Wildflowers of Waikumete Philip Smith1

Wildflowers of Waikumete Philip Smith1 Throughout our lives, we carry certain significance – and part of the old The chincherinchee4, Ornithogalum memories of landscapes (both real cemetery area has been made thyrsoides (Fig. 3), comes from areas and imagined). Many of these come a wildflower sanctuary. From my to the west of Tritonia crocata’s natural to represent romantic or idealised personal perspective, what makes range in South Africa, where it grows places, and resonate deeply within these communities special is that many in low-lying, often marshy habitats. us. They can be natural landscapes, (although not all) of the wildflowers Traditionally, it has been a popular flower gardens of our youth, pasture within them are not aggressive garden bulb within New Zealand, or wastelands (amongst others). As environmental weeds, yet persist valued for its dense heads of a child, I was raised on stories like and co-exist with native and pasture white flowers with dark centres. At ‘Wind in the Willows’, which filled my species, thereby forming a hybrid Waikumete, chincherinchee occurs head with idyllic visions of woodland landscape. in isolated pockets around particular and meadow that will always retain graves. There is an interesting network a magical charm for me (despite, or of species throughout, with some rather in addition to, my subsequently wildflowers (like Ixia polystachya; developed passion for New Zealand’s Fig. 1) somewhat ubiquitous, while native flora). others occur sporadically or in isolated It is perhaps surprising to some that groupings. The bright orange flowers of one should find such an experience Tritonia crocata (Fig. 2) are low-growing within a cemetery. However, highlights, popping up relatively Waikumete Cemetery is no ordinary irregularly between graves. In its wild place. From its early days, wildflowers habitat (in southern parts of South (many of South African origin) have Africa’s Cape Province), this diminutive spread from around gravesites into the bulb grows predominantly on clay pasture to create a dream-like space, slopes, in a type of shrubland called as they erupt into flower during the renosterveld3. later months of the year. The result, as Fig. 3 Ornithogalum thyrsoides the eminent Auckland botanist, Alan (chincherinchee, star-of-Bethlehem or wonder-flower), a native to the south-western Esler, describes it, is “a wonderland of Cape of South Africa, with white, long-lasting intermingled plants from three separate flowers. regions of the world”2. Ixia paniculata (Fig. 4) (formerly known Furthermore, it should not necessarily as Morphixia paniculata) is an unusual come as a surprise that romantic species of Ixia, whose arrangements scenes of this nature are able to of peculiar pink flowers remind me develop within a cemetery. Cemeteries Fig. 1 Ixia polystachya (variable ixia), a native (very loosely) of some types of basket are often unfettered by the never- to the northwest and southwest Cape of South fungus, when viewed amongst the ending renewal and control that we Africa, with white, pink, mauve, or bluish flowers. grass. This native of western parts of impose upon our other man-made the Cape is also, like chincherinchee, spaces; a characteristic that some present in isolated groupings around cemeteries share with wastelands. graves. In this way, Waikumete has been The delicate pink onion (Fig. 5) is permitted to form a kind of ‘second Allium roseum ssp. bulbiferum, a small nature’, in which indigenous and exotic species that occurs in much of Europe, elements have combined to form new and where Asia and Africa meet ecologies and aesthetics. with Europe. I have only observed it Although not indigenous, the presence surrounding one grave, where it is well of so many of these South African established, although it probably grows flowers growing in wild associations Fig. 2 Tritonia crocata, a native to the elsewhere in the cemetery. Although southern part of the Western Cape of South has been recognised as being of Africa, with bright orange flowers. it is no doubt present in old gardens, 1 O2 Landscapes Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand; [email protected] 2 From Wild Plants in Auckland by A. Esler (2004). Auckland University Press, Auckland. 3 This translates, intriguingly, as ‘rhinoceros field’; a name that may have been derived from a high incidence of rhinoceros within this vegetation type (when they were still to be found in the Cape), or indirectly from the name of a shrub that is one of its dominant components, renosterbos (rhinoceros bush). 4 I’ve always wondered about this name. It is apparently derived from the Afrikaans word ‘tjienkerientjee’, which refers to a sound that the stems on this bulb make when rubbed together. 4 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2014, Vol. 17(2) I have not seen this beautiful species bulbocodium. In addition to these, ox- (including Aristea ecklonii and certain growing before, and I was impressed eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare; Watsonia spp.). Controlling the by its comparatively contained nature, Fig. 8) contribute significantly to the presence of these is a necessary in contrast to other Allium spp., like character of the area. aspect of maintaining the future of onion weed, Allium triquetrum. Waikumete’s wildflowers. At present, they do not play a significant role in large tracts of the most interesting areas. Exotic species of the kinds described previously are not the only significant wildflowers present at Waikumete. There are more than 20 species of native orchids that grow naturally amongst native scrub within the cemetery’s boundaries, many Fig. 4 Ixia paniculata (angel’s trumpets), a of which are rare or threatened. native to the northwest and the southwest Cape of South Africa, with creamy flowers Depending on which names are flushed with reddish pink. accepted, the rich representation of native orchid genera includes Corunastylis, Corybas, Diplodium, Gastrodia, Microtis, Orthoceras, Petalochilus, Plumatochilus, Fig. 6 Babiana angustifolia (baboon flower), a native to the northwest and southwest Cape Pterostylis, Singularybas, Stegostyla of South Africa, with blue and purple flowers. and Thelymitra. In addition to these, Waikumete is also home to two rare native grasses, Dichelachne inaequiglumis and Paspalum orbiculare, an uncommon liane, Calystegia marginata, and the nationally 5 Fig. 5 Allium roseum (rosy garlic), a native endangered herb, Picris burbidgeae . to the Mediterranean Basin, with pale pink Quite aside from specific plants, certain flowers. areas of Waikumete Cemetery also As mentioned previously, Ixia contain locally significant ecologies, polystachya (an upright species most importantly scrub/gumland occurring in many different shades of ecologies. Notable amongst these is the white, pink and mauve) is widespread presence of considerable numbers of throughout much of the older parts Dracophyllum sinclairii. In comparison of the cemetery. This South African to some of the forested areas protected species grows in a range of habitats within the Waitakeres and elsewhere from the coast to the mountains in Fig. 7 Tritonia gladiolaris, a native to the within the region, Auckland does not the Western Cape. Also common south-eastern Cape of South Africa, with have many of these open ecologies left. throughout much of the old cemetery creamy white, pale yellow, or orange flowers. However, the incursion of weeds, and areas, although on a different tier, plans for significant areas of new grave is a small purple-flowered species, sites, pose threats to these vestiges of Babiana angustifolia (Fig. 6), which Auckland’s past. is a reasonably common bulb within The diversity of both exotic and native older gardens in Auckland. In South species found within Waikumete Africa, this grows in damp habitats of Cemetery is an example of the way in renosterveld (where it is Nationally which some seemingly unlikely places Threatened due to habitat loss), while can act as repositories for our natural at Waikumete it is frequently found near and horticultural heritage. And as spring the edges of tracks, graves and roads Fig. 8 Leucanthemum vulgare (ox-eye daisy), rolls around each year, we are reminded where sufficient light is available. a native to Europe and the temperate regions of Asia, with flower heads that have white of this in a spectacular manner – as one Other desirable bulb species that are florets and yellow centres. of Auckland’s most beautiful flowering to be found in Waikumete’s wildflower displays starts up once again. meadows include Ixia maculata, Unfortunately, some of the bulbous Reproduced with permission Sparaxis spp., Freesia refracta, a species that were previously planted from an online essay at Romulea sp., Tritonia gladiolaris (syn. at Waikumete are undesirable, www.o2landscapes.com. T. lineata; Fig. 7), Scilla peruviana having established themselves as and a dwarf daffodil, Narcissus noisome weeds here and elsewhere 5 See for example: Waikumete Cemetery: Threatened and uncommon plant survey and management report. October 2001, prepared for Waitakere City Council by Natural Resource Assessors [P. J. de Lange & G. Crocroft]. New Zealand Garden Journal, 2014, Vol. 17(2) 5.

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