jack4's Favorites

A puzzle - possibly a relict from the early settlement of New Zealand phase by the ancestors of Maori (as this plant was used widely by Polynesians for scent, and bedding material, known as 'aretu the precursor in New Zealand for the name karetu (Hierochloe spp.)) or plants are derived from accidental inclusion in grass seed sown onto Motutapu, seed which may have come from Australia where Cymbopogon refractus is also present (there are other Australian grasses known from Motutapu, Rakino and Motukorea which could only have come to New Zealand in this way and support this suggestion).

The posting shown here is of a small population (occupying an area of c. 20 x 10 m) of Cymbopogon discovered in November 2016 on steep cliffs within a major archaeological site on Motutapu. So far this is the only known New Zealand occurrence of this species.

At Launch Bay, Motutapu Cymbopogon grows on steep greywacke cliff faces and associated skeletal soils with Microlaena stipoides, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Bothriochloa macra (a common Australia grass naturalized in northern New Zealand), Muehlenbeckia complexa var. complexa, M. australis x M. complexa var. complexa, Araujia sericifera, Cheilanthes sieberi and Geranium gardneri.

The status of this plant is being investigated, as it may be of ethnobotanical significance or an accidental introduction. This grass is unlikely to be indigenous.

Leaves aromatic, smelling faintly of lemons when crushed. Plants flowering and seeding, Seedlings uncommon.

New Zealand botanists please keep an eye out for this grass. It would be helpful to find out if it occurs elsewhere in our country.

Voucher: P.J. de Lange 13420 & S.A. Heiss-Dunlop, AK 363578, CHR, F, K, NZFRI, WELT

I understand that this was the first confirmed sighting of a short-tailed bat at this site and it was one of the first photographs confirming that this bat species visited and pollinated Dactylanthus flowers. See Ecroyd, C.E. 1996. The ecology of Dactylanthus taylorii and threats to its survival. N. Z. J. of Ecology, 20(1):81-100. (Available online).

Local on verge with Anthemis cotula L., Erigeron sumatrensis Retz., Erodium moschatum (L.) L”Hér., Lotus pedunculatus Cav., Plantago lanceolata L., Rumex L. sp. and Trifolium pratense L. Keys out:
Stolons absent, sepals reflexed, flowers more than 5 mm diam, achenes with spines or tubercles, achenes 2–3 mm long with short blunt tubercles on the lateral faces, and a short beak.
Specimen collected.
https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Ranunculus

syn Molloybas cryptanthus.

Not uncommon, but inately difficult to locate due to flowering in the sub-litter zone. Was initally observed as seed capsules on extended scapes and site marked.This method is recommended.
Minor sepal damaged to subject due to litter removal

6 plants on a slightly raised area in Apodasmia wetland showing signs of progression towards coastal forest, with several juvenile pohutukawa, Machaerina sinclairii, rewarewa and Metrosideros perforata nearby.

Drosera (see other observation from today) found growing among oi oi with Drosera capensis and another as yet unidentified species (see other observation from today). Location only partially accurate, need to review this as the app didn't log it but have GPS coords.

What looks like a kiwi carcass spotted washed up on Te Arai beach. Did not have a ring (or a head). Possibly washed up from Hen and Chicken Islands? Can anyone confirm species ID from qhat they can see?

See Allan Herbarium CHR 666705, 705A, and B.

Lots of wild seedlings! there were two large adults in different places, one growing in amoungst another species of vine and appears to have possibly arrived with it by accident!? and the other a smaller adult about 20m away coming out from under an old estatablished chocolate vine on a fence, it definitely looks wild and probably is a progeny of the other adult. :o there are also about half a dozen smaller adults also flowering. the botanic gardens plant lady didn't know what it is and said they didn't plant it! adult pics attached.

This is not likely the name suggested, but I have chosen it so that it can be searched. Much of the flower fits the T. hiemalis description. The plant itself does not however. Two leaves per flowering stem which appear to be attached low or below the surface so are not bracts. I will do my best to describe. Leaves (2) not uniform, erect, linear, (40)70-150mm long, 5-8mm wide, sheathing at base, shallow channeled, apex acute to acuminate. Flower solitary, terminal, appears nestled between leaves then extends away as bud matures and flower opens. Flowers up to 45mm diameter, spreading, segments dark to pale blue, mauve, pink, spotted (1 noted) darker blue, open continually (not closing at night). Sepals, petals and labellum alike, narrowly-ovate, subacute, apex apiculate-acuminate. Sepals slightly larger 7-8mm x 21-22mm, petals and labellum 6-7 x 18-19mm. Column erect, 8mm, white to pale pink, apex hooded, deeply cleft. Column-arms falcate, erect above post anther lobe, upper two thirds sparcely covered in white cilia. Post anther lobe over-topping anther, red-brown above middle and yellow on tuberculate margin, deeply cleft, the lobe halves appears in-rolled above the anther.

Two long-tail bat (Chalinobus tuberculatus) passes recorded using batbox III D Bat detector set on 40kHz (output recorded with phone microphone). By the bush edge at Pukenui Forest flying over a large artificial pond.

Long tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculata) recording in a cave in Windy Canyon - recorded using DoC AR4 Acoustic Recorder.

In spectrograms (see above) of search phase calls, individual pulses are “J” shaped, with frequencies sweeping down from 80 to 35 kHz. The maximum power in pulses is between 35 and 40 kHz. The Pulse Repetition Rate is much slower (4-10 per sec.) and the Pulse Lengths are longer (20–40 milliseconds) than in short-tailed bats.

Blockhouse Bay Recreational Reserve, outside the office of the Whau River Catchment Trust. Heavily infecting new growth on a group of small pohutukawa plants in root trainers, apparently sourced from Paremoremo Prison.

Poroporo, what I suppose could be called Solanum aviculare var. albiflorum. Growing above stream in small area unable to be reached by cattle. Under story of natural area consisting of amazing semi coastal podocarp broadleaf forest (dispersed with amazing kowhai), which has been completely browsed. Single plant noted. Amazing white flowers. Very healthy looking plant. As far as I am aware one of the first observations in the Ecological District.

Under constant threat from Asparagus scandens. Hopefully I can return to collect some fruit.

Photos updated 12/12/18 to show flowers.

Growing on track edge in gumland/swampy area. Within approx 0-10m of observations http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/4734670, http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/4734669 and approx 500m from http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/4734667. I chose to walk the track hoping to find this species in this locality. One flower just open enough to get an ID. First open flower on stem. Observed other flowers emerging also. First time I have observed this species. Amazing colour which seemed to change from blue to purple in the different light. Interesting that the pattern on the petals and sepals extended onto the column arms.

Growing on edge of track emerging through carpets of moss. Amazing colour, a blue some where between T. aemula and T. tholiformis. Very distinctive orange top of column. Not sure if this makes it T. "orange top".

This group of specimens really caught my eye. As the general area was mainly dominated by T. pulchella (that's what I thought it was originally). A closer look at the column makes me think T. pauciflora or T. longiflia. I find it a bit confusing as the NZNOG website and book have T. x dentata as two different combinations? Either way I think this may be T. x dentata?

Growing on road edge on exposed clay soil beneath regenerating bad land species. As far as I am aware this is the only known recorded site of this species on GBI. This specimen is approx. 20 m from original observation by Jeremy Warden in 2010.

Small patch growing on bare clay soil associated with Kunzea sp. leptospermum sp., Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. ligustrifolium and Leucopogon fasciculata. Found whilst turning over garden bed. Interesting that this area was slightly excavated at this time last year. First time I have observed this species on GBI.