Syn Rut Riding with the Rooters - 12-14 November 2004

Organised by the International Plant Propagators Society, this field trip was attended by about 48 people including Dunedin Botanic Garden staff Alice Lloyd-Fitt, Tom Myers and myself. The tour guides were Steve Newell (Jandalman Seed Co) and Lester Davey (Matai Nursery, Waimate).

Day 1 - Friday 12 November

After setting off from Dunedin we were required to return about 15 minutes later as Tom had left his boots behind. Fearing we would miss the rendezvous with the group there were a few quick phone calls to explain our impending late arrival to the organisers. Fortunately we still arrived at the meeting place in Kurow in good time.

The itinerary for the day was to visit Awakino ski field on Mt Bitterness (St Marys Range) then travel over Danseys Pass and on to Naseby.

Located in North Otago, Awakino ski field is not far from Kurow up a private 4WD access road maintained by the Waitaki Ski Club. This is a sub-alpine area where we were able to see a number of plants in their rocky, scree habitats. There were also a couple of flushes (wet habitats) formed by snowmelt. The group spent a little over an hour wandering around the area above the ski lifts where we observed many plants including Leucogenes grandiceps, Phyllachne colensoi, Chionohebe densifolia, a diminutive plant with a large white flower, Celmisia gracilenta also in flower and a few different Epilobium and Ranunculus species. Another plant observed was Psychrophila obtusa (syn Caltha obtusa) a plant inhabiting wet areas and one of the first spring flowering alpines to flower. It was most prolific in this area and flowering plants were even seen under the water in places. Due to time restrictions we didn’t climb far up the scree slopes where Ranunculus haastii can be found but we did get to the point where Aciphylla dobsonii occurs and here we saw a wonderful specimen with the old flowering stems from the previous season still in evidence. In addition to the plants there were plenty of geckos on the rocks around the buildings at the base of the ski lifts.

From Awakino ski field we travelled back to Kurow and on to Duntroon where we turned off SH83 to go over the Danseys Pass to Kyeburn and then Naseby. As it was quite cloudy at the top of the pass we only stopped once for a closer look at an Astelia with purple margins that had been spotted by a keen eyed propagator. Other plants observed in this moist herbfield habitat included Aciphylla aurea, Geranium sessiliflorum, Gaultheria and a Brachyglottis tentatively identified as B. bellidioides.

After a stop at the Danseys Pass hotel to get rid of the dust it was a relatively quick trip to the historic town of Naseby where we spent the night.

Day 2 - Saturday 13 November

On the second day we travelled from Naseby through Ranfurly, Patearoa then to the Styx where we accessed the Rock and Pillar Range via the Dunstan trail. At the signpost to the summit we left the trail to go rut riding to the top, just as well the weather hadn’t been too wet! We stopped below McPhees Rock and walked up to the trig station for a packed lunch then drove a bit further up before stopping to go for a walk down a hollow with a snow bank (which was the site of a really good snow fight). The habitats here were alpine herb field and alpine flush which contained a great diversity of plants such as Aciphylla hectorii, Phyllachne colensoi and Hebe odora. Ranunculus maculatus and R. enysii were identified but there was great variety in the Ranunculus species seen. Among the Celmisia species present were C. viscosa, C. argentea, C. prorepens and C. sessiliflora. A large number of native gentians were emerging too promising a pretty picture in the next few weeks.

From this spot we went on towards the top where we stopped the vehicles once more for a closer look. We went walking around the side of the hill and over another snow bank between a couple of ridges. Steve Newall explained that this was a likely habitat for Celmisia haastii var. tomentosa, a variety confined to the Rock and Pillar Range, however we didn’t see any. We did observe Anisotome imbricata in flower, Hectorella caespitosa, Phyllachne rubra and Celmisia ramulosa all making cushions of varying sizes and also a prostrate Coprosma sp and a couple of whipcord Hebe species, one identified as H. poppelwellii. The prolific Psychrophila obtusa was once more observed in flower this time tucked right in under the melting snow bank.

From here we went back down the mountain to regroup at the Patearoa Hotel before saying goodbye to some of our travelling companions and heading back to Naseby for a really good nights sleep.

Although much of what we saw wasn’t quite in flower at the time this trip was very worthwhile and I would recommend these places to anyone with an interest in our native flora or even just looking for a spectacular view. Thanks IPPS.

Written by Shirley Stuart
Native Collection Curator
DUnedin Botanic Garden