NZ Field trips - November

[Maggi Young]

Happy to confirm that Julia is  indeed the height of a partially erected tent.

She showed us some super pictures of the Rheum  in her recent talks.... and there is a Rheum of , I think, even greater height, in the IRG of June 2010 #6 

[ranunculus]

Happy to confirm that Julia is  indeed the height of a partially erected tent.

... but, purely for accuracy you understand, is this a one-manner, a three-manner or a small marquee?    

... perhaps that's a little intent?

[Maggi Young]

Cliff!  I couldn't possibly comment about how many men Julia may, or may not  have in her tent.... besides, I don't know! 

Jools, PLEASE, forgive me.... I couldn't resist it!

[Julia]

Thanks Maggi !!
I've been out of the office for a few days and just come back to all of this.
 

[Maggi Young]

Ooops!
Will I be safe when I next see you, Jools, or will I be getting a clip round  the ear?

 

[Anthony Darby]

I must get out more! The scenery is stunning, but I've yet to reach the South Island! The last long walk I went on was was the old railway between Doune and Dunblane back in September. I'd been meaning to do since moving to Dunblane in 1976! I got about 2 miles along and came across a sign that said "track closed due to erection of high tension cables". Admittedly I had passed a few hard wood telegraph poles waiting to be 'planted'. The thing is, I was halfway along the track. Should I walk back or continue? I continued!

[David Lyttle]

Before Cliff gets too distracted by the relationship of Julia's height to a rhubarb  I will post this little buttercup I photographed last Tuesday

[Julia]

Hi David, Thanks for posting another lovely picture from NZ. Looking forward to your next trip. 

[ranunculus]

Before Cliff gets too distracted by the relationship of Julia's height to a rhubarb  I will post this little buttercup I photographed last Tuesday

It's a rheum do to be sure, David!   

Apologies to dear Julia for not sticking to the guide ropes rules!

BEAUTIFUL buttercup, David ... you certainly know how to keep an old man happy!   

[Anthony Darby]

Yes, far more elegant than the British variety, growing at the edge of our lawn, that my tortoise like to eat.

[David Lyttle]

Hello Julia,

Not sure how you came to be mixed up in this. Dave Toole was very complimentary about the Explorers Garden.

Hi Cliff and Anthony,

It really is a fairly modest example of Ranunculus insignis 'monroi '.  It was taken at Black Birch in the Awatere Valley, Marlbourgh. I saw a few more plants on the day as well as some more buttercups despite it being very misty which later in the day turned to mist of the Scottish variety as well as becoming colder.

1.  A tiny speargrass, Aciphylla monroi.

2,3  Anisotome imbricata subsp prostrata differs from the Central Otago subspecies Anisotome imbricata subsp imbricata being less hairy.

4, 5, 6  Chionohebe pulvinaris Again different from the widespread Central Otago species Chionohebe thomsonii.

7. Kelleria villosa var villosa (or it could be Kelleria dieffenbachii).

8. Raoulia bryoides showing cushion.

9. Raoulia bryoides showing details of foliage.

[David Lyttle]

A few more assorted alpines

1. A tiny sedge, Luzula pumila.

2. Leucopogon fraseri dwarfed at this altitude.

3. Celmisia laricifolia not yet flowering.

4. The tiny fern, Grammitis poeppigiana.

Hold on to your socks Cliff, there were buttercups everywhere. It was hard not to get them in the viewfinder. The species is Ranunculus insignis. It is the eastern hairy-leaved form and corresponds to Ranunculus monroi.

[David Lyttle]

The next plant is the famous vegetable sheep Haastia pulvinaris. These speciemens were fairly small for this species; not quite sheep-size but stunningly attrative withthe water condensing on the foliage. (probably not a recommended horticultural pratise but it is how they grow in nature)

1. group of cushions in the mist

2.single cushion.

3. another cushion with a cushion of Celmisia sessiliflora in the background

4. detail of cushion.

5, 6 more details of cushion

7. cushion with Leucopogon fraseri

8. close up of individual rosettes with last seasons spent flowers and Anisotome imbricta subsp prostrata growing through cushion.

9. Melicytus alpinus ' Blondin ' A form of this very variable complex. The plant is almost hidden by epiphytic lichens.

10. flowers of Melicytus alpinus ' Blondin '

[Maggi Young]

Wonderful photos of the Haastias, David. Wooly enough to be sheep even when less than lamb-sized!

I find the use of the name Melicytus alpinus ' Blondin ' intriguing: how does a plant in the wild come to have a cultivar name?

[David Lyttle]

1. An alpine garden - I am not sure why I am trying to build my own crevice garden.

2. Celmisia spectabilis subsp spectabilis. The common cotton daisy though ot does not extend down into Otago.

3. Helichrysum parvifolium The branches are narrower than Helichrysum intermedium and the flowers are yellow. I saw some better plants later but by that time it was too wet to keep photographing.

4,5 Acrothamnus colensoi formerly Leucopogon fraseri.

6. Pimelea oreophila (or at least a good facsimile of this species)

7. Last but not least Cordyline australis (known to some as the Torquay Palm - not a palm nor native to Torquay) at home by the roadside in the Awatere Valley. The plants in North Canterbury and Marlbourgh are flowering well this year.