Ranunculus haastii
On 17 December 2018 on a visit to Mt Hutt we found plenty of young plants and older plants that had finished flowering and had created rather lovely seed heads. This would be about the right time in a normal year but with a wet spring, followed by soaring temperatures we were probably two weeks late.
Ranunculus haastii is described as a fleshy, glabrous (hairless) herb with waxy, glaucous (grey) and highly and deeply dissected leaves arising from a stout generally unbranched underground rhizome it is one of the gems of our alpine flowers in New Zealand.
The flowers are carried on a single stem above the foliage and may have from 5 to 20 waxy yellow petals. These flowers contrast with the leaves and the rocky scree areas in which they grow.
Large rounded seed heads follow the flowers quickly and look just as spectacular.
This Ranunculus is named in honour of Sir Julius von Haast and early geologist and later Director of the Canterbury Museum
While an expert might consider trying to cultivate this plant at home by far the best way to appreciate it is to see it in the wild. The sight is just wonderful to behold.
Below is a exerpt form a major reference work explaining the habitat of Ranunculus haastii.
Ranunculus haastii is described as a fleshy, glabrous (hairless) herb with waxy, glaucous (grey) and highly and deeply dissected leaves arising from a stout generally unbranched underground rhizome it is one of the gems of our alpine flowers in New Zealand.
The flowers are carried on a single stem above the foliage and may have from 5 to 20 waxy yellow petals. These flowers contrast with the leaves and the rocky scree areas in which they grow.
Large rounded seed heads follow the flowers quickly and look just as spectacular.
This Ranunculus is named in honour of Sir Julius von Haast and early geologist and later Director of the Canterbury Museum
While an expert might consider trying to cultivate this plant at home by far the best way to appreciate it is to see it in the wild. The sight is just wonderful to behold.
Below is a exerpt form a major reference work explaining the habitat of Ranunculus haastii.
ranunculus_haastii.pdf | |
File Size: | 2117 kb |
File Type: |
Ranunculus haastii on NZ Stamp
Issued on the 7 June 1972 this is part of a set of 4 NZ Alpine plant stamps designed by E Mayo of Dunedin.
Link to NZ Post Historical Stamp issues for this set Click this link NZ Alpine Stamps
Link to article on this set of stamps on this website NZ Alpine Flowers
Issued on the 7 June 1972 this is part of a set of 4 NZ Alpine plant stamps designed by E Mayo of Dunedin.
Link to NZ Post Historical Stamp issues for this set Click this link NZ Alpine Stamps
Link to article on this set of stamps on this website NZ Alpine Flowers