New Zealand field trips Dec 09.

[kiwi]

Headed up the back this morning hoping to catch the Ranunculus Haastii flowering.
Luckily they hadn't all been chewed by grasshoppers. My four year old daughter loved the vegetable sheep and remaining snow drifts. Saw this nice Haastia recurva and Leptinella dendyi on our last ridge line.
I think this second Ranunculus is R. monroi? The Hebes and Celmisia are just starting to do their thing.
Beautiful day, next week, Porters Pass, all going well.

[kiwi]

Pratia angulata (now Lobelia?), Anaphalioides bellidoides, Aciphylla montana and I need some help with the little white flowered mat. Finish off with another glorious Ranunculus.

[t00lie]

"My four year old daughter loved the vegetable sheep and remaining snow drifts."

You're creating wonderful memories for your children Doug    --our 3 ,although now their early 20's often reminisce about how their 'nutty' dad had them up in the mountains before they were of school age  

I was out in the field this morning ,down the coast having a look at alpines at sea level --saw some nice stuff, (Sun Orchids particularly), but nothing to compare with your cracker shots.Well done.

"I need some help with the little white flowered mat."

Have a look at Neopaxia australasica.

Regards Dave.

[kiwi]

Cheers Dave, try to give them some good Kiwi experiences!
Thanks for the ID, looking forward to the next couple of months botanizing!!!
Still no joy on finding Lobelia roughii in flower yet, or Montigena, they're on the top of my must photograph list....... along with fifty others!
Hope you have some shots of those Orchids!

[ranunculus]

Magnificent shots, sir ... the R. haastii are TO DIE FOR!   Keep searching for that beautiful little lobelia please (and Lignocarpa, of course)!

[Ian Y]

Great pics Doug, brings back happy memories of my brief excursion to NZ.

The Ranunculus is fabulous but I also love the Leptinella and we can grow it.
Well we used to grow it and lost it a number of years ago - I must try and get some seed again.

Dave Toole - I am counting the days until you come over to Scotland.

Book early for the Discussion weekend in 2010 to hear and see this NZ legend that is Dave Toole in person where I am he will be showing more of these fabulous plants that Doug has captured so well.

[ranunculus]

I KNEW we would meet one day, Dave ... but I thought it might be down in your neck of the woods?   

[cohan]

great stuff!
love the second shot--something about little bits of life in barren landscapes does it for me!
the first is fascinating too: to see the farmland so near- very different from my mountain access!

are there trails going up there, or do you just scramble your own way?

i agree that its wonderful you can take your daughter up there

[t00lie]

You are far too kind Scottie,(I.Y).

Being a legend in ones own time is a bit of a worry      --I'll need to be wary of all the pressures it can bring such as extra marital flings      , boozy nights     excessive drug taking    and unlimited wealth ?

Cliff
really looking forward to meeting all of you.

Cheers dave.

[David Lyttle]

Hi Doug,

Nice pictures of some very nice plants. Makes my feet itchy as I have not out much this season. I hate to contradict Dave's identification since he is a legend in his own time but I think your mat is Montia erythrophylla. The genus Neopaxia was revised last century (1999) and subsequently transferred to Montia. Montia australasica is now considered to be an Australian species.

[t00lie]

Thanks David

I must have missed that change somehow.

Actually i must admit to having the thought 'not another bl...y     recent name change' ,(when i first read your comment ), however on reflection i'd never win that discussion with it being 10 years ago .  

Might need you to have a quick flick through my Mark and Adams,(revised 1995 copy), some time as that is the only reference material i have if that's okay.

Hope you coming down for the field trip this Saturday.There are some lovely plants in flower at the moment.

Cheers Dave

[David Lyttle]

Yes, 'not another bl...y  8)recent name change'. Instead of there being just one species, Neopaxia australasica, there are now eight species all now placed in Montia. We get seven new ones and our Australian friends get to keep the original one.

I need to update the names in my own copy of Mark and Adams ( maybe I should give it to AFM to update - The consumer guarantees  act should cover it.)

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Amazing plants and wonderful shots Doug ! 
Thanks so much for posting !

[Susan]

Being a legend in ones own time is a bit of a worry  Undecided    --I'll need to be wary of all the pressures it can bring such as extra marital flings   Kiss    , boozy nights  Wink   excessive drug taking  Huh  and unlimited wealth ?

So that's what you get up to on those Trillium week-ends with all those luscious Southland ladies - no wonder I'm never invited!

Susan

[ranunculus]

Cliff
really looking forward to meeting all of you.

Cheers dave.

I'm not THAT big, Dave!!!