NZ field trips - December 2010

[David Lyttle]

Dave,

I thought you had been rather quiet. I was wondering what you were up to. I cannot top a yellow flowered Celmisia.  I do not think a yellow-flowered Celmisia has ever been recorded before.

[ranunculus]

Dave,

I thought you had been rather quiet. I was wondering what you were up to. I cannot top a yellow flowered Celmisia.  I do not think a yellow-flowered Celmisia has ever been recorded before.

I may be wrong David, but I seem to recall two instances of reports of yellow-flowered Celmisias before ... one about five or so years ago and one from at least seventeen or eighteen years ago?  If all my books, papers and journals weren't crated up and spread around this village I would be tempted to investigate!  (An intended house move fell through and I haven't the heart to unpack them all in case we decide to sell again in the next couple of months).

[TheOnionMan]

David---- i saw a number of Ranunculus pilifera earlier in the week while Steve Newall and i had a 3 day stroll  around the western edge of the Eyre Mtns.
Unfortunately the hybrids with R. buchananii were still under snow.

Came across plenty of other different 'weeds' in bloom including this interesting one that Steve found--A yellow flowering Celmisia spedenii.

Cheers dave

Amazing to see something other than white on Celmisia, the light yellow is most pleasing, what an extraordinary find.  Somewhere in my less-than-accurate recollections I seem to recall hearing about pinkish Celmisia forms in the past, is that right or am I dreaming?  David, hopefully you'll note the locale and go back for seed later on.  The profile photo of R. pilifera with the mountain backdrop is awesome too.

[ranunculus]

Well remembered Mark ... I suspect that I was thinking of the same instance but MY memories are colour blind ....

"In Search of the pink Celmisia" by Peter Erskine
The Len Beer Memorial Lecture - 20th March 1998
 
With a land mass seven times that of Wales and mountains rising to 3.5 times the height of Snowdon, South Island New Zealand provides exceptional interest for the alpine plant enthusiast. This is enhanced by geographical isolation and the evolution of endemic species in many families, such as the Asteraceae and Apiaceae.
 
Peter Erskine, a plantsman with unrivalled knowledge of South Island, explained and illustrated its unique botanical heritage at this year's Len Beer Memorial Lecture, attended by 160 appreciative Friends and members of the Alpine Garden Society.
 
Although parts of South Island receive even more rainfall than Snowdonia (up to 10 metres per year!), mountainous areas in the NE., such as the coastal Kaikoura Range, are much drier. Dense white hairs and sometimes spines are features of the plants adapted to these rain-shadow regions, as seen in Aciphylla (Bayonet Plant or Speargrass). The genus Raoulia provides outstanding examples of mat forms as well as extreme cushion plants. Some of these grow very large - specimens of R. eximia are often referred to as vegetable sheep! Peter emphasised the value of using tufa rock to cultivate such specialist alpines in this country.
 
Rising to 3764 metres, Mt. Cook dominates the Southern Alps and is home to several notable alpine buttercups. Best known is Ranunculus lyallii (Mt. Cook Lily), although R. cericophyllous (which caught everyone's eye with its glowing petals) and R. buchanii deserve equal attention, the latter being easier to cultivate too.
 
Continuing south, Peter highlighted a fine mountain range near Queenstown known as the Remarkables and then an area particularly rich in endemic alpines, the Eyre Mountains. This was the home of his talk's title plant, the Pink Celmisia, a rare form of Celmisia thomsonae. This attractive genus of alpines is virtually restricted to New Zealand in the wild, but has now become a popular and challenging subject for gardeners. Recommending species such as C. semicordata, C. longifolia and C. major var brevis, Peter outlined his criteria for success - a peat/grit mix, sowing seed in March/April, and allowing seedling to grow without disturbance until the following spring.
 
The genus Celmisia proved an enduring, evocative and illuminating theme throughout this splendid talk, encapsulating the special character of New Zealand and its plant life., which through Peter's expert explanation now means much more to all of us.
 

[alpines]

I lust for all of these NZ alpines you show. I'd be happy just being able to grow leaves on a plant like R. haastii.  Can't wait to see more. 

Mark...if you ever find out how to cultivate these beauties in our climate, give me a call and tell me how you do it.
I used to grow these back in England but wouldn't even dare tempt fate in Kentucky. It'd take fans and almost constant automatic watering to get these past the seedling stage, never mind to full flowering.

[TheOnionMan]

I lust for all of these NZ alpines you show. I'd be happy just being able to grow leaves on a plant like R. haastii.  Can't wait to see more. 

Mark...if you ever find out how to cultivate these beauties in our climate, give me a call and tell me how you do it.
I used to grow these back in England but wouldn't even dare tempt fate in Kentucky. It'd take fans and almost constant automatic watering to get these past the seedling stage, never mind to full flowering.

Alan, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting   Years ago, I tried some of the Australian alpine Ranunculus and had some success and flowered several, R. muelleri var. brevicaulis, R. graniticola, and one other the name of which I can't remember.  They were pot grown and over-wintered in cold frames.  I have not tried any of these NZ ranunculus, but one can always dream.

[Lesley Cox]

The yellow Celmisia is certainly a wonderful find. Personally, I'm waiting for a soft pink - or maybe sky blue Weldenia.

Can I throw into the ring a probably stupid thought please? Looking at the yellow flower, I wondered whether there is any possibility of a bi-generic hybrid between the C. spedenii and a Dolichoglottis, the yellow one obviously? The flower doesn't look just QUITE like Celmisia.

[t00lie]

Amazing to see something other than white on Celmisia, the light yellow is most pleasing, what an extraordinary find.  Somewhere in my less-than-accurate recollections I seem to recall hearing about pinkish Celmisia forms in the past, is that right or am I dreaming?  David, hopefully you'll note the locale and go back for seed later on.  The profile photo of R. pilifera with the mountain backdrop is awesome too.

Pleased you liked the Ranunculus profile Mark.

Although i live only a couple of hours from the Celmisia i don't plan to be back in that area soon--there are so many other mountain ranges i want to explore this season so i think time will be a problem .

The plant will be easy to locate in 12 months and if it has that yellow colour then ,i will be most interested.

We also found another larger plant totalling about 6 flowering white heads with a smaller ,(younger ?) stem with a similar yellowing ........

As an aside ,i have in the field come across a number of Celmisias that are quite pink in the bud ---which quickly fades to white ---some that come to mind are C.spectabilis ,C.viscosa and (C.philocremna --pic attached).

Cheers Dave

[David Lyttle]

This is becoming a complicated thread with a lot of issues being raised.

The only true pink Celmisia is Celmisia thomsonii which as Cliff has stated is an Eyre Mountains endemic. It may also have white flowers. As Dave has stated some Celmisias are pink in the bud. Here is an example of Celmisia viscosa taken last Tuesday on the Old Man Range.

To answer Lesley, Celmisia spedenii is an ultramafic specialist and confined to West Dome and the Livingston Mountains. It is unlikely to hybridise with Dolichoglottis.

The NZ alpine scree buttercups R haastii, R acraeus and R piliferus are highly specialised plants and require an extraordinary amount of skill to grow successfully. Some of the other large buttercups are not as fastidious and can be grown relatively easily (eg Ranunculus insignis). The smaller ones are not too difficult (R enysii, R gracilipes R. multiscapus).

Celmisias are a mixed bag again in terms of ease of growth. Many grow better in cultivation in the UK than they do in New Zealand. The larger types C semicordata are not always happy in cultivation though C hookeri from east Otago and C mackaui from the Banks Peninsula seem to survive fairly well. The spreading semi-woody type C brevifolia, C densiflora C incana strike easily from cuttings and flower in cultivation. C bellidioides is one of the easiest species to grow.

The Eyre Mountains are home to several spectacular endemics most notably Celmisia philocremna, Celmisia thomsonii, Ranunculus scrithalis, Aciphylla spedenii. Other Eyre Mountains plants with a wider distribution are Ranunculus piliferus , Hebe biggari, Myosotis glabrescens, Ourisia spathulata. The Eyre Mountains are very rugged and difficult to access. See photos taken from the east from Mid Dome. Why Northern Southland and the Eyres in particular have such a high level of endemicity is a bit of a mystery.

[kiwi]

Got a call from Chris yesterday that a couple of plant lovers were heading up into the St Marys Range, and there was a spare seat if I wanted to come along - thank you guys, Chris, Bronwyn, Hugh, Noel, a dream come true!
We even had an expert guide, Hugh Wood - who originally discovered this amazing plant! He actually knew every plant and position on the mountain!
Hugh Wood, Ranunculus acraeus.
Is there any better place you could possibly eat your lunch?

[ranunculus]

I think that weak pulse finally gave out and I have seen heaven!!!!!   Of course, they wouldn't let me in.

Why the hell didn't the botanists call it:- Ranunculus Mostestmagnificus?

Thank you SO much, Doug ... sensational images.

[ranunculus]

Interesting article >>>

http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/news/release.asp?Ne_ID=229

[kiwi]

No worries Cliff, I felt the same!
Lobelia Roughii
Leptinella atrata
Raoulia grandiflora
Aciphylla scott-thomsonii
Ourisia Species (O. spathulata?)

[kiwi]

Aciphylla dobsonii

Need some help from our Southland experts,
Ranunculus gracilipes?
Celmisia densiflora hybrids?

[kiwi]

David, Dave, cheers for the photos and info on the coloured Celmisia's.

I cannot believe that yellow C. spedenii, what a find! Imagine the possible breeding possibilities.

Cheers,
Doug.