New Zealand Alpine Flora

[Toole]

The NZAGS had its annual field trip a weekend back. A few images from the mountains of South Canterbury.

Celmisia angustifolia comes in green and silver leaved forms.



Wahlenbergia albomarginata is often seen as a running growth --this pic is of a nice clumping plant.



A small Anisotome sps in fellfield--- possibly a male form of A. flexuosa.



Anisotome flexuosa --female.



On fine scree Epilobium pycnostachyum.



The wind was so strong even the locals were grounded.

[Toole]

Not sure on why my pics are showing at the full size rather than thumbnails.   (fixed: MMcD )

Anyway i'll continue.

Aciphylla montana --female.



A couple shots of Gentianella corymbifera ---plants can be quite variable in height up to 60cm--these ones were very dwarf.






Haastia sinclarii close up showing the wonderful tomentum.




Around rocks hugging the mineral Raoulia eximia .




Hebe haastii.




Lastly -- a couple of unknown Epilobiums .





Cheers Dave

[Booker]

Sensational images yet again Dave ... the grey rock certainly brings out the best in these magical plants.

[Hugh MacMillan]

Lovely images Dave.  You mention that your images are not thumbnails.  Mark McDonough has written a great FAQ on images in the board 'Announcements from Moderators and Administrators' on this page http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=553.0.  The syntax to create thumbnails is very similar to what you're doing currently.  Thanks so much for providing your excellent posts to this forum!

[Lori S.]

Fabulous plants and scenery, Dave.  That rocky and rugged area has the feeling of the alpine areas here, but the plants are unimaginably exotic.  Many thanks for posting!

By the way, your photos will attach as enlargeable thumbnails if you use the syntax "attachthumb=#", rather than "attachment=#".

[Hoy]

I have heard of "Canterbury Bells" and even grown some, but these bells and other gorgeous plants takes the prize!
If I hadn't decided already to visit New Zealand when I have the opportunity I certainly would now

[McDonough]

Dave, I'm just catching up and have to say, I've returned to this thread a dozen times or more, ogled the amazing plants each time, then click the "Mark Unread" button at the top to reset the topic as "new", as a reminder to come back here and respond.

I've having a harder and harder time upholding my "no prickly plants in the garden" rule, when seeing the wonderful hardy cacti in other topics, and the fantastic Aciphylla species here.  It's always been a genus that has intrigued me, but with A. congesta, pinnatifida, and particularly crosby-smithii, I'm aching to try growing these stunning unique plants.  Gentianella corymbifera is a glorious thing isn't it. Some of the NZ Epilobiums restore my faith in this rather weedy genus, the last two you show are special, the very last one going to seed in a fit of red pods and white fluff is a quiet spectacle. 

Thanks for sharing your photographs vividly capturing both the plants and the awesome NZ mountainous terrain.

Does anyone in North America successfully grow Aciphylla?

[Toole]

Thanks all.

I was out again locally in Fiordland last weekend .Still a lot of colour including a number of sps just starting to bloom.

Will post in a day or two when time allows.

Cheers Dave.   

[Hoy]

Thanks all.

I was out again locally in Fiordland last weekend .Still a lot of colour including a number of sps just starting to bloom.

Will post in a day or two when time allows.

Cheers Dave.    

Dave,
Living in "Fjordland", Norway, I am looking forward to and prepared to enjoy many more spectacular pics from your Fiordland
(Not the majestic mountains though, you have to go farther inland, north or south to experience that)

[Toole]

Link to my latest field trip.

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=7434.msg204646#new

Cheers Dave

[cohan]

I was behind on this thread--always amazing stuff! the bright Aciphylla montana in a sea of silver rock and silver plants is wonderful! Worth emulating in the garden....
The Haastia is also fantastic! As Lori mentioned, its all so exotic for us!

[Howey]

Hi Dave:  Just received my allotment of seeds from New Zealand Alpine Garden Society (Christchurch).  Nice to know that, in spite of the quake and aftershocks (still going on I hear), they are still operating.  Am chafing at the bit to  start some of the seeds - I know the Ranunculus should be planted right away but wonder if there are others that I can "get away" with planting now up here in London, Ontario.  Don't have any asteraceae seeds but was delighted  get some special ones this time including Ranunculus lyallii, Nothothlaspi rosulatum, Pentacondra pumila and Calceolaria uniflora (S. America) and a couple of NZ clematis.  Haven't had success with these in the past.  Fran

Frances Howey
London, Ontario, Canada
Zone 5b

[Toole]

Hi Dave:  Just received my allotment of seeds from New Zealand Alpine Garden Society (Christchurch).  Nice to know that, in spite of the quake and aftershocks (still going on I hear), they are still operating.  Am chafing at the bit to  start some of the seeds - I know the Ranunculus should be planted right away but wonder if there are others that I can "get away" with planting now up here in London, Ontario.  Don't have any asteraceae seeds but was delighted  get some special ones this time including Ranunculus lyallii, Nothothlaspi rosulatum, Pentacondra pumila and Calceolaria uniflora (S. America) and a couple of NZ clematis.  Haven't had success with these in the past.  Fran

Frances Howey
London, Ontario, Canada
Zone 5b

Hello Fran

Sorry for the delay in replying  --I've just seen your posting

Best of luck with the seed ,some of which i have never tried --Ranunculus lyalli in my experience will germinate in greater numbers the second spring after sowing .
Never been successful with Nothothlaspi rosulatum.

Here's a pic of a native Clematis currently in bloom outside our dinning room --about 2 metres in height,lovely citrus like scent.

Cheers Dave.

[Toole]

Kopuwai Conservation Area --Part 1 of 4 

Last weekend I took the opportunity to travel a couple of hours inland and visit the Old Man Range in the province of Central Otago.

I initially visited the southern slopes of tussock grasslands at about 1300mtrs where in wet areas large numbers of Ranunculus gracilipes were in bloom, the most prolific flowering being on slightly raised hummocks.

One or two cushions of Phyllachne rubra were thereabouts as well as Psychrophila obtusa , and on the edge of the 4 wheel drive track Celmisia haastii var haastii which unfortunately was the only Celmisia sps I saw flowering. (Seems this season a number of genera/sps are having a year off ….). 

However even when not in colour Celmisia semicordata ssp aurigans is a magnificent plant –a cousin to the silver leaf growth C.semicordata ssp stricta which I have shown pics of previously, this one has a wonderful golden hue to its foliage .Has a liking to cool part shady spots .

[Toole]

Part 2 (Rest to come tomorrow....)

I crested the ridge at about 1600 mtrs and rode along the plateau for 30 ks stopping at various spots to botanise not far from the motorbike as I had forgotten to bring the chain and padlock .Duh !.

Considered as one of the foremost places in NZ for alpine cushions, the schist rock tors are a feature as well.
The prominent vegetation here is Dracophyllum muscoides which seems to revel in the exposed windswept conditions .

In between the cushions ,Ourisia glandulosa , orange berries of Coprosma perpusiila and a large flowered form of Ranunculus enysii .