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Astelia Fragrans
''Astelia fragrans'', commonly known as bush lily, bush flax or kakaha, is the most common astelia species found in New Zealand. It grows from sea level to elevations of approximately 900 metres. ''A. fragrans'' has long, sword-like green leaves, with midribs that can be red. In the centre of the plant, clumps of green flowers are produced between October and November. During summer yellow-orange fruit is created. It was first described by William Colenso William Colenso (17 November 1811 – 10 February 1899) FRS was a Cornish Christian missionary to New Zealand, and also a printer, botanist, explorer and politician. He attended the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and later wrote an accou ... in 1883. References Asteliaceae Flora of New Zealand Taxa named by William Colenso Plants described in 1883 {{Asparagales-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantail Falls
Fantail Falls is a waterfall in Mount Aspiring National Park, Westland District, New Zealand. The waterfall is in the Haast Pass, between the Gates of Haast and the pass itself, at an altitude of . It marks where Fantail Creek enters the Haast River, with a drop of . Its name derives from the way it spreads out into the shape of a fan at its base, rather than any similarity to the tail of the native bird known as the fantail (pīwakawaka or '' Rhipidura fuliginosa''). For many years, beginning in the late 1930s, the waterfall had a hydroelectric power plant at its base, which provided power for roadwork machinery being used to construct a road from Makarora to Jackson Bay. The road was commissioned by the Ministry of Public Works and was the first road over the Haast Pass. It was not completed until 1960. A 5-minute wheelchair-accessible bush walk leads to the riverbank opposite the waterfall from a carpark on State Highway 6. In addition, a steep walk to the Brewster H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Haast Pass
Haast Pass / Tioripatea is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. Māori used the pass in pre-European times. The pass takes its name from Julius von Haast, a 19th-century explorer who also served as provincial geologist for the provincial government of Canterbury. Following the passage of the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998, the name of the pass was officially altered to Haast Pass / Tioripatea. The pass lies within the limits of Mount Aspiring National Park and forms part of the boundary between the Otago and West Coast regions. The Haast Pass is one of the three passes where a road crosses over the Southern Alps – alongside the Lewis Pass and Arthur's Pass, although the Homer Tunnel passes under the Main Divide. The Haast Pass rises to a height of above sea level at the saddle between the valleys of the Haast and Makarora Rivers. As such, it is the lowest of the passes traversing the Southern Alps. The route through Haast Pass (no ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Colenso
William Colenso (17 November 1811 – 10 February 1899) FRS was a Cornish Christian missionary to New Zealand, and also a printer, botanist, explorer and politician. He attended the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and later wrote an account of the events at Waitangi. Life Born in Penzance, Cornwall, he was the cousin of John William Colenso, bishop of Natal. His surname is locative and it originates from the place name Colenso in the parish of St Hilary, near Penzance in west Cornwall, it is a Cornish language (Celtic) name, from the Cornish "Kelyn dhu" meaning "dark hollies". He trained as a printer's apprentice then travelled to New Zealand in 1834 to work for the Church Missionary Society as a printer/missionary. He was responsible for the printing of the Māori language translation of the New Testament in 1837. It was the first book printed in New Zealand and the first indigenous language translation of the Bible published in the southern hemisphere. pp 110 By Jul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Astelia
''Astelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the recently named family Asteliaceae. They are rhizomatous tufted perennials native to various islands in the Pacific, Indian, and South Atlantic Oceans, as well as to Australia and to the southernmost tip of South America. A significant number of the known species are endemic to New Zealand., search for "Astelia" The species generally grow in forests, swamps and amongst low alpine vegetation; occasionally they are epiphytic. Species The genus is divided into a number of subgenera and these are further divided into sections. These contain the following species: * subgenus ''Astelia'' ** section ''Astelia'' *** ''Astelia alpina'' R.Br. - Pineapple Grass, Silver Astelia, native to eastern Australia **** ''Astelia alpina'' var. ''alpina'' **** ''Astelia alpina'' var. ''novae-hollandiae'' Skottsb. *** ''Astelia papuana'' Skottsb.- native to New Guinea *** ''Astelia linearis'' Hook.f.- native to North and South Islands of New Zeala ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area, covering . New Zealand is about east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland. The islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable land to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight and record New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asteliaceae
Asteliaceae is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family has only recently been recognized by taxonomists. The APG III system of 2009 (unchanged from the 1998 and 2003 versions) does recognize this family. The family includes three genera with about 38 species, occurring in the Southern Hemisphere. It is bird/insect pollinated and its conservation status as of 2017 is not threatened. Description A large variation in morphology is seen within this family. Roots The main cell type of the vascular tissue system present in roots are tracheids. Roots are the only plant organs to have vessel elements and this is seen commonly in Monocots. The habitat of a monocot will determine different xylem characteristics. The habitat of Asteliaceae gives rise to the variation seen in the xylem. These tracheary elements have pores in their walls from fragments of the pit membrane. The vessels that are present within Asteliaceae have very primitive ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flora Of New Zealand
This article relates to the flora of New Zealand, especially indigenous strains. New Zealand's geographical isolation has meant the country has developed a unique variety of native flora. However, human migration has led to the importation of many other plants (generally referred to as 'exotics' in New Zealand) as well as widespread damage to the indigenous flora, especially after the advent of European colonisation, due to the combined efforts of farmers and specialised societies dedicated to importing European plants & animals. Characteristics Indigenous New Zealand flora generally has the following characteristics: * the majority are evergreen. * few annual herbs. * few cold-tolerant trees. * majority are dispersed by birds. * very few have defences against mammalian browsers. * few nitrogen fixing plants. * few fire-adapted species. * many dioecious species. * flowers are typically small and white. * many plants have divaricating growth forms. * many plants have evolved in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taxa Named By William Colenso
In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and given a particular ranking, especially if and when it is accepted or becomes established. It is very common, however, for taxonomists to remain at odds over what belongs to a taxon and the criteria used for inclusion. If a taxon is given a formal scientific name, its use is then governed by one of the nomenclature codes specifying which scientific name is correct for a particular grouping. Initial attempts at classifying and ordering organisms (plants and animals) were set forth in Carl Linnaeus's system in ''Systema Naturae'', 10th edition (1758), as well as an unpublished work by Bernard and Antoine Laurent de Jussieu. The idea of a unit-based system of biological classification was first made widely available in 1805 in the intro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
