New Zealand field trips Jan 2010.

[t00lie]

A stunning picture Dave. I'm looking forward to seeing the next batches.

Thanks Lesley

I went up into Northern Fiordland very early today--as it's a 7 hour journey ,(return), it's not an area i visit often.
I went primary in search of Ranunculus sericophyllus and it's hybrid with R.buchananii.

Unfortunately i was unable to reach the heights where i knew the plants flourish because of heavy snow , however i found a reasonable specimen of R sericophyllus lower down ,(I'll save showing this to give Cliffs heart a rest),   ---as well as a number of cracking other Genera.

The following are mainly scenery shots with one alpine,(shrub), included.

Cheers dave.

[t00lie]

oops --- following pic showing route up the valley after parking my truck.

Cheers dave.

[David Lyttle]

To photograph a buttercup first you have to find it. Three of us wallked over this patch of Ranunculus crithmifolius on the Ida Range before the fourth member of the party spotted them. (1,2)

Almost as hard to spot are Ranunculus maculatus (3,4)

and Ranunculus cheesemanii (5)

Ranunculus royi is not so difficult as it bigger

[ranunculus]

Wow, David ... I've never even heard of R.royi, let alone seen it ... wonderful.

[Gerdk]

Wow, David ... I've never even heard of R.royi, let alone seen it ... wonderful.

Me too - but all are new to me. Do the Dionaea trap - like leaves in pic no 4 also belong to the Ranunculus? Strange ciliated margins.

Gerd

[maggiepie]

I finally got around to reading this thread and must say I really enjoyed looking at both the plants and the scenery.
I was absolutely gobsmacked by the Ranunculus buchananii pic as well as the Raoulia petriensis cushion.
Fantastic!

[David Lyttle]

Hello All,

Cliff,

Ranunculus royi, maculatus and cheesemanii are all very modest little buttercups, not spectacular like Ranunculus lyallii and buchananii. The challenge is finding them and identifying them. There are another two Ranunculus multiscapus and Ranunculus foliosus that are very similar to Ranunculus royi and are quite common in grassland

Gerd,

The fringing hairs on Ranunculus cheesemanii do not have any particular function and the plant does not trap insects.

[Armin]

Dave,
impressive pictures of the valley and great mountains view.

Was the valley formed by an ancient glacier due to its rounded shape?

[Lesley Cox]

Stunning scenic pics Dave. Forget Cliff's heart, it can take its chances. We want to see the pictures.

David, those would surely all make good damp rock garden plants? (Or scree garden for R. crithifolius. I had that as a potted plant for many years when I lived in Timaru, from the Dobson Range. Haven't grown it for years though.)

[t00lie]

Dave,
impressive pictures of the valley and great mountains view.

Was the valley formed by an ancient glacier due to its rounded shape?

Thanks all.

Armin

That is correct .
The ' u ' shaped valleys are typical of Fiordland .

Sorry no more pics from me in the meantime --i'm packed up and away in a few minutes to Christchurch for a weeks botanizing with Doug.
I understand David is planning to be away elsewhere in the hills as well --unfortunately the weather forecast for the South Island for the next few days isn't flash at all 

Cheers dave.

[Gerdk]

Gerd,
The fringing hairs on Ranunculus cheesemanii do not have any particular function and the plant does not trap insects.

Quite amazing! Thank you Dave!

Gerd

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks all.

i'm packed up and away in a few minutes to Christchurch for a weeks botanizing with Doug.
I understand David is planning to be away elsewhere in the hills as well

Cheers dave.

We'll all be avidly awaiting your return chaps !
Surely more wonders of nature to be seen here soon ! 

[Maggi Young]

Thanks all.

i'm packed up and away in a few minutes to Christchurch for a weeks botanizing with Doug.
I understand David is planning to be away elsewhere in the hills as well

Cheers dave.

We'll all be avidly awaiting your return chaps !
Surely more wonders of nature to be seen here soon ! 

Why? Has t00lie got a new pair of leggings? 

Late message from him, by the way.... their departure was delayed because the weather is playing up 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

We'll all be avidly awaiting your return chaps !
Surely more wonders of nature to be seen here soon ! 

Why? Has t00lie got a new pair of leggings? 

Actually... I was hoping for that Maggi 

[David Lyttle]

Just back from a couple of short walks in the the Eyre Mountains. We did not find any Celmisia philocremna on the first day so we had to go to Mt Bee to find it. Saw a few other things though but it is too late to edit and post pictures tonight.

I will post one picture: the view at Mavora Lakes last Monday evening before we went up into the Eyres.