Newsletter Number 57 July 2009

BSO Meetings and Field Trips 11 July, 10:00 am. Field trip to Dunedin Botanic Garden. The Dunedin Botanic Garden is an outstanding local botanical resource highly valued by Dunedinites. Botanical Services Officer and Society member Tom Myers will take us on a guided tour of the recently created Solander Trail and the impressive Native Collection. If time permits we’ll also have a look through some of the natural bush areas that are part of the Garden. SPECIAL NOTE: Meet in the carpark next to the Botanic Garden Centre, Botanic Garden, on Lovelock Avenue.

22 July, 5:20 pm. Botany student colloquium talks. Three short talks by the winners of the 2009 Botany Postgraduate Student Colloquium. These students (names to be announced) were awarded prizes for the best talks, and will be presenting their research talks to the BSO this evening. Meeting details on p. 3.

12 August, 5:20 pm. Botanical “Show and tell” evening. Members are invited to bring along botanical items (for example, photographs and slides, plants, books, seeds – anything botanical that you'd like to show others!) for a show and tell evening. Meeting details on p. 3.

15 August, 9:00 am. Mystery fossil hunt. A field trip led by Assoc. Prof. Daphne Lee. Leave from Botany carpark at 9 am. Backup date Saturday August 22nd 2009. Contact Daphne Lee, phone: (03) 479 7525.

16 September, 6:00 pm. 8th Annual Geoff Baylis Lecture. Assoc. Prof. Daphne Lee. Palms, podocarps, orchids and proteaceans: the contribution of new fossil plants from Otago and Southland to our understanding of New Zealand's vegetation history. NOTE SPECIAL VENUE: Castle 1 Lecture Theatre, University of Otago. Nibbles and drinks will be available in the Castle Concourse from 5.15 pm. Contact Robyn Bridges, phone: (03) 479 8372.

2 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

19–20 September, Sat–Sun trip. Spring Fungal and Lichen Foray. A two-day trip to collect lichens and fungi in the Catlins, following on from our very successful Autumn trip. We’ll do the Catlins River walk from the Tawanui Camp Ground end on Saturday and from the Chloris Stream end on Sunday. Leaders: David Orlovich and Allison Knight. Accommodation on Saturday night will be at Nugget Point Lighthouse Keepers house (numbers limited). Day-trippers are welcome to join us on either day. To reserve accommodation or find out more contact David Orlovich by Wednesday 16 September. Leave from Botany car park at 9.00 am Saturday. Contact David Orlovich, phone: (03) 479 9060.

14 October, 5:20 pm. Beech forest fungi. A talk by Dr David Orlovich, The University of Otago. A slide show and research talk highlighting the beautiful fungi that grow in Nothofagus forests in NZ. See p. 3 for meeting details.

17 October, 9:00 am. Field trip to Blueskin Farm. Blueskin Farm is located on low hills to the west of Blueskin Bay, at 156 Manse Road. The farm supports patches of primary rimu-miro forest, secondary kanuka, a small but distinctive patch of heathland on Taratu Formation, and a LOT of gorse! Geological diversity is high, with volcanic, schist, conglomerate, and sedimentary substrates, and this has resulted in a relatively high diversity of native plants. Native birds are common and there are banded kokopu in the stream. We will be primarily looking at the native forest components, and with any luck the orchids will be out, if not flowering. About 120 indigenous plant species and 50 exotics have been recorded, and a list of these will be provided. Keen botanists are welcome to extend these lists, and we will hopefully make some forays into parts of the forest that have not yet been explored. Some parts of the forest are soft and slippery so wear appropriate footwear, and sensible, weather-proof clothing. If the weather is good we can boil the billy at lunchtime. Gorse makes excellent firewood! Your hosts will be Kelvin Lloyd and Beatrice Lee. Meet at the Botany Department car park at 9 am, or at 156 Manse Road at 9:30 am Contact Kelvin Lloyd, phone: (03) 473 9566.

18 November, 5:20 pm. Lichens. A talk by Dr Allison Knight, The University of Otago. See p. 3 for meeting details.

28–29 November, 8:00 am. Sub-alpine lichen and plant foray, Silver Peaks. This is a rather strenuous weekend trip to explore sub-alpine, alpine and valley lichens and plants. Only for those fit enough to carry a pack full of all-weather gear, overnight gear and food up to the 770 m top of Silver Peaks and down to Jubilee Hut on Saturday, then back again on Sunday. A one day trip could be included if someone is willing to take a trip up Silver Peak and return on Saturday. Please let us know if you can help. Phone Robyn Bridges 472 7330 or Allison Knight 478 8265 by Wed 25th Nov to arrange hut (DoC) and food details. Depart 8 am Saturday from Botany Carpark, return 6 pm Sunday. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 3

9 January 2010, 8:30 am. Alpine plant and lichen trip. A two-day trip, staying at the Remarkables ski field. More information to come – see the next Newsletter or the BSO web site. Contact David Lyttle, phone: (03) 454 5470.

Meeting details: Talks are usually on Wednesday evening, starting at 5:20 pm with drinks and nibbles (gold coin donation), unless otherwise advertised. Venue is the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Room 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt, as we have to hold the door open. Items of botanical interest for our buy, sell and share table are always appreciated. When enough people are feeling sociable we go out to dinner afterwards – everyone is welcome to join in. Talks usually finish around 6:30 pm, keen discussion might continue till 7 pm.

Field trip details: Field trips leave from Botany car park 464 Great King Street, unless otherwise advertised. Meet there to car pool (10 c/km/passenger, to be paid to the driver, please). 50% student discount now available on all trips! Please contact the trip leader before Friday for trips with special transport, and by Wednesday for full weekend trips. A hand lens and field guides always add to the interest. It is the responsibility of each person to stay in contact with the group and to bring sufficient food, drink and outdoor gear to cope with changeable weather conditions. Bring appropriate personal medication, including anti-histamine for allergies. Note trip guidelines on the BSO web site: http://www.botany.otago.ac.nz/bso/. Contents BSO MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS...... 1 CONTENTS ...... 3 CHAIRMAN’S NOTES ...... 4 EDITOR’S NOTES...... 4 CORRESPONDENCE AND NEWS...... 5 BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF OTAGO PHOTO COMPETITION 2010 – ADVANCED NOTIFICATION...... 5 NEW RECORD FOR THE ORCHID CORYBAS CHEESEMANII FOR THE CATLINS, SOUTH OTAGO ...... 6 WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON PLANTS IN OTAGO? ...... 6 ARTICLES...... 8 MISTLETOES OF STEVENSONS ISLAND/TE PEKA KARARA, LAKE WANAKA ...... 8 MEETING AND TRIP REPORTS ...... 10 FIELD TRIP TO THE ST MARYS RANGE, NORTH OTAGO, 12–14 DECEMBER 2008...... 10 ALPINE PLANTS OF THE ST MARYS RANGE, NORTH OTAGO...... 15 CAPE SAUNDERS FIELD TRIP, 14 MARCH 2009 ...... 17 VASCULAR PLANTS OF CAPES SAUNDERS (INCLUDING MATAKITAKI POINT), OTAGO PENINSULA (CENTRAL GR NZMS 260 MAP I44 336787)...... 18 AGM AND PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION, 22 APRIL 2009 ...... 19 FIELD TRIP TO LOWER TAIERI GORGE, 26 APRIL 2009 ...... 20 VASCULAR PLANTS OF THE LOWER TAIERI GORGE ON TRUE RIGHT OF GORGE BETWEEN TAIERI FERRY ROAD AND TAIERI MOUTH (CENTRAL GRID REFERENCE NZMS 260 MAP I45 98)...... 21 4 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

Chairman’s Notes David Lyttle In replacing John Barkla of Chairman set up microscopes at the DOC house of the Botanical Society of Otago this at Nugget Point, identify the year I realise I have a hard act to collections on the spot and dry down follow. Fortunately, John has chosen specimens for the herbarium. At to remain on the committee, so the Tawanui, each step along the track BSO has not lost the benefit of his yielded another fungal treasure for botanical knowledge, organisational David Orlovich including (the little red skills and good sense. Cortinarius) There is a good chance of seeing something rare, novel or new on Now we have reached the middle of the a field trip and often these things are year we can record with satisfaction spotted by someone on the day. four very successful field trips and two outstanding talks from Ray Callaway The photographic competition this year and Alan Mark. We have been was of very high standard despite compiling plant lists from many of attracting fewer entries than last year. these trips and the lists are becoming a This competition is keenly contested valuable record of the present and has yielded some outstanding vegetation of East Otago. Ferns, fungi images for the 2010 calendar. So and lichens have all received attention please keep taking those photos for on Botanical Society trips this year. next years competition and calendar.

Highlights for me were finding an The remainder of this years programme unrecorded species of Craspedia at has something for everyone; in July a Cape Saunders, seeing the local rarities there will be trip close to home to the Anementhale lessoniana, Microlaena Dunedin Botanic Gardens and talks by polynoda and Teucridium parvifolium the three winners of the Botany student in the lower Taieri Gorge and colloquium. There will be a trip later recording the winter-flowering orchid in August with Daphne Lee to a fossil Corybas cheesemanii at Tawanui on plant locality. Daphne is giving the the Catlins fungal foray. On the 2009 Baylis Lecture in September so Catlins fungal foray we were able to keep these dates free.

Editor’s Notes David Orlovich Please submit copy for next newsletter by Disclaimer: The views published in this 16 October 2009. newsletter reflect the views of the individual Editor’s guidelines: Try to aim for a 0.5 – 1 authors, and are not necessarily the views of page of 14 pt Times for news, trip/meeting the Botanical Society of Otago, nor do they reports and book reviews, and 1 – 5 pages, necessarily reflect the views of the including illustrations, for other articles. Department of Botany, University of Otago, Electronic submission (by email to the editor: which is supportive of, but separate from, our [email protected]) is preferred. society. Publishing of advertisements does not Send photos as separate files and remember to necessarily imply endorsement by this include photo captions and credits. Society. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 5

Correspondence and News Botanical Society of Otago Photo Competition 2010 – advanced notification The BSO photo competition has been a include category winners, top student popular event for the last three years. photograph, and overall winner. Three There are 3 categories: judges will judge entries on technical and artistic merit. There will also be a 1. Botanical portrait members’ choice prize for the 2. Plants in the landscape photograph voted the best on the night 3. Plant interactions of the awards. Each prize is $50 (and yes, if you’re one of the few students Each member can submit up to three who usually enter you could win photographs in total. Each photograph $200!). needs to be at a resolution of 6  8 inch (30.5  20.3 cm) and 300 Entry forms can be picked up from the pixels/inch and can be in landscape or display shelves outside the secretary’s portrait orientation. A glossy print of office in the Botany Department or the same size must also be submitted. downloaded from the BSO web site Entries are due 7 April 2010. Prizes http://www.botany.otago.ac.nz/bso/.

Above: Lobelia roughii. Highly Commended photograph from the Botanical Society of Otago Photo Competition 2009. Photo by Ken Allen. 6 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

New record for the orchid Corybas cheesemanii for the Catlins, South Otago David Lyttle During the Bot. Soc. winter fungal foray to the Catlins on the 22–23 May 2009, Arlene McDowell spotted the small winter-flowering orchid Corybas cheesemanii growing at Tawanui under beech. This species has been recorded from the North Island and the north- western part of the South Island but does not appear to have been recorded south of Westport or on the eastern side of the South Island.

The distinctive features of this species are it autumn to winter-flowering habit. It grows in deep drifts of leaf litter, usually in dark, very shaded sites under kanuka or beech. I have seen it before at the Oparara Arches north of Karamea where it was growing under beech and formed a large patch containing many plants. At Tawanui several scattered plants were found. Above: Corybas cheesemanii. Photo by David Lyttle.

What are the most common plants in Otago? Mike Thorsen The most common native species in 47 propinqua, most common exotic plant species lists from throughout species = catsear Hypochoeris Otago = mingimingi Coprosma radicata.

Above: Ranunculus gracilipes from the St Marys Range trip (see the report on p. 10). Photo by David Lyttle. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 7

Above: “Pohutukawa”. One of the three winners in the Botanical Society of Otago Photo Competition 2009. Photo by John Barkla.

Above: Detail from “Disease”. Winner of the Student Prize in the Botanical Society of Otago Photo Competition 2009. Photo by Annika Korsten. 8 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

Articles Mistletoes of Stevensons Island/Te Peka Karara, Lake Wanaka John Barkla Stevensons Island/Te Peka Karara lies Between November 2002 and February in the eastern lobe (Stevensons Arm) of 2009 I spent 22 days on Stevensons Lake Wanaka, 150 m from the eastern Island/Te Peka Karara, carrying out shore. It is 65 ha in area and 1.4 km various island management tasks, long  0.6 km wide. It has scenic particularly care and monitoring of the reserve status and is managed by the translocated buff weka population. Department of Conservation. The During this time I traversed most of the island has mostly gentle slopes rising island and generated a comprehensive to 60 m above the lake which itself is c. vascular plant list and made numerous 300 m.a.s.l. Soils are thin, dry, friable botanical observations. I recorded 185 and very well drained. Annual rainfall vascular plant species for the island is c. 680 mm. comprising 116 native and 69 adventive species.

Fig. 1. A. Ileostylus micranthus, B. Korthalsella salicornioides on kanuka, C. Korthalsella lindsayi on Neomyrtus pendunculata. Photos by John Barkla. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 9

The vegetation cover is regenerating elements. Many vine species are found after fire more than sixty years ago. throughout all vegetation types. Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) forest Beaches slope gently into shallow dominates the island, forming a water surrounding the island and there discontinuous canopy over most of the is an extensive strand area with finer gentle slopes. There are many small substrates and emergent macrophyes. clearings, which have a cover of grasses interspersed with mosses and Mice and rabbits are present on the lichen. The forest understorey usually island while rats and mustelids are includes korokia (Corokia occasional and temporary visitors, cotoneaster), prickly mingimingi controlled by trapping. Deer have been (Leptecophylla juniperina) and recorded on rare occasions having Helichrysum lanceolatum. Around the swum the narrow channel from the island edges, the kanuka thins out to mainland. Possums are not present. become mixed shrub-grassland. Shrub One interesting facet of the vegetation diversity is increased in these more is the extraordinary abundance of open areas and includes manuka hemi-parasitic mistletoes. I have not (Leptospermum scoparium), Coprosma observed mistletoe concentration crassifolia, kohuhu (Pittosporum approaching this elsewhere in Otago. tenuifolium), C. propinqua, weeping Three species are present; the matipo (Myrsine divaricata), H. conspicuous leafy Ileostylus lanceolatum and korokia as common

Table 1. Mistletoe hosts on Stevensons Island/Te Peka Karara.

Species of mistletoe Hosts Korthalsella Korthalsella Ileostylus salicornioides lindsayi micranthus Carmichaelia petriei • Coprosma crassifolia • • Coprosma linariifolia • • Coprosma propinqua • • Corokia cotoneaster • Discaria toumatou • Helichrysum lanceolatum • • Kunzea ericoides • • Leptecophylla juniperina • Leptospermum scoparium • Lophomyrtus obcordatum • • Melicope simplex • • Muehlenbeckia australis • • Myrsine divaricata • • Parsonsia heterophylla • Rubus schmidelioides • 10 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009 micranthus (Fig. 1a), and the cryptic Some individual shrubs host two dwarf mistletoes Korthalsella species of mistletoe. Melicope simplex salicornioides (Fig. 1b) and K. lindsayi and Lophomyrtus obcordata were (Fig. 1c). A list of the recorded hosts of observed hosting K. lindsayi and the three species on the island is Ileostylus micranthus. presented in Table 1. The most abundant mistletoe, K. salicornioides, Under the latest threat classification occurs on a high proportion of kanuka, revision (de Lange et al. 2009) its primary host. Individual host trees Korthalsella salicornioides is ranked as commonly support many hundreds of ‘Naturally Uncommon’. K. lindsayi this mistletoe. Manuka is the only other and Ileostylus micranthus are host that Korthalsella salicorniodes is considered ‘Not Threatened’. recorded on. Korthalsella lindsayi is Reference hosted by a wider range of shrubs but is most commonly associated with De Lange PJ, Norton DA, Courtney Myrsine divaricata. Ileostylus SP, Heenan PB, Barkla JW, micranthus has the widest range of Cameron EK, Hitchmough R, hosts but is most commonly found on Townsend AJ 2009. Threatened and Coprosma propinqua and C. uncommon plants of New Zealand crassifolia. It reaches its largest (2008 revision). New Zealand dimensions however on kanuka hosts. Journal of Botany 47, 61–96

Meeting and trip reports Field Trip to the St Marys Range, North Otago, 12–14 December 2008. David Lyttle The main St Marys Range runs flows into the Waitaki River just approximately north-west to south-east upstream of Kurow. The Awakino in axis more or less parallel to the turn saddles with tributary creeks of the Waitaki River. The highest point is Otematata River, which flows north Kohurau (2015 m). Other notable into the Waitaki. The Hawkdun Range peaks are Mt Bitterness (1910 m) to the lies further to the west across a north and Mt Domet (1942 m) to the dissected tussock plateau that drains south. The St Marys Range is a region north into the Waitaki. The of transition between the greywacke predominant rock type is greywacke, mountains of South Canterbury and the which erodes forming the extensive schist terrain that is more typical of screes that are characteristic of the Central Otago. The Range consists of a area. This in turn influences the type of series of steep-sided basins are divided vegetation that is present. Many by broad stony ridges and plateaux. northern alpines reach there southern The Awakino Ski Field where the party limits here and there seems to be a stayed lies in one such basin at the considerable amount of local head of the Awakino River, which biodiversity within the region. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 11

Above: Mist, St Marys Range. Photo by David Lyttle.

The trip proved to be popular with to sixteen stems all in flower. The stout members as far a field as Christchurch, growing stem emerged from a thick Twizel and Alexandra attending. We rhizome buried in a fine debris layer were fortunate in having Hugh Wood several centimetres beneath the mobile of Oamaru join us. Hugh’s knowledge surface layer. More plants were found of the area proved to be invaluable and higher in the basin. he guided us to many plants that we would otherwise not have found. The weather on Saturday improved as the day progressed. The mist that An advance party reached Awakino on enveloped the Range in the morning Friday. We found Jack the Awakino burnt off by midday giving a clear fine skifield caretaker already in residence day. Various parties dispersed in at the base hut preparing the hut for the different directions with most people weekend. By the afternoon the rain had going to the main Ranunculus acraeus cleared and we headed off to find site. I joined Hugh and several others Ranunulus acraeus. We found a and we made our way up to the saddle thriving population in the upper basin on the flank of Koharau. We found a still covered with fresh snow. Most number of specimens of Aciphylla plants were in flower and presented a dobsonii in flower. Ranunculus magnificent sight with gold flowers gracilipes and Cardamine corymbosa dotted over the surface of the scree. were growing in the creek flowing The plants were growing in bouldery down from the saddle. Among the scree in characteristic clumps that plants growing on the sparsely distinguish the species from vegetated scree were Epilobium Ranunculus haastii. Some plant had up crassum and Pimelea oreophila. 12 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

Further up towards the saddle were the St Marys Range. The stronghold of scattered plants of Ranunculus this unusual Raoulia is on Mt Ida acraeus. These plants were not as large further to the south-west. It also occurs as those in the main colony in the further north across the Waitaki on the western basin but were Kirkliston and Benmore Ranges. Other indistinguishable from them. There plants present at this site were Haastia appears to be only one species of scree sinclairii, Leptinella atrata, Lobelia Ranunculus on the St Marys Range. roughii and Myosotis traversii var. cantabrica. The Leptinella and Haastia plants were just emerging from the scree and beginning to flower.

Another vegetation type was found higher up on the flank of Koharau at an altitude of 1700 m. Here snowmelt feeding a little stream had created a turfy wetland area. The course of the stream was marked by thousands of flowering plants of Ranunculus gracilipes. Hidden in the turf was a smaller buttercup, Ranunculus Above: Celmisia aff. du-rietzii. maculatus. This species appears to be Photo by David Lyttle. poorly known as it is infrequently collected due to its small size and An interesting find was a plant of inconspicuous appearance. Another Melicytus alpinus found at about 1650 plant growing in this area was Raoulia m. The plant was sprawled across an hectori var. mollis. This species outcropping rock apparently thriving appears to be confined to alpine bogs and growing out of the cracks for and has softer cushions than Raoulia shelter. On the western side of the hectori, which was growing on dryer saddle there was a vegetation island set ground nearby. Chionohebe densifolia, amongst the scree and fellfield. Chionohebe thomsonii and the hybrid Prominent on this island were Celmisia between the two species “Pygmea ramulosa, Hebe pinguifolia and armstrongii” were all present. In the Celmisia aff. du-rietzii contrasting with most recent taxonomic treatment of the the typical species of the adjacent Chionohebes (Meudt (2008) Australian fellfield and high ridges, Aciphylla Systematic Botany 21, 387–421) all dobsonii, Raoulia youngii and Chionohebes are returned to the genus Chionohebe thomsonii. Hugh led us Veronica and the name Veronica x further down the slope to the west to a uniflora Kirk is reinstated for the feature he called the gravel mound. At hybrid. The comment is made in the this site he had found a colony of article “Because V. densifolia and V. Raoulia petriensis, the only place thomsonii are fairly common where this species has been found on throughout Otago and are found at July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 13 similar elevations it is natural to extensive mats several metres across wonder why more hybrids between on the quite unlike the erect clumps these two species do not exist”. On the found further north in Canterbury. St Marys Range hybrids are not only abundant but also span the complete spectrum of variation between the two parental species. A little forget-me-not identified as by Hugh Wood as Myosotis pygmaea was also present in the bog. This plant has tiny flowers about 2 mm in diameter. Another Myosotis with a cushion habit of Myosotis pulvinaris was also present. It differs from Myosotis pulvinaris in the small size of its flowers (2 mm in diameter).

We christened the final site we visited “the Black Tor” on account of the mass of black lichens (mainly Neuropogon Above: Umbillicaria sp. Photo by ciliatus and Umbilicaria sp.) covering David Lyttle. it. It is a huge mass of rock surrounded All and all it was a very successful trip. by scree slopes that lies below the crest In particular I thank Hugh for his of the ridge. Initially, I thought it might generous assistance in guiding people be a schist outcrop and for this reason to the locations of a number of various was more resistant to erosion but I was plants and for his slide show on subsequently informed on good Saturday evening where he talked on authority that it was greywacke. As it is the vegetation of the St Marys Range. the only patch of stable ground in the We were truly fortunate in having such vicinity it has been colonised by a a knowledgeable guide. I also thank number of plants that find the adjacent Jack our host from the ski club for screes inhospitable. Among the plants looking after us – Jack the hut and noted there was an unusual form of facilities were very much appreciated. Hebe buchananii with red leaf margins, Leucogenes grandiceps, a small Botanical Notes: The St Marys Range Aciphylla, tentatively identified as and the adjacent North Otago ranges Aciphylla montana var. gracilis, Hebe seems to be a biodiversity hotspot for pinguifolia, Celmisia aff. du-rietzii, historical/geological/climatic reasons with Geum leiospermum and Chionochloa a number of distinct plants some of which rigida. may eventually prove to be new species. The Range seems to have its own forms of The screes around the base of the tor a number of widespread species. The were colonised by the St Marys Range highlight was seeing the scree buttercup form of Stellaria aff. roughii. It forms Ranunculus acraeus in full flower. It was described formally as a distinct species in 14 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

2006 (Heenan et al. (2006) New Zealand Mysotis pygmaea. Hugh Wood originally Journal of Botany 44, 425–441). It is identified this small forget-me-not as var certainly a magnificent sight — there were glauca but it was growing in a bog at several hundred plants in flower on the 1700 m. Mike Thorsen is of the opinion screes. It is quite widely distributed that it is Myosotis pygmaea var drucei. though there seems to be one main colony. Myosotis sp. This is a cushion species Stellaria aff roughii. I went back to the distinct from Myosotis pulvinaris that has site where I had originally collected this tiny flowers (2 mm in diameter). plant. There is a lot of it there and it was Hebe epacridea. On the St Marys Range just emerging from the scree. Hugh Wood this species has more slender branchlets considers it to be a distinct species. than in other parts of its range. Celmisia sp. aff. du-rietzii/densiflora. Hebe buchananii. I consider the plants This Celmisia forms dense cushions that Hugh Wood identified as Hebe reminiscent of Celmisia brevifolia but has buchananii to be Hebe pinguifolia. It is narrow sticky leaves. Celmisia densiflora relatively abundant at Awakino. However is present in the grassland lower down but I did find some plants I would place in this species predominates on the screes Hebe buchananii. One specimen had and high ridges. small leaves with red margins. It was very Haastia sinclairii. The form on the St attractively marked and differed from the Marys Range is different in appearance Hebe pinguifolia plants growing nearby. from Haastia sinclairii found in other Abrotanella sp. I have not been able to localities in Otago and Southland. positively identify this plant. It forms a Lobelia roughii. This species is near its large tight cushion and may be Southern limit here though it occurs Abrotanella muscosa. further south on the Ida Range.

Above: Haastia sinclairii St Marys Range form. Photo by David Lyttle. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 15

Alpine Plants of the St Marys Range, North Otago. Hugh Wood & David Lyttle with other BSO assistance This list is based on a list originally compiled by Hugh Wood of Oamaru with additions and revisions by David Lyttle and others from the Botanical Society of Otago. Plants denoted with * were recorded on the Botanical Society of Otago field trip to the Awakino ski field on the 12–14 December 2008.

Anisotome aromatica var. Ferns and Fern allies Geraniaceae aromatica* Lycopodiaceae Geranium microphyllum* Anisotome brevistylis Huperzia australiana* Geranium sessiliflorum* Anisotome flexuosa* Lycopodium fastigiatum Polygonaceae Oreomyrrhis colensoi Lycopodium scarioum Muehlenbeckia axillaris* Schizeilema Blechnaceae Portulacaceae hydrocotyloides* Blechnum montanum Montia sessiliflora* Ericaceae Blechnum penna-marina Oxalidaceae Dracophyllum muscoides* Dryopteridaceae Oxalis magellanica Dracophyllum pronum* Polystichum cystostegia Dracophyllum uniflorum* Onagaraceae Gaultheria crassa* Gleicheniaceae Epilobium alsinoides var. Gleichenia dicarpa Gaultheria depressa var. atriplicifolium novae-zelandiae* Dennstaedtiaceae Epilobium crassum* Leucopogon fraseri* Hypolepis millefolium Epilobium porphyrium Pentachondra pumila* Epilobium pycnostachyum* Conifers Epilobium tasmanicum Rubiaceae Podocarpaceae Coprosma atropurpurea Thymelaeaceae Podocarpus nivalis Nertera balfouriana Kelleria dieffenbachii* Dicotyledons Kelleria paludosa* Asteraceae Abrotanella sp. Ranunculaceae Kelleria villosa* Pimelea oreophila* Anaphalioides bellidioides* Psychrophila obtusa* Argyrotegium mackayi* Ranunculus acraeus* Coriariaceae Brachyglottis bellidioides* Ranunculus gracilipes* Coriaria plumosa Brachyglottis haastii Ranunculus maculatus* Rosaceae Brachyglottis lagopus* Ranunculus multiscapus* Acaena glabra Brachyscome sinclairii* Brassicaceae Acaena saccaticupula* Celmisia alpina* Cardamine bilobata Acaena fissistipula* Celmisia densiflora* Cardamine corymbosa* Acaena caesiiglauca* Celmisia gracilenta Celmisia laricifolia* Violaceae Geum leiospermum* Celmisia lyallii* Melicytus alpinus* Fabaceae Celmisia ramulosa var. Viola cunninghamii* Carmichaelia crassicaulis tuberculata* Caryophyllaceae Apiaceae Celmisia sessiliflora* Colobanthus acicularis* Aciphylla aurea* Celmisia sp. (aff. durietzii)* Colobanthus canaliculatus* Aciphylla dobsonii* Craspedia lanata* Colobanthus strictus* Aciphylla montana var. Haastia aff. sinclairii Scleranthus uniflorus* gracilis* Haastia sinclairii* Stellaria gracilenta Aciphylla scott-thomsonii* Helichrysum intermedium Stelleria aff. roughii* Lagenifera cuneata 16 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

Leptinella atrata* Lobelia macrodon/ Ourisia glandulosa* Leptinella pectinata* glaberrima* Plantago lanigera Leucogenes grandiceps* Pratia angulata Santalaceae Ozothamnus leptophyllus* Boraginaceae Exocarpos bidwillii Raoulia grandiflora* Myosotis australis Raoulia hectori* Myrsinaceae Myosotis aff. pulvinaris Myrsine nummularia* Raoulia hectorii var. Myosotis pygmaea var. mollis* drucei* Orobanchaceae Raoulia petriensis* Myosotis sp. ‘cushion, tiny Euphrasia zelandica Raoulia subsericea* flowers’* Monocotyledons Raoulia youngii* Myosotis traversii var. Taraxacum magellanicum* cantabrica* Phormiaceae Phormium cookianum Gentianaceae Plantaginaceae Gentiana amabilis* Chionohebe densifolia* Asphodelaceae Gentiana bellidifolia* Chionohebe thomsonii* Bulbinella angustifolia Campanulaceae “Pygmea armstrongii”* Orchidaceae Wahlenbergia Hebe buchananii* Aporostylis bifolia albomarginata Hebe epacridea* Prasophyllum colensoi Hebe lycopodioides* Styidiaceae Hebe odora* Poaceae Phyllachne colensoi* Hebe pinguifolia* Chionochloa rigida* Lobeliaceae Hebe subulata Poa colensoi* Lobelia roughii* Ourisia caespitosa var. Lobelia linnaeoides* gracilis

Above: Detail from “Coastal shrubs”. One of the three winners in the Botanical Society of Otago Photo Competition 2009. Photo by Jesse Bythell. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 17

Cape Saunders Field Trip, 14 March 2009 John Barkla On arrival at this impressive Otago were the many local rarities such as the Peninsula site we split into two parties. tiny buttercup Ranunculus recens, the Alli & John Knight headed for the equally small forget-me-not Myosotis myriad of rocky talus, content to spend pygmaea var. pygmaea and the un- the day capturing photographic images named carrot relative Chaerophyllum of lichens. The rest of us began by “minute flower.” Further along, wandering the escarpment near the fringing the dense mixed silver road, its eroding cliff edge studded tussock/pasture, were the bidibid with white encrusting lichens and Acaena microphylla var. many cushion-forming plants. pauciglochidiata and shore cress Lepidium tenuicaule. Below, clinging to the cliffs, were dark green compact mounds of the Cape Saunders rock daisy, Helichrysum selago var. tumidum, an Otago Peninsula endemic.

Where the cliffs relented we worked our way down through steep slopes, coming across a woolly head (Craspedia sp.), which does not appear to have been recorded before on the Peninsula. Some specimens were taken for further study. Unfortunately gorse is slowly spreading from several nodes across the face. We lunched amongst the volcanic rock talus, avoiding the fierce nettle (Urtica ferox) that sheltered amongst the jumble.

Later we visited a rocky beach reached by a narrow winding track through Hebe elliptica and Poa astonii. Fur seals slumped on the shore and the squeals of pups and yellow-eyed Above: New BSO Chairman David penguins resonated off the towering Lyttle at Cape Saunders. Photo by basalt cliffs beneath Cape Saunders. John Barkla. Around at Matakitaki Point we inspected the derelict house and This occupied us for quite some time concrete foundations associated with as we worked our way along its the lighthouse. Lepidium tenuicaule precarious edge, continually finding still grows at the base of some additional species among the cracks buildings but other populations and crevices. Of particular interest recorded more than ten years ago 18 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009 seemed to have been swamped by rank back to the vehicles passed some dry grass. shrubby cliffs with Coprosma crassifolia, Helichrysum lanceolatum The headland itself is very exposed to and the local form of prostrate salt-laden wind and is dominated by porcupine shrub (Melicytus aff. mats of the halophyte Atriplex obovatus “Cape Saunders”). Many buchananii. Less common were thanks to the landowner Sam Neill for glasswort (Sarcocornia quinqueflora), allowing access to this magnificent remuremu (Selliera radicans) and site, and to David Lyttle for leading the maakoako (Samolus repens). The hike group.

Vascular plants of Capes Saunders (including Matakitaki Point), Otago Peninsula (Central GR NZMS 260 Map I44 336787) John Barkla & David Lyttle with other BSO assistance, 14 March 2009 * adventive # indigenous species outside natural range p planted

Dicotyledonous trees, *Cerastium fontanum Lepidium tenuicaule shrubs and vines subsp. vulgare Leptinella dioica subsp. Chaerophyllum(a) (CHR dioica Coprosma crassifolia 364086; ‘minute Linum monongynum s.s. Coprosma propinqua flower’) *Marrubium vulgare Coprosma repens# Myosotis pygmaea var. Fuchsia perscandens *Cirsium arvense pygmaea Hebe elliptica *Cirsium vulgare Colobanthus muelleri Oxalis exilis Helichrysum lanceolatum Coronopus didymus *Plantago coronopus Helichrysum selago var. Craspedia “Cape Saunders” Plantago raoulii tumidum Crassula colligata *Polycarpon tetraphyllum Melicytus aff. obovatus Crassula mataikona Pseudognaphalium luteo- “Cape Saunders” Crassula moschata album Melicytus ramiflorus Dichondra brevifolia agg. Ranunculus foliosus Muehlenbeckia complexa Disphyma australe Ranunculus recens Olearia avicenniifolia p Einadia allanii Raoulia australis s.s. Olearia traversiorum# Epilobium alsinoides subsp. *Sagina procumbens *Ulex europaeus atriplicifolium Samolus repens Urtica ferox Epilobium komarovianum Sarcocornia quinqueflora Dicotyledonous herbs Euchiton audax Scleranthus uniflorus (including composites) *Geranium molle Selliera radicans Acaena anserinifolia Geranium sessiliflorum var. Senecio carnosulus Acaena microphylla var. arenarium Senecio minimus pauciglochidiata Gunnera monoica Spergularia media Anaphalioides bellidioides Helichrysum filicaule *Stellaria media Apium prostratum Hydrocotyle “montana” Tetragonia implexicoma Atriplex buchananii Hydrocotyle moschata *Trifolium repens *Bellis perennis *Hypochoeris radicata Wahlenbergia rupestris Lagenifera sp. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 19

Grasses Ficinia nodosa Asplenium obtusatum Isolepis cernua subsp. obtusatum *Anthoxanthum odoratum Luzula banksiana var. acra Cortaderia richardii Blechnum blechnoides *Critesion murinum Monocotyledons Blechnum fluviatile agg. Elymus solandri s.s. (other) Blechnum penna-marina Blechnum procerum *Lolium perenne p Cordyline australis Poa astonii Ctenopteris heterophylla Libertia ixioides Poa cita agg. Hypolepis ambigua Phormium tenax s.s. Poa colensoi s.l. Microsorum pustulatum Ferns and Allies Polystichum neozelandicum Rushes and Sedges subsp. zerophyllum Asplenium appendiculatum Carex appressa Pyrrosia elaeagnifolia subsp. appendiculatum Carex coriacea Asplenium lyallii Carex testacea

AGM and Photographic Competition, 22 April 2009 Allison Knight This year the AGM took 9 minutes. that next year the judges use the John Barkla, the outgoing Chairman, electronic images to make their and Lyn Bentley, the retiring decisions. Treasurer, were applauded for their fine efforts over the last few years and The judges’ top 3 choices were: by the following were elected unopposed: John Barkla’s Pohutukawa (see p. 7), Chairman, David Lyttle; Secretary, Jesse Bythell’s Coastal sub-shrub Allison Knight; Treasurer, Rebecca community (see p. 16), Gretchen James, Web manager and Newsletter Brownstein’s Walking in the woods publisher, David Orlovich; (see p. 22). The Student prize went to Communication, Robyn Bridges, Trip Annika Korsten for Disease (see p. 7). co-ordinator, Mike Thorsen. Then followed three Very Highly Committee: Abe Gray, Bastow Wilson, Commended images: Ken Allen’s John Barkla, Tina Summerfield, Max Lobelia roughii (see p. 5), Mike Crowe. Thorsen’s Hidden symmetry and Jesse Bythell’s Salicornia australis. Four Members voted for their choice of the more images were Highly 32 prints entered in the BSO Photo Commended: Mary Anne Miller’s Competition, then Rod Morris Foveaux jewels, Lyn Bentley’s presented the electronic versions on the Clematis infected with Puccinia, Mike big screen. He had something helpful Thorsen’s Illumination and Allison to say about each image, and Knight’s Thamnolia. The Members’ commented that the high standard of choice prize went to Ken Allen for the entries, plus the personal Lobelia roughii, with the Members’ preferences of the three judges made it runner up being one of the judges top extremely difficult to decide the three, Gretchen’s Walking in the winners. He also noted the different woods. impact and colour range of the print and electronic images, and suggested All the prints were put on display in the Botany Dept foyer for a month. The 20 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

BSO committee has voted for the this year. It’s a wonderful thing to send images to go in the BSO Calendar for to botanical friends and family and to 2010 and a stunning new calendar is home-sick kiwis overseas — and to well in progress. Last year we were hang on your own home and office overly optimistic on the print run and wall. made a loss, so please support it well

Above: Cardamine corymbosa from St Marys Range. Photo by David Lyttle. Field Trip to Lower Taieri Gorge, 26 April 2009 Robyn Bridges On Sunday 26 April we spent a Verbena, Carmichaelia petriei with a relaxing day botanising the sides of the particularly slim morphology, a very Millennium Walkway. This walkway blue Wahlenbergia that fooled a few of sidles the Taieri River as it flows us and a large variety of Coprosmas, through the gorge between Henley and including C. taylorii. Though neither Taieri Mouth, the river’s entrance to endangered nor threatened, the display the Pacific. It was a brilliant sunny of Coprosma lucida berries against a autumnal day and much warmer than blue sky, almost incandescent in the many of us had anticipated. We were sun, was stunning. As well we found frequently reminded of the time of the Calystegia tuguriorum, Scandia year though, when we moved from the geniculata, Pseudopanax ferox and hot sun baked areas of the track into crassifolium in a picture perfect side- bush-lined hollows where the by-side position, Plagianthus temperature instantly plummeted divaricatus, the salt marsh ribbonwood several degrees. and the rare Olearia fragrantissima, the fragrant tree daisy. There was a Our time was spent looking at an great display of the golden lichen interesting and varied flora. Podocarps Xanthoria parietina, Aseroe rubra, the included kahikatea, miro, matai, and flower fungus, also known as the stink totara. There were good examples of horn fungus, in a cool dark hollow and Cyathea dealbata, the Silver Fern at its near a large wet patch of black mould southern limit. Two excellent or algae (possibly Nostoc?) on the side specimens of Hoheria angustifolia, of the bank. sentinel like by the track leading to a sunny grassy patch on the side of the On behalf of those on this field trip I river, where we had lunch. thank John Barkla for leading the trip and for once again so willingly sharing Other plants of interest included his knowledge. It was a truly splendid Dicksonia fibrosa, the threatened day! Teucridium parviflorum, the NZ July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 21

Vascular plants of the lower Taieri Gorge on true right of gorge between Taieri Ferry Road and Taieri Mouth (Central Grid Reference NZMS 260 Map I45 98) John Barkla & David Lyttle with other BSO assistance, 26 April 2009 Gymnosperms Leptospermum scoparium Australina pusilla agg. *Centaurium erythraea Dacrycarpus dacrydioides *Leycesteria formosa *Cirsium arvense Dacrydium cupressinum Lophomyrtus obcordata *Cirsium vulgare *Pinus radiata Melicope simplex Crassula sieberiana Podocarpus hallii Melicytus aff. alpinus Dichondra repens agg. Podocarpus totara var. (coastal) Einadia allanii totara Melicytus ramiflorus Euchiton audax Prumnopitys ferruginea Metrosideros diffusa *Geranium molle Prumnopitys taxifolia Muehlenbeckia australis Hydrocotyle moschata Dicotyledonous trees, agg. Hydrocotyle novae- shrubs and vines Myrsine australis zeelandiae Aristotelia serrata Myrsine divaricata *Hypochoeris radicata Calystegia tuguriorum Olearia arborescens Lagenifera sp. Carmichaelia petriei Olearia fragrantissima *Lepidium africanum Carpodetus serratus Parsonsia heterophylla Leptinella dioica subsp. Clematis foetida Pennantia corymbosa dioica Clematis paniculata Pittosporum eugenioides s.s. *Lotus pedunculatus Coprosma areolata Pittosporum tenuifolium *Mycelis muralis Coprosma crassifolia Plagianthus divaricatus *Plantago lanceolata Coprosma foetidissima Plagianthus regius Oxalis exilis Coprosma lineariifolia Pseudopanax colensoi var. Pseudognaphalium luteo- Coprosma lucida ternatus album Coprosma obconica subsp. Pseudopanax crassifolium Ranunculus reflexus obconica Pseudopanax ferox Samolus repens Coprosma propinqua Pseudowintera colorata Schizeilema trifoliatum Coprosma rhamnoides agg. *Ribes uva-crispa Selliera radicans Coprosma rotundifolia *Rubus fruticosa agg. Senecio biserratus Coprosma rubra Rubus cissoides *Senecio jacobea Coprosma tayloriae Rubus schmidelioides var. Senecio minimus Coprosma virescens schmidelioides Senecio quadridentatus Corokia cotoneaster agg. Rubus squarrosus *Solanum nigrum *Cotoneaster simonsii Scandia geniculata *Sonchus asper *Crataegus monogyna Schefflera digitata Stellaria parviflora *Cytisus scoparius *Solanum dulcamara Tetragonia implexicoma Elaeocarpus hookerianus Solanum laciniatum Urtica incisa Fuchsia excorticata Sophora microphylla *Verbascum thapsus Gaultheria antipoda Streblus heterophyllus Wahlenbergia rupestris Griselinia littoralis Teucridium parvifolium Grasses Haloragis erecta subsp. *Ulex europaeus *Agrostis capillaris erecta Urtica ferox Anemanthele lessoniana Hebe salicifolia Dicotyledonous herbs *Anthoxanthum odoratum Helichrysum lanceolatum (including composites) Dichelachne crinita Hoheria angustifolia Acaena juvenca Echinopogon ovatus *Hypericum androsaemum *Anagallis arvensis subsp. Elymus solandri s.s. Kunzea ericoides s.l. arvensis var. arvensis Hierochloe redolens 22 BSO Newsletter 57 July 2009

*Holcus lanatus Ripogonum scandens Dicksonia squarrosa *Dryopteris filix-mas Microlaena avenacea Ferns and Allies Microlaena polynoda Histiopteris incisa Poa colensoi s.l. Asplenium appendiculatum Hymenophyllum flabellatum Poa matthewsii/P. Imbecilla subsp. appendiculatum Hymenophyllum rarum Rytidosperma sp. Asplenium bulbiferum subsp. Hypolepis ambigua *Schedonorus phoenix bulbiferum Lastreopsis glabella Asplenium flabellifolium Lastreopsis microsora Rushes and Sedges agg. Leptolepia novae-zelandiae Apodasmia similis Asplenium flaccidum subsp. Leptopteris Carex forsteri flaccidum hymenophylloides Carex secta Asplenium hookerianum Lycopodium volubile Uncinia banksii Asplenium polyodon Microsorum pustulatum Uncinia uncinata s.l. Blechnum chambersii Pellaea rotundifolia Blechnum colensoi Monocotyledons Polystichum neozelandicum Blechnum discolor (other) subsp. zerophyllum Blechnum fluviatile agg. Polystichum vestitum Astelia fragrans Blechnum montanum Pteridium esculentum Cordyline australis Blechnum novae-zelandiae Pyrrosia elaeagnifolia Dianella nigra Blechnum procerum Trichomanes venosum Libertia ixioides Cyathea dealbata Phormium tenax s.s. Cyathea smithii Pterostylis sp. Dicksonia fibrosa

Above: Detail from “Walking in the woods”. One of the three winners (and Student Prize Runner Up) in the Botanical Society of Otago Photo Competition 2009. Photo by Gretchen Brownstein. July 2009 BSO Newsletter 57 23

Botanical Society of Otago: PO Box 6214, North Dunedin 9059, NZ Patron: Audrey Eagle http://www.botany.otago.ac.nz/bso/

Committee 2009–2010 Chairman: David Lyttle [email protected] Secretary: Allison Knight [email protected] Treasurer: Rebecca James [email protected] Communications: Robyn Bridges [email protected] Program Manager, Trips: Mike Thorsen [email protected] Web & Newsletter editor: David Orlovich [email protected] Committee: John Barkla [email protected] Max Crowe [email protected] Abe Gray [email protected] Tina Summerfield [email protected] Bastow Wilson [email protected]

Please submit copy for next newsletter to David Orlovich by 16 October 2009 This Newsletter was published on 7 July 2009. ISSN 0113-0854

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