Mark Moorhouse wrote, "… re the Nematoceras found just south of Punakaiki flowering late July-early August….

Attached are some pics from my daughter Kendyll who is living at Charleston and responded to my request to go and have a look at her patch of coast with the following email and pictures.

Photos A and B (below) are taken on the beach at the end of Truman Track where a creek runs down over the cliffs and looks mighty like N. iridescens to me. Certainly something akin.

Photos C and D (below) were taken a few days later on a foray up into limestone country in the Nile River valley and appear to be similar, if not the same. Photos E and F were taken on their farm at Charleston and appear to be a different species.

Kendyll thought the labellums were without hairs but otherwise are somewhat similar to N. "whiskers", but we would both be most happy to be corrected in our diagnosis. They are not like the N. "whiskers" we have in Nelson.

The photo mentioned taken at Bullock Creek was of a freshly dead flower with a spotless leaf that could pass for N. macrantha in appearance but not in texture…".

Kendyll wrote, (28 Aug 2005), "Hi Dad. Went down to Bullock creek (Punakaiki) today and had a wander around there. We went down to the beach afterwards and I found several colonies of Nematoceras (see Bullock beach photo); there was only the one seedhead and no sign of any other flowers.

We then went down the Truman track to the beach there and right next to the waterfall was another colony of Nematoceras, not so sure that it is the same variety although leaf shape is similar if not the same, see what you think. I found one flower open and two other finished flowers, no other buds (see Truman track beach photos).

I looked down at the Charleston beach and found nothing, but noted that the rock there is a type of granite and not limestone. At beach level the rock seems to change from limestone to this granite between Truman track and Woodpecker Bay. Hope this is of use."

  - it certainly is, Kendyll, thank you - Ed.