|
 Alpine
Plants
of New Zealand
Celmisia
semicordata
Mountain
Daisy / Cotton Plant / Tikumu
Family
ASTERACEAE
 Reproduced
from
Alpine Plants of New Zealand
ISBN 0 7900 0525 5
by kind permission of the author, Lawrie Metcalf and Reed Publishing
(NZ) Ltd
Publication or other use of images or descriptive
text on these pages is unauthorised unless written permission is
obtained from the author and publisher. Appropriate acknowledgement
of the publication Alpine Plants of New Zealand must always
be given.
Description
- A robust herbaceous
plant forming large rosettes, or bold clumps of silvery-green,
sword-shaped leaves.
- Leaves: 30-60
cm long by 4-10 cm wide, stiff and of a leathery texture with
the upper surface silver or silvery-green, the undersurface white.
- Flowers:
The stout flower stem is up to 50 cm long and the flower heads
are 4-10 cm in diameter.
In addition to the typical
form, two subspecies exist:
- ssp. stricta:
Has narrower and more rigid leaves with heavily rolled margins;
their upper surfaces are also very silvery.
- ssp. aurigens:
The upper surfaces of the leaves are varying shades of gold.
 Distribution
& Habitat
- South Island, usually
in subalpine to low-alpine regions. 600-1400 metres.
- Common in snow-tussock
grassland, herbfields and open subalpine scrub.
- Typical form:
Occurs throughout the higher rainfall regions from Nelson to South
Canterbury and northern Fiordland. Sporadic in Nelson and northern
Westland.
- ssp. stricta:
is restricted to the mountains of western Otago and adjacent Southland
to the Takitimu Range.
- ssp. aurigens:
Occurs in Central and eastern Otago, with outlying populations
in south-eastern Otago, and in Southland on the Garvie Mountains.
Notes
- Identification:
In all of its forms this is an outstanding plant which should
be immediately recognised, even if not in flower.
- Flowering:
Between December and January, depending on altitude.
Web-notes:
Alpine Garden Links
On
this site
Reproduced from Alpine Plants
of New Zealand:
Also see the article
by Raymond Mole on:
New Zealand Alpine Plants: A Challenge for
Growers
 External
Links
New
Zealand Alpine Garden Society
More
Plant Profiles
|
