Exocarpos bidwillii, Dumblane Track, Feb. 2013, © Kay Jackson

Exocarpos bidwillii, Dumblane Track, Feb. 2013, © Kay Jackson

Schizaea dichotoma, Brattys Bush Scenic Reserve, Northland,  October 2018, © Don Pittham

Schizaea dichotoma, Brattys Bush Scenic Reserve, Northland, October 2018, © Don Pittham

Maori onion, Bulbinella sp. © Andy Macdonald

Maori onion, Bulbinella sp. © Andy Macdonald

Myosotis macrantha, Horseshoe Basin, Mt Arthur, January 2011, © Jane Connor

Myosotis macrantha, Horseshoe Basin, Mt Arthur, January 2011, © Jane Connor

Thelymitra carnea , Lake Ohia, Northland, October 2018,  © Don Pittham

Thelymitra carnea , Lake Ohia, Northland, October 2018, © Don Pittham

Haastia sinclairii, Mt Robert, December 2018, © Uta Purcell

Haastia sinclairii, Mt Robert, December 2018, © Uta Purcell

Te Tauihu native plant group

Do you want to know more about native plants of the top of the South Island and beyond? Nelson Botanical Society welcomes anyone with an interest in our beautiful and fascinating indigenous plants and fungi –– from complete beginners to those with knowledge to share. 

Our members include expert botanists and other enthusiasts who are generous with their knowledge and can help you learn how to identify native plants. Botanical Society field trips and camps are wonderful opportunities to explore the region and learn about the local flora. No previous botanical knowledge is necessary. 


Trips, camps & meetings

We have monthly field trips and occasional multi-day expeditions in the Northwest Nelson area and further afield. During the cooler months, we get together once a month, on a Monday evening, to hear speakers on interesting topics. Read more

Resources

  • Newsletters with trip reports and contributions from members

  • Links for plant identification, useful sites and other organisations

  • Handy identification summaries

  • Library books available to borrow

  • Go to Resources page

How to join

Come along to one of our trips or meetings, or contact us. More information  

What’s coming up?

Sunday 21 July
Field trip:
Grampians
Leader: Chris Ecroyd
Details to come

Monday 22 July
Speakers:
Leon Perrie and Lara Shepherd
Subject: Aciphylla
Details to come

Sunday 18 August
Field trip:
Fern covenants Maori Pā Road
Leader/organiser: Fini Shaw
Details to come

Monday 19 August
Speaker:
Greg Napp
Subject: Golden Bay plants
Details to come

 

New book on Celmisia

Mountain Daisies: A guide to Celmisia in Aotearoa New Zealand

by Jane Gosden


Getting to grips with the iconic and diverse (mostly) alpine genus Celmisia – the third largest in the flora of Aotearoa/New Zealand – can be a challenge. This comprehensively illustrated guide makes it easy to identify species, subspecies and varieties.

Aimed at everyone with an interest in our alpine plants, this handy field guide takes a novel approach. Following an informative introduction, the first section identifies 17 broad groups based on plant form and leaf characteristics that can be seen in the field without magnification.

The second section applies more detailed criteria to distinguish the species and subspecies within these groups. Often the distinguishing feature may be its distribution, and maps showing the geographical range could provide a quick identification.

Species-by-species descriptions (including varieties, and with separate entries for subspecies) make up the bulk of the book. With over 900 photographs, most features described in the text are illustrated.

The vexed questions of hybrids, unnamed entities and challenging lookalikes are also addressed.

For more information and to order your copy: https://www.manukapress.co.nz/mountaindaisies.html

You might be interested in . . .

Alpine flora of Nelson Lakes National Park—my first encounter with giant vegetable sheep

by Melissa Hutchison

An interesting article in the NZPCN newsletter on the alpine flora in our home territory.

https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/site/assets/files/0/75/143/trilepidea_october_2023_final.pdf