plants grow in bogs on the crest of the Range.

5 Myosotis tenericaulis This is another little Myosotis also found in bogs but this was growing lower down. This is the first time I have ever seen this species.

Really stunning David ! Why have the forms off M.pulvinaris that we see in cultivation here (Belgium and the Netherlands)such small flowers compared with the ones that you showing here
Oh boy ,I like the pulvinaris ......

[David Lyttle]

Hi Kris,

Myosotis is a very variable genus. There are many forms that are not named so the plants in cultivation in Belgium and the Netherlands may not be M. pulvinaris.  M glabrescens is a cushion species similar to Myosotis pulvinaris that is in cultivation in Europe. You may be fortunate to have that as it is known in NZ from only three plants in the wild.

Here are a few daisies

1 Brachyglottis bellidioides

2 Brachyscome sinclairii

3 , 4, 5  Celmisia brevifolia  This is one of the most consistent flowering Celmisias. Although Celmisia viscosa is more common and covers vast areas it does not often flower en masse

6, 7  Celmisia laricifolia  This one of the smaller Celmisias found in a variety of alpine sites. The first plant is growing in a cushion of Dracophyllum musciodes. The second group of plants is growing in a turf/herbfield

[Maggi Young]

En joying this trip, David, as ever, thanaks.
Is the spelling of 2) not Brachyscome sinclairii  or even  Brachycombe sinclairii   ?  I seem to have notes of both of these?

[David Lyttle]

Is the spelling of 2) not Brachyscome sinclairii  or even  Brachycombe sinclairii   ?  I seem to have notes of both of these?

Yes Maggi you are correct. Brachyscome sinclairii is the accepted spelling.

I will slip in a few Raoulias

1, 2 Raoulia grandiflora The largest flowered species of Raoulia.

3 Raoulia hectori In bud but not flowering. Very typical of the cushionfield vegetation

4 Raoulia tenuicaulis Most commonly found in stream beds at lower altitudes but here it is forming tight cushions in the herbfield. There were a few plants on the exposed crest of the ridge as well.

5, 6 Abrotanella inconspicua  I must confess that I told Dave the second plant was Raoulia subulata but on looking at my photos and comparing them with authentic Raoulia subulata it is not. I took a picture of an Abrotanella that was growing in a bog. Even though it is smaller I think it is also Abrotanella inconspicua. There is another species Abrotanella caespitosa that is found in similar environments but I have not convinced myself I have seen it.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Here are a few daisies

Hi Kris,

Myosotis is a very variable genus. There are many forms that are not named so the plants in cultivation in Belgium and the Netherlands may not be M. pulvinaris.  M glabrescens is a cushion species similar to Myosotis pulvinaris that is in cultivation in Europe. You may be fortunate to have that as it is known in NZ from only three plants in the wild.

Thanks David,this declares what I sometimes tought .I never seen such big flowers on our cultivated plants.

I will slip in a few Raoulias
1, 2 Raoulia grandiflora The largest flowered species of Raoulia.

Again very very beautiful ,but not cultivated I suppose?
As I see the pictures the dream- to see al those plants in the wild sometimes-is again revived.