More than half of New Zealand’s known native plant species (2450 of them in 2004) occur in Kahurangi National Park, one of my favourite tramping “playgrounds”. Over the years I’ve certainly begun to appreciate the diversity of plant life in Kahurangi. Regardless of the location, altitude and exposure to nature’s elements, some plant has made itself at home there.
I have also learnt that unless I keep an eye out for them, most plants go unnoticed, usually because they are quite small and at the same time blend in well with the surroundings.
However, now and then a plant seeks attention: “Hello there, come and have a look at my pretty flowers!” As happened with the plant portrayed in this article. It called out to me from below Kakapo Peak, which is a well-known day trip from Fenella Hut.
The pretty white flowers happily posed in front of my camera lens. Upon my return home, I was faced with the quest of finding out the name of the plant. None of my books and online searches gave me any answers. It was time to ask an expert, such as Nelson botanist Shannel Courtney:
Shannel’s verdict: “Your plant is Lobelia macrodon—one of twelve named species of native lobelia. This one is confined to scree margins and bare ground of the northern South Island down to about Mt Hutt in South Canterbury, and it is the most fragrant of all of them. John Salmon has it illustrated on page 244 of his field guide—he calls it mountain pratia as it used to be called Pratia macrodon (all the Pratia are now Lobelia). But there are about six species of mountain lobelia so this isn’t a good common name.”
Thank you Shannel!
(Shannel Courtney works for the Department of Conservation in Nelson, and is a committee member of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. In 2008 he was presented with the Loder Cup, New Zealand’s premier conservation award.)
Lobelia macrodon flowering below Kakapo Peak in March.
What’s in a name? French botanist Charles Plumier (1646–1704) named the plant genus Lobelia and the botanical family Lobeliaceae in honour of Flemish botanist Matthias de L’Obel (1538–1616).
There’s that bear again! (See Bear sightings in Kahurangi National Park.) For size reference, the bear’s height is a mere 0.4 foot (130 mm).
Kakapo Peak (south face, 1783 m).
Southwestern view from Kakapo Peak.
To view my other Kakapo Peak photos please browse my gallery or view the slideshow.
New Zealand hasn’t taken its edelweiss that far and there is no need to. We have our much treasured kiwi and our 
