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New Zealand Mountain Flora. Preface.
I can recall the time when my idea of a mountain was of huge rocks piled up wedged together, dreary to behold and impossible to climb.
In those days our splendid Alpine ranges were known only to a few hardy explorers, now they are visited by thousands. Great was my surprise when first I realized that the mountains were not all storm swept, snow-clad giant rocks and stones, but that their rugged sides were often clothed with vegetation, grass, moss, tiny flowers and hardy shrubs, while in sheltered places and valleys a more luxuriant growth springs up, larger flowers and magnificent leaves charm the eye and cause one to marvel how they can exist on such scanty soil; a botanist would understand, but how few of us are botanists, and even when described in plain language a vivid imagination only could picture them as they are.
During a visit to Taranaki I went to the Egmont ranges and found a number of flowers, Ourisia macrophilla, Anthericum Hookeri, Everlastings and others. I camped for five days at the foot of Mount Egmont.
I have camped on the Dun Mountain line and found many interesting plants on and near the mineral belt. Also at a lovely mountain lake where Alpine Flora abounded. Thus year by year the number and variety of specimens had gone on increasing until it seemed a pity that such a collection should be hidden away in portfolios known only to a few especially as yet, no one has published drawings devoted entirely to New Zealand Mountain Flowers. With this idea I have worked for some years, and have now I hope, completed sufficient illustrations to be of interest to those who love to explore the mountain regions, and to remind them of flowers they may have passed on their way, and to those also who never expect to behold these children of the mists and snows in their native haunts.
My sincere thanks are due to many kind friends who have sent me specimens of Alpine and Sub-Alpine species – the late Professor Kirk, Messrs R.I. Kingsley, D.W. Bryant, W. Townson, F.G. Gibbs, and others.
It flourishes by mountain streams and moist gullies, and ascends from 2000 to 4000 feet. “Near the Hermitage and open glades of Mt. Cook are masses of these lovely flowers.” This and Ranunculus Traversii are the only known Ranunculi with peltate leaves. Middle Island, Milford Sound, Southern Alps, Lyall and Otago. “Water Lily” of the shepherds.
Ourisia Macrophylla I found growing on Mount Egmont and the ranges. It has also been found on the Ruahine range and Upper Wairau. The plant from which these flowers were drawn was about three feet in height. First discovered by Dieffenbach.
Veronica buxifolia. An abundant shrub on the mountain ranges of the North and South Island. Alt. 2000 to 4000 ft. but descends to sea-level in Stewart Island and George Sound.
1. O Nitida, a small tree abundant throughout the Northern and Middle Islands, Tongariro, Mount Egmont, Ruahine and Nelson mountain ranges. Alt. 4000.
Veronica.
2. The Veronica in New Zealand is remarkable for the variety and beauty of its species, growing frequently on the edge of the forest of mountain ranges. Veronica laevis, a small hardy plant with numerous delicate white flowers.
The mountain looked down from her realm of snow / On the stately forest that grew below / With ferns and blossoms sweet // She cried to the forest, “Oh, trees come higher / I would that your branches and leaves were nigher / A mantle across my feet.” // Then the forest trembled and whispered low / We fear the might of the wind and the snow / Would doom us to death or retreat. // With a timid step went the little flowers / But the mountain sent down her vapoury showers / And wrapped them round. // They broidered her robe as with silken sheen / They smiled up to Heaven the rocks between / And bloomed on their vantage ground.
Erect, branched from 2 – 3 feet high, bearing numerous golden yellow flowers. First discovered by Dieffenbach.
Lycopodium billardieri. L. Scariosum – both from Dun Mt.
Annotation in pencil: What is the golden flower?
The mountain looks down on the river, / And the river flows on to the sea / In their grandeur and beauty for ever / As long as this planet shall be. // But the forest that grew by the river, / And the flowers on the mountain that bloomed / Will they gladden our hearts for ever / Or pass like a race that is doomed. [pencilled in question mark]
1. Ligusticum intermedium, from Milford Sound.
2. Ligusticum aromaticum, from the Dun Mountain, Nelson
3. Ligusticum piliferum.
4. _________ (in pencil) Mount Arthur.
Annotation in pencil: ? Geum parviflorum see Plate 15
The Edelweiss. / Enwrapped in garments soft and warm, / As robes if eider down, / And velvet caps, all starred with gold, / Serve for a regal crown. // Straight to the skies their upward gaze / Unchecked, unblenched they turn, / As if to reach some loftier plane / These gentle flowers yearn.
2 .Mount Patriarch.
1. Senecio Lyallii, a handsome plant abundant on the Alpine ranges of the Middle Island. Flowers usually bright yellow. 2. Ranunculus insignis.
1. Veronica macrantha, a short erect shrub with pure white flowers and glossy leaves, ascending rom 2500 – 5000t. Southern Alps and Nelson mountain ranges 2. Geum uniflora. Pink, usually white. 3. Small trees and flowers on mountain slopes.
“Diciduous at and above 3000 ft. but evergreen below that level. (Hooker)”
I found these beautiful trees in full bloom at Milford and George Sound early in January, and one small tree white with lowers at Lake Rotoiti (Nelson) at the end of January. The leaves and flowers are sometimes larger than those drawn. Maori name- Whauwhau.
Snow-berries. Oh, hardy, modest snow-berries, / So close to earth ye grow / Amid the yellow lycopod, / And harebells bending low. // Ye gladden all who on thee gaze / Just as a friendly smile / Will cheer the toilers’ upward path / And shorten many a mile.
I found a number of plants growing along the shores of Lake Rotoiti, Nelson district. Geum parviflorum is a much smaller plant, flowers yellow, sometimes white. Alt. 2000 to 5000 feet.
Let us camp on the hill-side / The valley below / The mountains afar / With their clouds and their snow. // The blue sky above us / The stream flowing near / With our pipe and our dog, / And our comrade so dear. // We’ll dream that the way / Unto Paradise lies / Where yonder green hill / Meets the clear shining skies.
Speak to me, mountain hoary, / Tell me thine old world story / The secret of thy birth. / Say in what ages past / Thy giant rocks were cast / Upon this trembling earth. / Did’st thou from atoms rise / To greet the morning skies / A form of strength and might / While earth in darkness reigned / E’er sun or moon had deigned / To shed their wondrous light.
2. Senicio lautus, a variable branched herb ascending the mountains to 6000 ft.
3. Geum albiflorum.
4. Lake Rotoiti (Nelson).
1. Thelymitra uniflora, from the Maungatepu. 2. Thelymitra pulchella. 3. Myosotis Monroi. There are many varieties of forget-me-nots in New Zealand, white, blue, pale and bright yellow. 4. Mt. Nugget
The Spear-grass. / A warrior bold is the spear-grass straight / He thrusts out his lance with a laugh elate / Let no one pass by for unhappy the fate / Of those who discover my prickles too late / Ho, Ho, laughed the spear-grass bold.
Rosulatum. 1. A most singular plant growing among the rocks and dry shingle slopes on the mountain in the form of a rosette of dark olive leaves, in the centre of which is a circle of pure white sweet-scented flowers. Middle Island, Alt. 3000 to 6500 ft. Wairau Valley, Mount Torlesse and others.
Notothlaspi Australe. 2. Differing from Rosulatum, having numerous clusters of flowers. Abundant on Nelson mountain ranges from 2500 to 5000 ft.
Flowers white, from 1 ½ – 3 inches in diameter. It is often called the leather plant of the colonist.