4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora

We greatly hope that each of you, our readers, will fully enjoy and appreciate this article we present to you about these 4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora. It was certainly our pleasure to compile the various information for you. May it provide you with both education and increased awareness.

Of course, these few species listed herein represent only a tiny portion of the natural wonders found throughout the region, though. Yet, it’s our belief that they nevertheless serve as excellent representations of the wonders found here. Check out some of our other articles for similar marvels.

Vegetable Sheep

Vegetable Sheep Facts

• Leading off this article about these 4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora we present the highly unusual work of Nature named the Vegetable Sheep.
• This bizarre looking object actually represents a highly unusual variety of Angiosperm. In English, it holds the common name we’ve used here. In the language of the Indigenous Peoples of its region, however, this wonder bears the traditional name of tutāhuna.
• The official scientific name for the plant, meanwhile, remains the reltively simple one of Raoulia eximia. The remarkable flora received that appellation during its first recorded formal recognition as a species, in 1864. It formerly held several other technical names, as well.
• Researchers currently place the plant in the Aster Family. The renowned British botanist, Joseph Dalton Hooker, holds the distinction of being the first to formally recognize it. He was also a highly respected explorer, and very close personal friend of Charles Darwin.
• For the moment, the magnificent Vegetable Sheep appears to be maintaining a stable and sufficient population base. That further seems to hold true throughout its native range. The IUCN, therefore, presently has no listing for it on the organization’s published Red List.
• The fabulous flora nonetheless still faces the same potential threats to its continued existence as every other species. Its small range makes it especially vulnerable to habitat loss. Its greatest threat, though, most likely consists of climate change, much like all other life on earth today.

Vegetable Sheep Physical Description

The amazing Vegetable Sheep qualifies as one of those select few wonders of Nature one must see to truly believe. It also has an outward appearance that’s difficult to accurately describe. That’s partly because, like its relatives, it has a highly variable, as well as quite irregular, general shape.

As a general principle, though, individual specimens of this marvel attain roughly equal measurements in both height and width. More specifically, a typical full growth size equals about 3.3 ft (1m) in both dimensions. Exceptionally sized specimens do sometimes occur, though only rarely.

Its branches develop as short, but relatively very stout in their structure. These parts of the plant, however, develop extremely close together. In point of fact, its branches are so tightly packed that the leaves of the plant can’t even be seen. They’re also tiny, being only a few millimeters long.

The remarkable foliage of the extraordinary Vegetable Sheep also holds yet another surprise for the fortunate viewer. That’s the existence of an extremely dense convering of fine, white hairs. These distinctive features give the plant a woolly appearance, adding to its namesake sheep-like look.

The flowers of this marvel of Nature and evolution developed as comparatively small, yellowish, and daisy-like. These blooms emerge from the cushion surface. Each also typically blooms in the summer months, adding a subtle yet lovely splash of color to the otherwise monochromatic plant.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Angiosperm
• Class: Eudicots
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Asterceae
• Genus: Raoulia
• Species: R. eximia

Vegetable Sheep Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Most unfortunately, the astonishing Vegetable Sheep evolved as native to a highly restricted part of the surface of the earth. That’s due to the fact that its only known concentration appears on the island country of New Zealand. Even there, though, its range remains even further restricted.

That’s because this marvel of the botanical world only lives on one of the two islands. In this case, it appears on the one named South Island. There, the unusual flora mostly makes its appearances from northern Southland to Marlborough. That further places it east of the main divide.

Its potential habitat remains additionally limited by its own distinctive nature. That’s due to the fact that it evolved to specifically live at a range of altitudes that runs from alpine to sub-alpine. Here, the amazing plant appears at elevatons ranging from roughly 3,937 – 8,202 ft (1,200 – 2,500 m).

In these regions, the intrepid Angiosperm generally appears in extremely rugged areas, where most other flora find it impossible to survive. These locations include such similar settings as cliff faces, and spots of scree and talus. It’s also demonstrated a preference for poor, well-drained soils.

The flowers of the amazing Vegetable Sheep, such as they are, generally develop between the months November and January. The fruits that eventually follow do so most typically from January to April. Researchers still know very little about how the Angiosperm achieves its pollination.

Both the attention-grabbing common name in English and its original native name have the same origin. These appelations understandably derive from its appearance, said by some to resemble a sheep. Its limbs develop so tightly packed that one can sit on the plant without doing harm.

Kauri Tree

Kauri Tree Facts

• Here, in this compilation of 4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora comes the remarkable plant that’s simply known by the term of Kauri Tree.
• This impressive work of Nature and evolution most frequently goes by the deceptively short common name in most parts of its range. It does have a few other general titles it’s known by, though. These include the terms Dammar pine and Kauri pine, among several others.
• Still other tags include the informative one of New Zealand Kauri. It’s used to distinguish the flora from other members of its genus in other areas. In the language of the local Indigenous People, however, this true marvel of evolution holds the original designation Kauri.
• Within the scientific community, though, it’s perhaps much better known by still another, separate appellation. Thankfully, that’s a relatively easy one for the layperson to pronounce. That’s due to the fact that the amazing plant currently holds the moniker Agathis australis.
• The marvel of Nature received that designation due to the efforts of Richard Anthony Salisbury. The highly respected British botanist accomplished the first official recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He achieved that scientifically noteworthy feat in the year 1807.
• The situation of the remarkable Kauri Tree is somewhat unusual. Its population remains reduced and scattered, to be certain. Only small, concentrated pockets of the wonder remain. Despite this state, however, the IUCN does not list it on its Red List of Threatened Species.
• The stunning wonder of evolution obviously faces multiple threats to its continued existence as a species. These dangers include local problems, such as deforestation. Yet, the tree also faces the global perils faced by all life today, those of habitat loss and ongoing climate change.

Kauri Tree Physical Description

The fabulous Kauri Tree almost always impresses those individuals fortunate enough to view it. Unlike some flora, though, this marvel does so for a variety of reasons. That’s true since this plant’s not only distinctive and beautiful in appearance, but also attains eminently respectable sizes.

Fully mature specimens typically reach truly eye-catching proportions. These examples occasionally reach heights measuring as much as an astounding 164 ft (50 m). The great majority of these impressive Tracheophytes, however, typically range from approximately 98.4 – 131.2 ft (30 – 40 m).

The trunk of the tree itself generally grows primarily quite vertically, with comparatively little deviation. It’s also quite cylindrical in shape and width. This part typically ranges from 6.6 – 16.4 ft (2 – 5 m)! Some truly exceptional specimens of the mesmeric species have even larger girths.

Even the covering of this staggering trunk stands out from many of its relatives around the globe. This feature evolved as thick and corky in structure. It also has a surprising tendency to flake off in large, thick strips. This unique texture helps to protect the tree from damage and disease.

Its leaves also serve to augment its intriguing appearance and visual appeal. This foliage develops as oblong in shape, with a leathery texture. Arranged in pairs along the branches, these range in length from 0.8 – 2.8 in (2 – 7 cm). Colored dark green, they’re glossy above and pale beneath.

The branches of crown of the Kauri Tree additionally serve to set it apart. This typically forms as dense and quite rounded. In mature trees, the lower one’s may fall off, resulting in a tall, bare trunk with a high canopy. These spread horizontally, becoming massive, creating a wide canopy.

This wonder of Nature and botanical evolution also evolved as coniferous. It therefore possesses sed cones. In its case, it has both male and female cones. The male cones remain somewhat smaller and more rounded than the females. Holding seeds, female cones measure up to 2.8 in (7 cm).

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Pinophyta
• Class: Pinopsida
• Family: Araucariaceae
• Genus: Agathis
• Species: A. australis

Kauri Tree Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Sadly, the stunning Kauri Tree evolved as native to an extremely limited portion of the surface of the earth. The exact location of where that zone of habitation lies won’t surprise many people, though. It’s native to the stunning country of New Zealand, located near the continent of Australia.

Yet, even in this isolated part of the world, this remarkable flora only appears in a small portion of this already restricted habitat range. That’s because it only lives on North Island. Further reducing its territorial range comes the fact that it also only inhabits the northern regions of this site.

The Northland Peninsula serves as the heart of this range, and holds the majority of specimens. South of this, though, the species also appears within the Aukland Region, though only in fragmented populations. The Waikato Region represents the southernmost part of its territory.

It also displays decidedly specific requirements for its habitat preferences, further reducing its chances for expansion. The tree typically grows in mixed forests, alongside various other native species such as rimu, totara, and taraire. These forests are characterized by their rich biodiversity.

It also prefers well-drained, acidic soils and specimens are commonly found growing on ridges and slopes where water does not accumulate. However, it also grows in a variety of soil types, including sandy, clayey, and rocky substrates. It lives from sea level up to about 2,000 ft (600 m).

Given its precise nature, the Kauri Tree achieves its pollination via the actions of the wind. Male cones release pollen into the air, especially during dry and very windy conditions, which facilitate dispersal. This then gets carried away by the wind and some of it lands on the female cones.

It also plays a vital role within its insulated ecosystem. The canopies of these marvels provide a unique habitat for an impressive variety of plant species, including plants that grow on other plants, known to science as epiphytes, and understory plants adapted to lower light conditions.

Its presence also supports a surprisingly wide range of indigenous animal species. Numerous birds, insects, and other wildlife find food, shelter, and breeding sites within these forests. The dense canopy and thick bark additionally offer protection and nesting sites for a number of local species.

Pennantia baylisiana

Pennantia baylisiana Facts

• Our next choice for inclusion in this listing of these 4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora is the amazing product of evolution called the Pennantia baylisiana.
• Being understandably hard to pronounce, this tongue-twisting term actually represents the scientific name for this incredible plant. Its most frequently employed common name, though, remains the equally unusual, but at least pronounceable, Three Kings kaikomako.
• Whichever name one chooses to use for it, however, makes absolutely no difference where one specific fact is concerned. That’s the situation that, quite sadly, this remarkably distinctive flora further forms the single rarest known variety of tree on earth, at least in the wild.
• Given that its native location appears to have never been inhabited by man, its very existence remained completely unknown until its accidental discovery in 1945. Since that time, ongoing efforts to propagate it in greenhouses has met with some, if highly limited, success.
• In its native habitat, to date, only a single surviving specimen has been found. For that reason, the IUCN quite understandably presently lists this wonder of Nature as Critically Endangered. This truly lamentable status appears on the organization’s Red List of Threatened Species.
• Evidence indicates that very severe storms in modern times destroyed the remaing numbers of  its mature population. Roving herds of wild goats sharing the habitat of the Pennantia baylisiana appear to have subsequently consumed all the seedlings then existing at that time.
• Since only the single individual tree exists in the wild, potential habitat loss obviously poses a severe threat to its continued existenceas a species. Now, however, it also faces the same danger that all other species share today, that of the effects of ongoing climate change.

Pennantia baylisiana Physical Description

Although it stands out from other trees due to its terrible situation, physically, this wonder of evolution appears much like many of its related species. Most unfortunately, it currently remains undetermined if the single survivor in the wild represents an average example of the flora.

For what it’s worth, this specific individual specimen, which botanists believe to be fully mature, displays a height measuring roughly 26 ft (8 m). It also possesses a comparatively moderate-sized crown, since this feature currently has a width that measures approximately 13 ft (4 m) across.

The lonely but amazing tree also manages to impress us in ways other than sheer height. For one, the wonder of evolution produces multiple trunks, each of which remains relatively thin. The bark of these trunks further has a unique quality, displaying an unusual grayish shade in color.

Its leaves also develop as a deep, dark green in color, and appear in large numbers, as well. The flowers of the Pennantia baylisiana, meanwhile, also possess their own distinctiveness. These remain quite small, but appear in large clusters, and present either a bright green or white coloring.

Its fruit further distinguishes the Angiosperm from many related types of trees, at least in terms of its basic appearance. This forms as extremely elongated in shape, and averages about 0.4 in (1 cm) in length. Each of these also has a bright purple coloring, and produces a single, quite tiny seed.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Apiales
• Family: Pennantiaceae
• Genus: Pennantia
• Species: P. baylisiana

Pennantia baylisiana Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Obviously, the terribly rare Pennantia baylisiana possesses an unbelievably limited zone of habitation, since only one plant remains in the wild. This area happens to consist of the location known as Great Island. That represents part of what man now calls the Three Kings Group.

This formation itself currently constitutes part of the beautiful country of New Zealand, situated near the continent of Australia. Each of these 13 uninhabited islands in turn remains quite tiny, providing the plant with extremely limited options for spreading, even under optimal conditions.

Even though the surviving individual of the species evolved as female in nature, its location makes natural propagation virtually impossible. Amazingly, the specimen resides on a rugged scree slope, sitting on the north face of the primarily rocky island, which only measures 1.5 sq mi (4 sq km).

Scientific research, which remains ongoing, seems to indicate that the true natural habitat of the species actually consisted of a decidedly different environment. It’s presently believed by researchers that the species in general inhabited the thin coastal forest present on the tiny island.

Practical and ongoing efforts to protect the remaining specimen do exist, quite thankfully. In various locations, mainly in New Zealand, work also continues, albeit painstakingly, on increasing its numbers. This process occurs primarily via cuttings, since viable fruit still remains quite rare.

Chatham Island forget-me-not

Chatham Island forget-me-not Facts

• Closing out this compendium of these 4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora we present the delicate marvel named the Chatham Island forget-me-not.
• Quite obviously, as its common name suggests, this gorgeous species with the lengthy title is one you will not soon forget. Sadly, however, this marvelous work of Nature and the processes of botanical evolution only appears within an extremely restricted habitat range.
• Within the scientific field, this marvel of botanical processes bears the formal appellation of Myosotidium hortensia. It received that moniker due to the efforts of Joseph Dalton Hooker. The british botanist recorded the first recognition of it as a separate and distinct species.
• This heartbreaking situation fully understandably creates many problems for the beautiful species. Quite surprisingly, however, the IUCN itself does not yet formally list a status for this beautiful plant. The reason for this omission presently occurs due to insufficient data.
• Most experts in the field nevertheless consider the future of this wondrous creation of botanical evolution to be severely threatened. As a direct result of this situation, the Angiosperm could possibly appear on the Red List of Threatened Species in the near future.
• Due to the combination of a possessing highly restricted habitat range and an extremely specific habitat type, it faces multiple threats. It not only remains vulnerable to climate change, but the majority of its native habitat has also now been claimed for coastal development.
• Numerous other dangers also now place the gorgeous Chatham Island forget-me-not in danger. These other risks include the danger of trampling by tourists, rooting by both wild and domestic animals. The encroachment of non-native species further now threatens it.

Chatham Island forget-me-not Physical Description

The fabulous species known as the Chatham Island forget-me-not continues to surprise many people who learn of its existence. It further manages to do this in more than one way. That’s partly due to the fact that, despite its rather delicate nature, the lovely plant attains a respectable size.

More precisely, though, it often grows in patches that reach measurements of up to 3 ft (1 m) high. These additionally can sometimes reach 3-4.5 ft (1 – 1.5 m) in width. This magnificent flora, however, has more wonders to behold than just its measurements, appreciable though they indeed rank.

In point of fact, the contrast between its foliage and blooms also qualifies as fully worthy of notice for those individuals who appreciate the botanical marvel. Although the dark green leaves of the plant grow relatively large, the beautiful and delicate flowers remain quite small in dimensions.

The captivating flowers of the Chatham Island forget-me-not also appear in small clumps on comparatively slender stems. All of the remarkable folige shows a dark blue on the lower half, fading to lighter toward the exterior. These lovely blooms also average around 0.6 in (15 m) in diameter.

Yet the wonders of this beautiful variety of flora do not simply stop here. That holds true due to the nature of the fruit of the plant itself. Seemingly disproportionately to the rest of the plant, this aspect of the Eudicot itself averages only about 0.4 – 0.6 in (10 – 15 mm) in total width.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Angiosperms
• Class: Eudicots
• Order: Boraginales
• Family: Boraginaceae
• Genus: Myosotidium
• Species: M. hortrensia

Chatham Island forget-me-not Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Its own common name gives a clear indication of the highly restricted endemic habitat range of this delicate creation of Nature and evolution. That holds true because of the fact that the beautiful Chatham Island forget-me-not only grows naturally in one small region of the entire world.

There’s still more to the story, though. This tiny zone of habitation further consists of only a few of the Chatham Islands, in New Zealand, not all of them. Despite its seemingly rather fragile nature, this remarkable plant grows naturally in specific locations normally adverse to delicate plants.

This incredible plant therefore originally evolved to thrive in a truly amazing habitat, displaying amazing tenacity. That’s because it grows along both rocky and sandy beaches, coastal cliffs, and various rock outcroppings. The exact reasons for this evolutionary path remain a mystery, though.

This remarkable species also distinguishes itself from related species around the globe in another manner. That consists of its blooming pattern. Amazingly, this marvel of Nature typically produces its lovely small flowers between the months of September and November in its native habitat.

The fruit the Chatham Island forget-me-not produces also stands out. This develops with comparatively large, black seeds. These usually appear between October and May. Although it now nears extinction in its native habitat, the plant remains a popular garden plant in some regions.

4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora

We sincerely hope that each of you thoroughly enjoyed reading, and hopefully learning from, this article we’ve written about these 4 Fabulous New Zealand Flora. It’s also our true hope that doing so has left you with either a new or renewed appreciation for such varied wonders of Nature.

Unfortunately, however, many of their numerous kindred found around the world now find themselves facing strong threats to their continued existence as a species. Many of those dangers, in fact, stem from the actions of mankind. We must do all we can to protect and preserve them all.

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