NEW ZEALAND NATIVE FLOWERS, CLIMBERS AND GROUND PLANTS.
ARTHROPODIUM
Arthropodium cirratum: Rengarenga - Rengarenga Lily.
Botanical name: Arthropoduim cirratum Common name: Renga renga lily The Rengarenga Lily is a hardy, adaptable garden plant with good form and is a prolific flowerer in spring. It is one of our most useful native plants.
Endemic to New Zealand, it grows in coastal scrub and cliff faces around the North Island and top end of the South Island. I noted that it was growing naturally on Mount Manaia at the Whangarei Heads. It is a hardy garden plant with long and fleshy leaves, forming a solid clump. White to cream flowers with a touch of mauve appear in late November and December but it has a short flowering span. Flowers are held well above the leaves on long stems, and is evergreen. In flower, the dimensions are 70cm x 70cm. It Thrives in most soils in either sun or shade. It is happy as a graceful water-side plant and is a useful accent in the border. Naturally, it is also a hardy coastal plant, and is useful on dry banks. The flowers are good for cutting, lasting well in water. However, its ability to thrive in dry shade that is probably its most desirable quality. It is particularly fine as a groundcover under trees, flourishing even under pines. A. cirratum is not immune to frosts, but flourishes in Northland. The main enemy is slugs and snails, which can shred the leaves. Protect using your favourite anti-slug bait.
Endemic to New Zealand, it grows in coastal scrub and cliff faces around the North Island and top end of the South Island. I noted that it was growing naturally on Mount Manaia at the Whangarei Heads. It is a hardy garden plant with long and fleshy leaves, forming a solid clump. White to cream flowers with a touch of mauve appear in late November and December but it has a short flowering span. Flowers are held well above the leaves on long stems, and is evergreen. In flower, the dimensions are 70cm x 70cm. It Thrives in most soils in either sun or shade. It is happy as a graceful water-side plant and is a useful accent in the border. Naturally, it is also a hardy coastal plant, and is useful on dry banks. The flowers are good for cutting, lasting well in water. However, its ability to thrive in dry shade that is probably its most desirable quality. It is particularly fine as a groundcover under trees, flourishing even under pines. A. cirratum is not immune to frosts, but flourishes in Northland. The main enemy is slugs and snails, which can shred the leaves. Protect using your favourite anti-slug bait.
CORDYLINE.
Cordyline pumilio: Dwarf Cabbage Tree - Pygmy Cabbage Tree - Ti koraha or Ti rauriki (Maori).
BOTANICAL NAME: Cordyline pumilio. Common Name, Dwarf Cabbage tree, Pygmy cabbage tree, Tī koraha or Tī rauriki, the Maori names. It is a narrow-leaved monocotaledon, native to New Zealand. It usually grows up to 1 metre (3 ft) tall. It can be easily missed if not in flower, as its long leaves and can be mistaken for a grass or a sedge. C. pumilio grows in the north of the North Island from North Cape at 34°S to Kawhia and Opotiki at about 38°S, generally under light forest and scrub. It was cultivated by Māori as a source of carbohydrate and used as a relish to sweeten less palatable foods. C. pumilio is the smallest of New Zealand's five native species of Cordyline, the most common being the Cabbage Tree, C. australis. The flower spike appears in November or December and is up to 60cm by 30cm (2ft by 1ft), very open, with small white or bluish-white flowers irregularly scattered along the branches. Photograps taken in the Coronation Reserve, in December 2013.
DISPHYMA.
Disphyma austral subspecies australie: Horokaka (Maori) - New Zealand Ice Plant - Native Ice Plant.
BOTANICAL NAME: Disphyma australe subsp. austral, Common Name, Horokaka, which is the Maori Name, New Zealand Ice Plant, and Native Ice Plant. D. austral belongs to the famile Aizoaceae, and is also known as Mesembryanthemum austral. D. australe subsp. australe is a trailing, succulent herb native to New Zealand. It grows on Three Kings, North and South Islands and Stewart and Chatham Islands. It is a coastal plant and is rarely found inland. Its usual habitat is coastal cliff faces and rocks, estuaries and sandy beaches. Occasionally found in the Waikato on limestone or sandstone cliffs in lowland forest. It is often the only plant growing where seabirds nest. It produces white to deep pink flowers though out the year, but mainly in summer. They are smaller than the wild Ice Plant, Carpobrotus, abot 6cm across. Early Europeans pickled the leaves and the ripe fruit was eaten raw. Maoris treated boils with juices from the leaves. Photographs taken in the Sub-tropical Quarry Gardens, Russell Road, Whangarei.
ELATOSTEMA
Elatostema rugosum : Parataniwha (Maori) - New Zealand Begonia.
BOTANICAL NAME: Elatostema rugosum, commonly known as parataniwha or New Zealand Begonia is a herbaceous ground cover plant that is found only in the North Island of New Zealand.E. rugosum grows up to one metre high in wet, shaded places such as gullies and streamsides. It has long green-purple leaves with prominent veins and a saw-like edge. There is a large area of Parataniwha in the Coronation Reserve, not far up the track from the Quarry Arts entrance, where these photographs were taken. Native to Northland. Two photographs in column sqares show the Parataniwha recovery on the centre ridge of the Coronation Reserve, after the drought of 2013.
HEBE species: Veronica - Koromiko.
BOTANICAL NAME: Hebe - Common names Hebe and Shrubby Veronica. Hebe is a genus of plants native to New Zealand, Rapa in French Polynesia, the Falkland Islands, and South America. It includes about 90 species and is the largest plant genus in New Zealand. Apart from H. rapensis (endemic to Rapa), all species occur in New Zealand. This includes the two species, H. salicifolia and H. elliptica, that have distributions extending to South America. The genus is named after the Greek goddess of youth, Hebe. There are widely diverse foliage and flower forms. Those with the spiked inflorescence of white through pink to purple, are commonly called Veronica, but Veronica is a different genus. Identification of Hebe species is difficult, especially if they are not in flower. The plants range in size from dwarf shrubs to small trees up to 7 metres, and are distributed from coastal to
alpine ecosystems. Large-leaved species are normally found on the coast, in lowland scrub and along forest margins. At higher altitudes smaller-leaved species grow, and in alpine areas there are whipcord species with leaves reduced to thick scales. Hebes are grown in many gardens and public areas; they attract butterflies. Hebes cope with most soil types, and can be
propagated easily from both seed and cuttings. There are many cultivated hybrids, such as Hebe × franciscana.
alpine ecosystems. Large-leaved species are normally found on the coast, in lowland scrub and along forest margins. At higher altitudes smaller-leaved species grow, and in alpine areas there are whipcord species with leaves reduced to thick scales. Hebes are grown in many gardens and public areas; they attract butterflies. Hebes cope with most soil types, and can be
propagated easily from both seed and cuttings. There are many cultivated hybrids, such as Hebe × franciscana.
Hebe stricta: Koromiko.
BOTANICAL NAME; Hebe stricta. Common name Koromico. Koromiko is a 2-3 metre tall shrub with the classic arrangement of Hebe leaves in alternating opposite pairs. The yellow-green leaves are dull not glossy and are 5-10cm long x 2 cm wide, with smooth edges ending in a sharp point. The myriad tiny mauve/white flowers are arranged in a spike rather longer than the leaves and produced near the growing tip to display clearly above the foliage. There is an area around the Pukenui Falls in the A.H.Reed Memorial Kauri Park where Koromiko were so prolific that the stream is called the Wai-koromiko Stream. There are still koromiko growing on the banks.
HYDROCOTYLE.
Hydrocotyle moschata: Hydrocotyle .
BOTANICAL NAME: Hydrocotyle moschata: Common Name - Hydrocotyle A native found in lawns, pastures and open areas throughout New Zealand. Two other species of Hydrocotyle that are native to New Zealand are H. heteromeria, common name - waxweed, and H. microphylla, also called Hydrocotyle., found in water areas. A prostrate, creeping, mat-forming perennial, often found in lawns. the leaves are hairy, almost 'Clubs' shapped (as in playing cards), with a stalk at the centre. the flowers are inconspicuous, tiny, in clusters in the leaf axis. H. moschata is common in Northland. Photographs taken in Bank Street.
LIBERTIA
Libertia ixioides: New Zealand Iris - Mikoikoi - Tukauki (Maori).
BOTANICAL NAME: Libertia ixioides: Common Name, New Zealand Iris. Found throughout New Zealand and is a more common than Libertia grandiflora. It has white flowers in Spring and differs from Libertia grandiflora in that the flowers are amongst the leaves rather than above and the seed pods are bright yellow. The pods remain unopened for 2-3 months. The two upper photographs show L. ixioides growing in the bush in the Coronation Reserve, Whangarei. The two column photographs show L. ixioides in cultivation, at the Old Library gardens.
New Zealand has several species of Libertia, but only L. ixiodes and L. grandiflora are common enough to be seen in the wild, even then, one is more likely to see them in cultivation. Both species are commonly called new Zealand iris, or by the Maori names, Mikoikoi or Tukauki. Both species have a very similar appearance. The foliage is greenish-yellow in densely tufted clumps when growing in an ideal position, however, most of the plants in the bush are small and straggly wit small flower heads. (see Photographs). In L. grandiflora the flower stems tend to be longer than the leaves, so stand tall above the crown of the plant.
New Zealand has several species of Libertia, but only L. ixiodes and L. grandiflora are common enough to be seen in the wild, even then, one is more likely to see them in cultivation. Both species are commonly called new Zealand iris, or by the Maori names, Mikoikoi or Tukauki. Both species have a very similar appearance. The foliage is greenish-yellow in densely tufted clumps when growing in an ideal position, however, most of the plants in the bush are small and straggly wit small flower heads. (see Photographs). In L. grandiflora the flower stems tend to be longer than the leaves, so stand tall above the crown of the plant.
MYOSITIDIUM.
Myositidium hortensis: Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not.
BOTANICAL NAME: Myosotidium hortensia: Common Name - Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not. A large leafed herbaceous plant from the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. It grows to approximately 24 in (60 cm) or more high. The flowers are pale to dark blue, up to 0.7 in (1.7 cm) in diameter. There is also a white form in cultivation. Grows well in Whangarei as a foliage plat. I have yet to see it in flower in Northland. Large photograph taken in Bank Street. Small photograph taken further south.
ORCHIDS
Earina mucronata: Peka-a-waka (Maori).
BOTANICAL NAME: Earina mucronata. Common name, Peka-a-waka. Flowers October - February, and is found throughout New Zealand on trees and rocks, especially in lowland forests. Flowers are cream and yellow to orange. E. mucronata is one of 3 orchid species in this genus that are native to New Zealand. This species flowers during spring and early summer; the peak months are from October to
December. The flowers are produced prolifically on a long branched raceme. The sepals, petals and column are usually white or cream, and the labellum is usually yellow, though white, apricot and orange coloured forms are sometimes encountered. E. mucronata is usually epiphytic but occasionally grows on rocks. Its distribution extends across the North Island, South Island and Stewart Island.(Rakiura) and eastwards to the Chatham Islands.
Photographs taken in the Coronation Reserve, Whangarei, October, 2013.
New Zealand has over 160 species of Native Orchid. The flowers are small. quite beautiful and
delicate. They come in a vast array of colours and forms. Found from the coastline to the alpine herb-fields. NZ Orchids are a much overlooked part of the New Zealand Native Flora.
December. The flowers are produced prolifically on a long branched raceme. The sepals, petals and column are usually white or cream, and the labellum is usually yellow, though white, apricot and orange coloured forms are sometimes encountered. E. mucronata is usually epiphytic but occasionally grows on rocks. Its distribution extends across the North Island, South Island and Stewart Island.(Rakiura) and eastwards to the Chatham Islands.
Photographs taken in the Coronation Reserve, Whangarei, October, 2013.
New Zealand has over 160 species of Native Orchid. The flowers are small. quite beautiful and
delicate. They come in a vast array of colours and forms. Found from the coastline to the alpine herb-fields. NZ Orchids are a much overlooked part of the New Zealand Native Flora.
OXALIS.
Oxalis exilis: Creeping Oxalis - N.Z. Native Oxalis.
BOTANICAL NAME: Oxalis exilis: Common Name - Creeping Oxalis. A New Zealand native Oxalis, indigenous also to Australia and the western Pacific. It is commonly found growing as a weed in Northland, but is native to the Three Kings Islands and all three main Islands. A small, mat-forming plant with tiny yellow flowers, common in lawns, pastures, rocky and stony places. Photographs taken in Cafler Park Whangarei. The large photograph clearly shows the stolons reaching out towards the stony ground at the top of the photographs. It also multiplies from seed. Each leaf is trifoliate, with each leaflet is heart shaped.
N.B. A larger leafed oxalis (O. corniculata) with a larger flower but same growing habit, is not a native.
N.B. A larger leafed oxalis (O. corniculata) with a larger flower but same growing habit, is not a native.
PEPEROMIA
BOTANICAL NAME: Peperomia urvilleana. Common Name, New Zealand pepper plant. Peperomia is a genus of over one thousand, mainly tropical and sub-tropical plants, one species of which is sold in New Zealand as a popular house plant, however, New Zealand has two native species of Peperomia, P. tetraphylla, which is not common, but is found in limited parts of the North island, and P. urvilleana, which is more common and is found in the Kermadec islands and throughout the lowland North Island forests. in the South Island it is found in scattered areas from Nelson/Marlborough to Westport. P tetraphylla (four-leaved Peperomia) is more likely to be growing as an epiphyte, and has a more creeping and open habit that P urvilleana. P urvilleana grows in the Northland bush in rocky areas, or on fallen trees. It is mostly hidden beneath other vegetation. Photographs were taken in the Raumanga bush on the Raumanga Falls Walkway, October, 2013.
RIPOGONUM.
Ripogonum scandens: Common Name - Supplehack.
BOTANICAL NAME: Ripogonum scandens: Common Name - Sipplejack. A climbing native plant in a genus of flowering plants confined to eastern Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. In the family Ripogonaceae (sometimes Rhipogonaceae). Most species of Ripogonum are woody vines. Rope-like vines wrap around trees in the bush, generally only showing leaf on the tree tops or on the ground as a ground cover. Photographs taken in the Coronation Reserve, Whangarei.
RUBUS.
Rubus cissoids: Tataramoa (Maori) - Bush Lawyer.
BOTANICAL NAME: Rubus cissoides. Common Name Bush Lawyer or Tataramoa (Maori). A genus of blackberry-like vines that are found in New Zealand, many of them rampant forest vines. Tātaramoa or bush lawyer has hooked thorns that snag clothing and rip or prick the skin. The colloquial English name is often said to have been given because once this thorny plant becomes attached to you it will not let you go until it has drawn blood. In New Zealand the thorny vine is best known as bush lawyer. Found throughout the country up to 1000m, the plant has hand-shaped leaves with three to five toothed 'fingers', white flowers and a yellowish-red fruit. The berry is shaped like a small blackberry and was once used by early Europeans to make jams and jellies. But the plant's most noticeable feature is its thorns. The backward-pointing prickles on the stems help the vine climb to the open canopy of a forest but also snare unwary trampers who stray from the track. You'll immediately know bush lawyer when you encounter it as the thorns will painfully scrape across your bare thighs or arms, quickly drawing blood. And, like any good lawyer, once it gets a hold of you, it doesn't let go easily.
TECOMANTHE
BOTANICAL NAME: Tecomanthe speciosa - A solitary plant of Tecomanthe speciosa or the Three Kings Vine was first discovered on the Three Kings Islands, 55 km off the northern tip of New Zealand, during a scientific survey in 1945. No other specimens have ever been found in the
wild. The plant was propogated from and specimens sent to government and local body nurseries. It was successfully grown, one of which was in the Auckland City Council's Domain Nursery in the 1960s, and eventually plants were distributed to commercial nurserymen. Tecomanthe is a
tropical genus not otherwise represented in New Zealand. Four other species of Tecomanthe occur in Queensland, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Tecomanthe speciosa is a vigorous twining climber growing up to 10 metres in height. The glossy, thick compound leaves consist of up to five leaflets. In autumn or early winter it bears long cream-coloured tubular flowers that emerge
directly from the stem in large clusters. The flowers appear to be adapted to be pollinated by bats, despite the fact that bats are not part of the
present-day fauna of the Three Kings Islands (though they may once have been present). Nevertheless, the flowers of plants growing in cultivation are readily pollinated by a large number of native and exotic birds. Pictures show the vine growuing over the wall of the new library in Whangarei
wild. The plant was propogated from and specimens sent to government and local body nurseries. It was successfully grown, one of which was in the Auckland City Council's Domain Nursery in the 1960s, and eventually plants were distributed to commercial nurserymen. Tecomanthe is a
tropical genus not otherwise represented in New Zealand. Four other species of Tecomanthe occur in Queensland, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Tecomanthe speciosa is a vigorous twining climber growing up to 10 metres in height. The glossy, thick compound leaves consist of up to five leaflets. In autumn or early winter it bears long cream-coloured tubular flowers that emerge
directly from the stem in large clusters. The flowers appear to be adapted to be pollinated by bats, despite the fact that bats are not part of the
present-day fauna of the Three Kings Islands (though they may once have been present). Nevertheless, the flowers of plants growing in cultivation are readily pollinated by a large number of native and exotic birds. Pictures show the vine growuing over the wall of the new library in Whangarei
TYPHA
Typha orientalis: Raupo (Maori) - bulrush.
BOTANICAL NAME: Typha orientalis. Common name bulrush or Raupo (Maori) Typha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae. The genus has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but is found throughout most of New Zealand in wetlands or streams. These plants have many common names. They may be known in British English as bulrush, or reedmace, in Australia as cumbungi or bulrush, and in New Zealand as raupo.
Photographs were taken in the reserve at Onerahi and at the Quarry Arts Centre bridge in Whangarei.
Photographs were taken in the reserve at Onerahi and at the Quarry Arts Centre bridge in Whangarei.
XERONEMA
Xeronema callistemon: Poor Knights Lilly.
BOTANICAL NAME: Xeronema callistemon: Common Name Poor Knights Lilly. A species of flowering plant endemic to the Poor Knights Islands and Taranga Island in the north of New Zealand. It was discovered in 1924. The plant was originally listed as a vulnerabe species in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Plants, but with commercial nursery cultivation, it has now become widely distributed throughout the world in both botanical gardens and private areas.
The common name of the plant originates from the Poor Knights Islands in the North of New Zealand on which it was discovered. The green stems of X. callistemon start growing vertically. They then turn sideways, showing red flowers tipped with orange pollen and resemble a giant bottlebrush or toothbrush. The plant is about 1 m (3 ft.) tall and 1–4 m (3–12 ft.) wide. X. callistemon usually grows on sea cliffs and rocky outcrops and sometimes in forest. It requires much water and is pollinated by birds and butterflies. If its seed falls on a nearby tree, such as Metrosideros excelsa, then it may grow as an epiphyte on it. The species has no obvious natural enemies and was listed as vulnerable because it grows naturally only on two islands. These islands are protected by the New Zealand Government as nature reserves and have a limited access. A related species, Xeronema moorei, is found on the islands of New
Caledonia, 1500 km to the northwest. Plants grow from fresh falling seeds. Although they germinate easily, it might take 10–15 years for them to grow into the flowering size. They flower between September and December, peaking in October. Photographs were taken in the Sub-Tropical Gardens in Whangarei.
The common name of the plant originates from the Poor Knights Islands in the North of New Zealand on which it was discovered. The green stems of X. callistemon start growing vertically. They then turn sideways, showing red flowers tipped with orange pollen and resemble a giant bottlebrush or toothbrush. The plant is about 1 m (3 ft.) tall and 1–4 m (3–12 ft.) wide. X. callistemon usually grows on sea cliffs and rocky outcrops and sometimes in forest. It requires much water and is pollinated by birds and butterflies. If its seed falls on a nearby tree, such as Metrosideros excelsa, then it may grow as an epiphyte on it. The species has no obvious natural enemies and was listed as vulnerable because it grows naturally only on two islands. These islands are protected by the New Zealand Government as nature reserves and have a limited access. A related species, Xeronema moorei, is found on the islands of New
Caledonia, 1500 km to the northwest. Plants grow from fresh falling seeds. Although they germinate easily, it might take 10–15 years for them to grow into the flowering size. They flower between September and December, peaking in October. Photographs were taken in the Sub-Tropical Gardens in Whangarei.