Archives For Native plants

Playing the hebe in Doubtful Sound

Department of Conservation —  June 3, 2013 — 2 Comments

By Caroline Carter, Community Relations Ranger, Te Anau

Recent visitors to Doubtful Sound were treated to some unexpected and unforgettable entertainment when Ian Frewe transformed our native hebe into a musical instrument.

Ian is a Nature Guide/Driver for Real Journeys a local Fiordland tourism company.

On a recent bus trip to Doubtful Sound Ian and visitors took the time linger and experience the natural wonders around them and take in the awesome view.

A view of Doubtful Sound.

Doubtful Sound

The native plants of New Zealand are pretty unique having evolved in isolation for millions of years. Koromiko, Hebe salicifolia, is one native plant that seems to have developed some interesting musical properties in Ian’s expert hands.

An image of koromiko in flower.

Koromiko flower 

Watch Ian Frewe playing the hebe:

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Kissing under the mistletoe

Department of Conservation —  April 30, 2013 — 5 Comments

Community Relations Ranger Anna McKnight is on the hunt for the rare white mistletoe, or to be more precise a photo of her favourite plant flowering.

I am crazy in love with the rare white mistletoe Tupeia Antarctica. I am looking for a photo of the flowers of my beloved, and am hoping other people who have fallen for the white mistletoe have taken a close up photo (or any photo at all) of these flowers.

The white mistletoe fruit growing on the plant.

The berry of the white mistletoe

Falling in love with mistletoes is easy! They are hemi–parasitic plants, this means they use specially adapted roots to extract water and nutrients from the stem tissues of their host plant, but also produce their own energy through photosynthetic green leaves. Mistletoes rarely harm their host tree in New Zealand.

White mistletoe in a host tree.

White mistletoe in a host tree

I think we should start a tradition here in NZ of kissing under the mistletoe like they do in the Northern Hemisphere at Christmas time! In NZ the yellow – green flowers of the white mistletoe flower from October to December (which is why I missed them) and white to pink fleshy fruit from December to March.

A volunteer setting a trap beside a mistletoe plant.

Jean Stanley of the Pukawa Wildlife Trust helps protect the mistletoe from possums

I’m making an interpretation sign for a community called Pukawa at the bottom of Lake Taupō who are protecting this rare plant by trapping possums who love to eat the fruit. They also trap rats and stoats, which is great, as native birds play an important role in seed dispersal of the white mistletoe.

Ranger Anna McKnight blows a kiss.

Ranger Anna blowing a ‘mistletoe’ kiss

If you have any photos of this flower, or know of somewhere I might be able to find them please email me at amcknight@doc.govt.nz.

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Flowering orchids on Mt Grey/Maukatere delight locals

Department of Conservation —  January 24, 2012 — 1 Comment

While walking on Canterbury’s Mt Grey this summer local Rangiora resident Elizabeth Brocherie discovered a display of orchids to rival the Ellerslie flower show!

Aporostylis bifolia

Having tramped in the area for more than 30 years looking for plants, Elizabeth says this is one of the most prolific seasons for orchids she’s ever seen.

Here, Elizabeth shares photos of her fantastic finds, so we can all share in her delight. This is what she found in one day on the Summit and Red Beech tracks:

Adenochilis gracilis

Found the Slender Forest Orchid (Adenochilis gracilis) in moss underneath beech forest at the top of the Red Beech Track. It is more wide-spread than last year.

Aporostylis bifolia

First time ever identified on Mt Grey – on a damp bank on the Summit Track not far from the bush exit. The leaves had brown (freckled) spots on them. Flower, stem, and leaves are hairy.

Aporostylis bifolia

Caladenia lyallii / northofagit / chlorostyla

All have hairy stems and the throats have either spots of stripes.

Chilligotis cornuta

This widespread orchid bears the more common name “Green bird” and is found both here in New Zealand and in Australia.

Corybus trilobus

Flowering only from July to Oct-Nov. Elizabeth found numerous colonies on the sides of the tracks.

Gastrodia

I’ve never seen this genus on Mt Grey before.

Gastrodia: In bud, in flower and close up of flowers

Microtis unifolia

Microtis unifolia

“Grass orchid” – very prolific.

Pterostylis banksii and P.areolata

Pteron is the Greek term for winged. Unsure it was a P.areolata but photographed it for further ID.

Thelymitra longifolia

Everywhere – flowers only burst when it’s hot.

Thelymitra pauciflora

On the side of the track; blue to pink

Pterostylis banksii

About New Zealand native orchids

“New Zealand has over 160 species of native orchid. Found from the coastline to the alpine herb-fields, these shy creatures are a much overlooked part of the New Zealand Native Flora. ” NZ Native Orchid Group

Learn more about New Zealand’s native orchids on the NZ Native Orchid Group website.

About Mt Grey/Maukatere Conservation Area

Mt Grey/Maukatere Conservation Area is one of the foothill beech forests in North Canterbury. Only an hour’s drive northwest of Christchurch it’s accessed through Ashley Forest – a commercial forestry plantation managed by Rayonier.

Māori named Mt Grey ‘Maukatere’ (floating mountain) because the spirits of the dead were believed to leave from the summit on the long journey to Cape Reinga.

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