Last month I was lucky enough to be part of a road trip from Christchurch to Auckland via Akaroa, Kaikoura, Wellington and Napier. It was a good opportunity to see some of the canopy flora and fauna in these different places and I've included some of the most interesting finds in this photo blog:
This photo was captured at a definite high point of the trip. I was drawn to these tree lucerne in a reserve near Akaroa because of the flock of kereru feeding on them. Of course I was then stoked to discover that they weren't the only ones getting a free meal from this exotic plant: spot the pirita (Ileostylus micranthus) in the bottom left! Photo: C. Kirby.
Here it the pirita (Ileostylus micranthus) up close. It was one of ten or so growing on a row of tree lucerne near Akaroa. Photo: C. Kirby.
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A stunning kowharawhara (Astelia solandri) in Otari-Wilton's Bush. Photo: C. Kirby.
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Kohia (Passiflora tetrandra) reaches its southern limit on Banks Peninsula. Nearby, in Christchurch's Riccarton Bush, it is very abundant. These are large tangled vines next to the track. Photo: C. Kirby.
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Kohia (Passiflora tetrandra) smothering a host tree in Riccarton Bush, Christchurch. Photo: C. Kirby.
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Kohia (Passiflora tetrandra) is not the only vine growing abundantly in Riccarton Bush. You can see here that some of the large trees are completely surrounded by multiple vine species (spot the trunk amongst vines and litter). Photo: C. Kirby.
An 800 year old rimu tree in Otari-Wilton's Bush COVERED in tawhiri karo (Pittosporum cornifolium). I have never seen so many of these shrub epiphytes with their tiny beautiful flowers. Photo: C. Kirby.
A kaka (Nestor meridionalis) in Otari-Wilton's bush, Wellington. It was listening for grubs and bugs in this rotting tree stem. Photo: C. Kirby.
And finally, a young puka (Griselinia lucida) in a large hinau host tree. What a great road trip :) Photo: C. Kirby.
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