New Zealand field trips Jan 2010.

[kiwi]

A long, exhausting week of alpine botanizing with the NZAGS and Dave, from Canterbury through to Nelson. The weather wasn't the best but we managed to find some of the most delicious plants I have seen. Thanks to all that came along.
Swainsona novae-zelandiae
Raoulia in flower
A massive Stellaria roughii
Finally! Lobelia roughii
The mother of all Penwipers!
Celmisia semicordata - what a plant!
One of my Favourates, Leucogenes grandiceps.

[kiwi]

Ranunculus insignis.
Pterostylis sp.
Dave photographing Helichrysum intermedium.
A divine Lignocarpa carnosula.
Anisotome pilifera.
Raoulia bryoides.
A beautiful run of Astelia.
Eye catching Celmisa incana.
Dave sporting his new long johns! Dracophyllum traversii.

[Ragged Robin]

Astonishing and fascinating plants growing in this wild NZ landscape - wonderful to see, thanks to your ventures 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Breathtaking plants and views !!  
Wonderful stuff !
Thanks a lot Doug !! Hope there's more to come..  

[David Lyttle]

Martin,

Gaultheria crassa was growing all over the bluffs and flowering in profusion. It is reasonably common throughout the alpine areas.

Absolutely stunning cushion Raoulia, David.

Cliff, I thought you had eyes only for Ranunculus. Here is the ugly duckling of the genus, Ranunculus scrithalis, an Eyre Mountains endemic. It is found on clayey screes. The foliage appears darker to the view than it does in the photograph - the eye and the camera see it a little differently.

4, 5. Haastia sinclairii var fulvida growing on the same scree.

6. Stellaria roughii Eyre Mountains form. It looks very different from the Canterbury form that Doug just posted.

7. Brachyglottis revolutus showing the flowers.

8, 9. Euphrasia revolutus (That's my identification from the photos- I think we thought it was Euphresia dyeri on the day).

10 Geum cockaynei ( formerly known as Geum parviflorum).

[shelagh]

Re Gaultheria crassa Martin all I can say is ME TOO.

[Lesley Cox]

Looks as if it has been a quite good flowering season. Great pictures boys!

[David Lyttle]

Some more plants from the Eyre Mountains;

1 Geum uniflorum

2  An Epilobium (possibly Epilobium macropus).

3  Dracophyllum prostratum (usually found in bogs - this one must have plenty of moisture not withstanding).

4, 5  Pachycladon wallii  The plants were growing in crevices in the rock well out of the reach of browsing animals.

6. Ourisia caespitosa

7, 8 Ourisia spathulata

9 Kelleria croizatii

10 Aciphylla spedenii. This distinctive Aciphylla is an Eyre Mountains endemic. We found this plant and then found a second specimen so it does not appear to be very common.

[ranunculus]

Super plants and images as always, David.   A beautiful little Kelleria and a stunning A. spedenii.

[David Lyttle]

Cliff,

Pleased you like the Kelleria and Aciphylla. I am running a bit short on buttercups. I was quite thrilled finding the Aciphylla spedenii as it is a very rare plant.

[Stephenb]

I saw A. spedenii in Tromsø botanics early spring last year. Much earlier in the season than your fine shot, but it looks as though it's correctly marked.

 

[David Lyttle]

Hi Stephen,

Yes it is correctly marked. In your shot you can see the distinctive arrangement where the stipules and leaf segments fan out from the top of the leaf base.

[t00lie]

Wonderful Pics david --so much so i just have to see Ranunculus scrithalis in person --the weather looks okay for tomorrow so it will be an early start --hopefully there will still be some in bloom......

In the meantime just a couple of pics from our trip up into Nelson last week.

The Dracophyllum traversii forest was wonderful.
Doug beside a nice specimen.

An impressive waterfall on the journey home.

Cheers dave.

[David Lyttle]

Dave,

Here are a couple of scenic shots (to show you the way).

1. Looking up Gorge Creek into the heart of the Eyre Mountains.

2. Looking down onto the scree where the Ranunculus scrithalis was growing.

3. Looking back down the Oreti River. ( For those in the northern hemisphere the Oreti River flows into the sea not far from Dave's place.) It was near here where we saw a New Zealand falcon. The bird came down to investigate us flying a couple of metres above our heads. They can be quite aggressive when they are defending their nests but this one just came to have a look. When they are flying falcons are totally silent so you cannot hear them above you. This particular falcon was entirely black on its upper surface.

Some more plants

4. Celmisia verbascifolia

5.  Chionohebe ciliolata var fiordensis

6,7.  Myosotis lyallii/elderi

8,9.  Myosotis macrantha These plants were growing in a rock crevice out of the reach of browsing animals (and of photographers0 I hand held the camera and used the flash to take the photos.

10. Parahebe decora  I found this plant on the way down in the rubbly gully we were using for our descent route. Not a particularly good photo as I was getting a little weary by this stage and the wind was blowing.

[Maggi Young]

My goodness, you NZers never let us down with your great views and wonderful plants.

I am intriqued by the name of the Ranunculus srcithalis ..... can you tell me what  scrithalis means?


The Myosotis macrantha is quite 'other'....... almost looks like a cross between a primula and an ourisia!
 Now, I know you had trouble reaching for the photo... but perhaps you know from previous experience.... is it scented?