New Zealand field trips Dec 09.

[David Lyttle]

Hi Cliff, Gerd,

It can be very cold and windy especially on the flat summit plateau of the range. On the day the wind was blowing and it was very coldThere were a couple of showers but the rain did not last long. However in the gullies out of the wind it was not too bad. It was difficult finding a Ranunculus enysii that was still enough to photograph.

Here are some views of the top

1. Looking north east. Across the valley to the right of the big tor there is a feature called the Crater. It is an ancient volcanic cone.  You can see the subalpine scrub mainly Hebe odora (yellow-green) merging into the herbfield which is dominated by Celmisia viscosa (blue green patches).

2. Looking up to the summit  plateau showing the schist tors that give the range its name. The photo show the terrain and different vegetation sites. The foreground is dominated by Hebe odora shrubland merging into herbfied dominated by Celmisia viscosa. There is an area of bog/wetland centre right. The bare slope above it is snowbank ( the snow has presently melted). There is a little patch of snow remaining on the upper left.

3. Looking down on the township of Middlemarch. Saddle Hill on the coast is at the centre of the photo.

4 Anisotome imbricata

5. Dracophyllum muscoides This little cushion shrub dominates the summit plateau.

6. Kelleria villosa var barbata This variety of Kelleria villosa is a Rock and Pillar endemic.

7. Gaultheria depressa The plant in the photograph is possibly a hybrid between Gaultheria depressa var novae-zelandiae and Gaultheria nubicola.

8, 9. Hectorella caespitosa The first photograph shows the cushion and the second is a close up showing the flowers.

10. The alpine shield fern Polystichum cystostegia whith the new frond unfurling.

[Lvandelft]

David, your pictures (and Dave and Doug) of plants and plant habitats in NZ never stop to surprise me.
The variation in alpines seems endless. What a pity, that it's so far away...
Thank you all for showing!

[t00lie]

Nice pics David

I went for a little poke around up country yesterday.
Still quite a bit of white stuff on the late snow banks ,so too early for plants such as Ranunculus pachyrrhizus .

However what a year for Raoulia grandiflora ,Psychrophila obtusa and Celmisia verbascifolia---they were flowering all over the place.

Luckily the weather was settled and no need to call for for my alternative transport---wink--pic attached.

Caught one of the locals dining out on Parahebe trifida .

Enough from me --i have another 342 pics to format  

Cheers Dave.

[David Lyttle]

Just returned from the Old Man Range. I met up with Dave Toole at 9.30 this morning  and we headed off up the hill. I have some awesome images but I will only post one tonight. I have finally got some pictures of Chionohebe tomsonii that I am happy with.

[ranunculus]

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!

[Paddy Tobin]

So, we can look forward to reports from the both of you!

That will be a treat.

Paddy

[t00lie]

Only a brief report from me Paddy.

Spent the last 3 days out and about--

 First day up on the Remarkables Ski Field sighted many Myosotis pulvinaris just starting to flower --Aciphylla simplex was not .

Then yesterday had a wonderful day poking around the Old Man Range with David and his wife Belinda .
General shot of Raoulia --Celmisia and distant late snow banks.

Unidentified cushion  ?.     .

Still heavy snow on the cool southern slopes,( and a dusting forecast tomorrow), so it will be awhile until some of the larger Ranunculus and other gems start showing.

Cheers Dave.

[Paddy Tobin]

That last one has the looks of the "Hairy Man Cushion" about it, I think.

Paddy

[David Lyttle]

Well what can I say.

What is this man photographing? It is not a plant and to spare the delicate sensibilities off fellow forumists and leave it to your imaginations. I will give you a clue; it has 6 legs and is iridescent blue and there are two of them.

[David Lyttle]

I have been identifying a few plants I was unsure about in the field so no further plant pictures this evening. Another picture of Dave having a quiet sit down. Mostly all you can see in the field is Dave's back receeding about 200 metres away. He tends to be a bit camera shy.

[David Nicholson]

.... and still sartorially elegant I see

[Lvandelft]

mmmmm..., no shorts? must have been very cold up there...

[David Lyttle]

mmmmm..., no shorts? must have been very cold up there...

Dave might be getting a bit soft these days but this young chap appeared when we were having lunch at the Obelisk. He is another southern man from Invercargill.

[t00lie]

Nope ---not cold Luit

In fact it was relatively calm --well when i say calm there was a gentle breeze about ......

I was badly sun burnt from the day before       so i was well covered up     ---(forgot to take sun block lotion with me)....

(My wife who is a nurse was not impressed).

Cheers dave

[Lvandelft]

Nope ---not cold Luit

I was badly sun burnt from the day before       so i was well covered up     ---(forgot to take sun block lotion with me)....

(My wife who is a nurse was not impressed).

Cheers dave