Journal Number 107
February 2008

ORIGINAL PAPERS

A West Coast Odyssey
By Gordon Sylvester

Canterbury Orchid Society discussed the possibility of organising an orchid crawl sometime during 2007. After some discussion Melanie Bridgen was elected to organise this event for the members. The eventual destination was Lake Mahinapuna and any other that appeared en route.
A notice was posted in the NZNOG Journal advertising the trip.

On 17 November Melanie arrived at Gordon Sylvester's place to look at some likely sites. Among those looked at, were Londonderry Rock, Kapitea Dam and its environs and Kelly's Stream. There was plenty of material available mostly in developing bud or no flowers present at all. But enough to give Melanie some idea of what may be available later.

Sat 23 Nov dawned typical wet coast weather; by the time formalities had been completed at the motel there was a definite improvement.

We convoyed out to Lake Mahinapuna, where lunch was taken by the 23 persons present. Some investigation was carried out around the carpark margins. Nothing was noted. After lunch we started to drift down the track to Swimmers beach. It was not too long before the first finds was made and duly recorded to the tune of clicking cameras.

A patch of Pterostylis banksii drew a lot of comments. One group was discussing the possibility of finding a couple of other species when one of the men looked at his feet and noted he was standing on the particular species under discussion, along side was a another piece of the branch with another piece of Ichthyostomum pygmaeum and also a Drymoanthus adversus. Shortly afterwards David McConachie reported finding D. flavus in flowerpod stage and I. pygmaeum on trees standing in the margin waters of the lake.

The evening was spent socialising at a Society member's place in Shantytown enjoying West Coast hospitality and a BBQ.

Sunday morning showed a light showery morning, everyone arrived at Gordon's place to look at the relocated P. cernua. Then moved on to the Kapitea dam looking on the long grassy bank. Several species were noted, none in flower. Moving onto a nearby site where there was about 50
or 60 P. cernua in full flower creating a great sight for the photographers.

The next stop on the tour was Kelly's Stream; this stop lasted about three hours. Then onwards and upwards to Arthurs Pass where a stop was made in the alpine herb fields. A short refreshment stop later to refuel the coffee intake then out to Greynes shelter track, where the group split up and went their various ways.

The composition of the group was from Wellington, Kaikoura, Christchurch, and Timaru.

Both Gordon and David spoke about and showed publications of the NOG. As a result the small supply of membership forms soon dried up.

Plant List

Kelly's Stream Otira Cockayne walk
( Saturday, 10 Nov 2007 )

Kumara: Drymoanthus flavus, Microtis unifolia, Winika cunninghamii, Earina mucronata.

Londonderry Rock : Chiloglottis cornuta Earina mucronata, Earina autumnalis, Winika cunninghamii.

Kapitea Dam: Thelymitra hatchii, Thelymitra cyanea?, Microtis unifolia, Thelymitra spp.

Stantons Road : Pterostylis cernua, immature P. spp.

Kelly Stream: immature P. species, 3 different species, Pterostylis oliveri, Nematoceras hypogaea. N. macranthum, N. longipetalum, N. acuminatum.

( 17 Nov 2007 )

The other end (SH 73) showed the Pterostylis has an australis flower with narrow leaves;
there are P. australis plants in the area but what is the other side of this plant?

( Sat 23 Nov 2007 )

Lake Mahinapuna: P. irsoniana, P. graminea agg. P. banksii, N. hypogeaum, Earina autumnalis,
E. mucronata, Winika cuninghamii, D. adversus, D. flavus, I. pygmaeum, M. unifolia

Lake Kaniere: Singularybas oblongus, in addition to the list from Lake Mahinupuna

( Sun 24 Nov 2007 )

Kumara: M. unifolia, P. cernua, P. "Peninsula"

Kapitea Dam wall: T. paucifolia, T. hatchii, M. unifolia.

Stantons Road: P. cernua, M. unifolia, T. hatchii

Kelly's stream: E. autumnalis, C. cornuta, P. oliveri, N. hypogeaum, N. longipetalus, P. australis,
P. irsoniana. P. put. hybrid, N. trilobus, N. acuminatum, P. australis x P. irsoniana.
See comments above.

Twin Creeks Otira walkway: A. bifolia, Prasophyllum colensoi (in bud) Adenochilus gracilis,
Waireia stenopetala

Greynes Shelter Walk: C. cornuta, N. trilobum, P. oliveri very much later than on the other side of the hills.