Prumnopitys taxifolius (Matai)
Ship Creek, Westland
Roaring Billy Falls, Mt Aspiring NP
Matai is a common and beautiful forest tree. It is very similar to its close cousin, Miro, and is described along with that species in This beautiful podocarp is described in the Flora of the Catlins & Canterbury section of the site.
close-up, showing curved leaves and branch tips, Mount Aspiring NP
close-up, showing curved leaves and branch tips, Mount Aspiring NP
Pectinopitys ferruginea (syn. Prumnopitys ferruginea) (Miro)
Lake Matheson, Westland
Miro is described in the Flora of the Catlins & Canterbury section of the site.
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (Kahikatea)
Ship Creek, Westland
The coastal swamps in this part of New Zealand are a stronghold of this stately tree, which grows taller than any other native species - as much as 50m. Old Kahikateas are ecosystems in themselves, often festooned with diverse epiphytes, mosses and liverworts.
Kahikateas can be recognised by its habitat, grey, flaky bark and its small, scale-like leaves which lie flat against the stems.
Kahikateas can be recognised by its habitat, grey, flaky bark and its small, scale-like leaves which lie flat against the stems.
Halocarpus bidwillii (Bog Pine)
Ship Creek, Westland
This species is described in the Flora of Fiordland NP section of the site.
Podocarpus laetus (syn. Podocarpus hallii) (Hall's Totara)
Mt Cook NP
Also called the Thin-bark Totara, the peeling, thin, pale brown bark is the best way to distinguish this species from the 'standard' Totara, although that species does not occur in Mt Cook NP, where these photos were taken. P.totara also has narrower, less sharply-pointed leaves and different leaf buds.
Nationally, this species occurs across the country.
Nationally, this species occurs across the country.
Metrosideros umbellata (Southern Rata)
Ship Creek, Westland
Southern Rata is described in the Flora of Stewart Island section of the site.
Plagianthus regius (Lowland Ribbonwood)
Fox Glacier, Westland
New Zealand's largest deciduous tree, this beautiful, graceful species is widespread in lowland forests throughout New Zealand. It can be identified by its birch-like leaves (the species was formerly called P.betulinus). The ones shown here are adult leaves - juvenile Ribbonwoods have smaller, rounder leaves and densely-tangled branches.
Cordyline australis (Cabbage Tree)
Ship Creek, Westland
This common species is described in the Flora of Stewart Island section of the site.
Olearia arborescens
Fox Glacier, Westland
This lovely species is described in the Flora of the northern South Island section of the site.
Olearia ilicifolia (Mountain Holly)
Lake Matheson, Westland
This widespread shrub is instantly recognisable by its prickly glaucous grey-green foliage. It is often seen in sunny, disturbed habitats. O.ilicifolia can be seen througout new Zealand.
Pseudowintera colorata (Horopito)
Mt Aspiring NP (both photos)
Common in cool forests in the South Island, Horopito is an easy plant to recognise, with its purple-blotched leaves (the underside of the leaves have no blotches, however). Superficially, it can resemble Mapau (Myrsine australis) - see below - but that species has leaves with undulating margins and bright red branchlets.
Horopito is often a shrub but can grow into a small tree.
Horopito is often a shrub but can grow into a small tree.
Coprosma lucida (probably)
Lake Matheson, Westland
Text coming soon!
Coprosma sp (propinqua var.latiuscula probably)
Ship Creek, Westland
Text coming soon!
Coprosma pseudocuneata
Mt Cook NP
Widespread across New Zealand, this Coprosma grows as an upright, dense shrub with crowded clusters of narrow dark green leaves. Its red or orange (usually) fruits help to distinguish it from other similar small-leaved species.
Gaultheria rupestris
Fox Glacier, Westland
One of five New Zealand species of Gaultheria, G.rupestris is the largest-growing (up to 3 metres) and is a species of disturbed, open habitats. It can be recognised by its relatively long, pointed leaves with small, sharp teeth.
G.rupestris has a stronghold in this part of New Zealand, where it enjoys the temperate, wet climate.
G.rupestris has a stronghold in this part of New Zealand, where it enjoys the temperate, wet climate.
Hebe salicifolia (Koromiko)
Franz Josef Glacier, Westland
The long flowers spikes and willow-like (hence the scientific name) leaves of this shrub make it one of the easiest Hebes to identify. The leaves are characteristically toothed, like many shrubby Hebe species.
Myrsine australis (Mapau)
Lake Matheson, Westland
Found across nearly all New Zealand, Mapau is a forest plant, where it grows as a shrub or small tree beneath the main canopy. The leaves have disntinctive, undulating margins and often blotched red or purple. The petioles and stems are also purple.
Like many New Zealand plants, male and female flowers occur on separate plants.
Like many New Zealand plants, male and female flowers occur on separate plants.
Carmichaelia arborea (syn. Carmichaelia grandiflora)
Fox Glacier, Westland
Carmichaelia is a diverse genus of quite similar-looking, largely-leafless pea-flowered shrubs. Different references accept different species, or relegate them to varietal status. The excellent 'Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand' by Wilson & Galloway recognises only three separate species, while the current (2022) NZPCN treatment recognises twenty-four.
C.arborea is one of the commonest species, endemic to the western half of the South Island. It inhabits a variety of disturbed habitats, such as glacial moraine (as shown here) and can be recognised by its largely white flowers.
C.arborea is one of the commonest species, endemic to the western half of the South Island. It inhabits a variety of disturbed habitats, such as glacial moraine (as shown here) and can be recognised by its largely white flowers.
Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka)
Ship Creek, Westland
Manuka is described in the Flora of the Catlins and Canterbury section of the site.
Parahebe lyallii
Fox Glacier, Westland
Endemic to the South Island, but very widespread, this mat-forming small shrub is a typical plant of bare, stony areas (it was growing in glacial moraine in these photos). The flowers on this plant are very pale, but more intense pink forms are not uncommon.
Nertera villosa
Lake Matheson, Westland
Nerteras are small, creeping herbaceous relatives of Coprosmas and are common in damp forests. The hairy, short leaves identify this as one of three similar species: N.dichondrifolia, N.villosa or N.ciliata. Distinguishing them can be tricky, as characters of the leaf hairs are important. The first species is almost restricted to the North Island and doesn't occur this far south. N.villosa has long, straight leaf hairs, while N.ciliata has short, curved hairs and smaller leaves. In the latter species, the hairs are mostly on the leaf margins and many leaves appear almost hairless.
N.villosa widespread in moist forests throughout New Zealand.
N.villosa widespread in moist forests throughout New Zealand.
Uncinia sp
Fox Glacier, Westland
Text coming soon!
Carex sp
Lake Matheson, Westland
Text coming soon!
Ficinia spiralis (Pingao)
Ship Creek, Westland
Text coming soon!
Peraxilla colensoi
Haast Pass
A common parasite of beech trees (as shown here), this mistletoe is very similar to P.tetrapetala (see below), with both bearing beautiful crimson flowers in the first half of summer. It can be distinguished from the latter by its larger leaves and more dense flower heads, which occur in groups of 3 to 10 - those of P.tetrapetala are often single and never in large groups.
Peraxilla tetrapetala
Monro Beach, Westland
This species is described (with much clearer photos) in the Flora of Fiordland section of the site.
Ascarina lucida (Hutu)
Lake Matheson, Westland
This species is described in the Flora of the northern South Island section of the site.
Mazus radicans
Franz Josef Glacier, Westland
Text coming soon!
Luzuriaga parviflora (Nohi)
Monro Beach, Westland
A delicate, trailing plant with beautiful white flowers and ovoid, white berries, this species is fairly common in cool, damp forests. Superficially, this species may resemble Neomyrtus pedunculata when in fruit, but the leaves of Luzuriaga are very different, as well as the growth habit.
Like many New Zealand plants, the rest of the genus Luzuriaga is found in South America.
fruit, Ship Creek, Westland
Like many New Zealand plants, the rest of the genus Luzuriaga is found in South America.
fruit, Ship Creek, Westland
Pratia angulata
Lake Matheson, Westland
This species is described in the Flora of Fiordland NP section of the site.
Parocheta communis
Fox Glacier, Westland
Text coming soon!
Freycinetia banksii (Kiekie)
Ship Creek, Westland
Text coming soon!
Pterostylis sp. (possibly Pterostylis australis)
Franz Josef Glacier, Westland
The orchids shown here strongly resemble P.australis, which is described in the Flora of Fiordland section of the site.
Neomyrtus pedunculata (Rohutu)
Ship Creek, Westland
The pale branches and leaves and pendent, white flowers make this large shrub (or occasionally small tree) easy to recognise. It is a common species in Westland forests, and can be seen in suitable habitat throughout New Zealand.
Orchid leaves
Franz Josef Glacier, WestlandText coming soon!
Epilobium sp
Fox Glacier (both photos)
Text coming soon!
Ferns
Blechnum novae-zelandiae agg. (Kiokio)
Lake Matheson, Westland
Roaring Billy Falls, Mt Aspiring NP
This common species is described in the Flora of the northern South Island section of the site.
Lake Matheson, Westland
Lake Matheson, Westland
Blechnum montanum
Lake Matheson, Westland
Text coming soon!
Blechnum flutiavile (Creek Fern)
Lake Matheson
This species is described in the Flora of Stewart Island section of the site.
Asplenium bulbiferum (Hen & Chickens Fern)
Lake Matheson, Westland
This species is described in the Flora of Stewart Island section of the site.
Asplenium polyodon (Sickle Spleenwort)
Ship Creek, Westland
This elegant fern has distinctive curved, strongly-toothed, shining fronds. It can be found across New Zealand but has an unusual difference in habitats - in the south, it is more often a terrestrial species, whereas in the north, it is usually epiphytic.
Polystichum vestitum (Prickly Shield-fern)
Lake Matheson, Westland
Mt Aspiring NP
Especially common in the colder south of New Zealand, this fern is indeed tough and prickly when touched. The dark green mature fronds contrast with paler, younger growth and the stalks are densely covered in large, dark scales (the type of scales on the stalks is often a key character of different Polystichum species).
Haast Pass
Haast Pass
Polystichum richardii (Common Shield-fern)
Lake Matheson, Westland
Unusually for a New Zealand fern, this species largely avoids the wet west coast of the South Island. It has a typical Polystichum appearance and is distinguished by having short, hair-lke scales on its stalks, rather than the bristles of P.vestitum.
Sticherus cunninghamii
Lake Matheson, Westland (all photos)
This very distinctive fern is the most widespread of New Zealand's three Sticherus species. The slender appearance of the pinnae easily identifies it.
Pyrrosia eleagnifolia (Leather-leaf Fern)
Roaring Billy Falls, Mt Aspiring NP
This very distinctive fern is widespread in New Zealand and occupies very different habitats in different localities. Here, along the west coast of the South Island, it grows as an epiphyte in luxuriant temperate rainforests. Further east, along the Canterbury coast, it is equally at home growing on sun-baked coastal rocks, where it receveives only a fraction of the moisture of its western kin.
Pyrrosia fronds scarcely look like a fern at all, as they are undivided, and look like simple leaves of an entirely different plant instead.
Pyrrosia fronds scarcely look like a fern at all, as they are undivided, and look like simple leaves of an entirely different plant instead.
Rumohra adiantiformis or Paesia scaberula
Monro Beach, Westland
It's impossible to tell which of these species is shown here without a better view of more critical features like the colour of the stalks and the overall habit of the plant.
R.adiantiformis is a climbing fern on long, grooved stalks, with jet-black sporangia on the underside of the pinnae. P.scaberula is a creeping fern with brown, zigzag stalks and sticky fronds.
Both are common throughout New Zealand, the former as an epiphyte in forest and the second in sunnier habitats, like open ground and forest clearings.
R.adiantiformis is a climbing fern on long, grooved stalks, with jet-black sporangia on the underside of the pinnae. P.scaberula is a creeping fern with brown, zigzag stalks and sticky fronds.
Both are common throughout New Zealand, the former as an epiphyte in forest and the second in sunnier habitats, like open ground and forest clearings.
Hypolepis millefolium (Thousand-leaved Fern)
Fantail Falls, Mt Aspiring NP
This fern is common across the South Island in open habitats and will even grow at fairly high altitudes for a non-alpine plant. In the North Island, it is almost exclusively a mountain plant. Its scientiic name aptly describes its fronds, which are very delicately divided.
Trichomanes reniforme (Kidney Fern)
Lake Matheson, Westland
A classic, delicate fern of New Zealand's wet south-west, Kidney Fern is usually terrestrial, where it can form large colonies. Despite its appearance, it is surprisingly tolerant of temporarily dry conditions and will rapidly rehydrate after rains.
Dicksonia squarrosa (Wheki)
Lake Matheson, Westland
This lovely tree fern is described in the Flora of the northern South Island section of the site.
Cyathea smithii (Soft Tree Fern)
Roaring Billy Falls, Mt Aspiring NP
A tall tree fern with soft, pale fronds, C.smithii is a common plant of wet forests and thrives in the cool conditions of New Zealand's south. A key feature in identifying it is the 'skirt' of dead fronds - in this species is never thick or dense.
Ctenopteris heterophylla
Roaring Billy Falls, Mt Aspiring NP
Aptly-named, the Comb Fern is very widespread in New Zealand and also occurs in Australia.
The drooping, fairly simple-looking fronds help to identify it.
The drooping, fairly simple-looking fronds help to identify it.
Leptopteris superba (Prince of Wales Feathers)
Haast Pass
This species is described in the Flora of Fiordland NP section of the site.