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Celmisia Spectabilis
''Celmisia spectabilis'', also known as cotton daisy or by its Māori name puharetaiko, is a mountain daisy in the family Asteraceae, and is endemic to New Zealand, where it is one of the most widespread species in the genus ''Celmisia''. Taxonomy Joseph Hooker described this species in 1844, in the first volume of his ''Flora Antarctica''. The specimens he studied were collected by the English botanist John Bidwill in 1839 on Mt Tongariro, on New Zealand's North Island. Description ''C. spectabilis'' has is a robust plant with leathery leaves that are ovate to lanceolate or narrowly oblong, and are usually 3–18 cm long by 1–2 cm wide. They have a shiny, green upper surface, usually close to hairless except in young or North Island plants. The leaf underside is densely covered in soft, whitish or buff-coloured felted woolly hairs. The leaf margins usually roll downwards. The leaf bases overlap and compact to form a stout pseudostem, and slowly rot away forming ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (30 June 1817 – 10 December 1911) was a British botanist and explorer in the 19th century. He was a founder of geographical botany and Charles Darwin's closest friend. For twenty years he served as director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, succeeding his father, William Jackson Hooker, and was awarded the highest honours of British science. Biography Early years Hooker was born in Halesworth, Suffolk, England. He was the second son of the famous botanist Sir William Jackson Hooker, Regius Professor of Botany, and Maria Sarah Turner, eldest daughter of the banker Dawson Turner and sister-in-law of Francis Palgrave. From age seven, Hooker attended his father's lectures at Glasgow University, taking an early interest in plant distribution and the voyages of explorers like Captain James Cook. He was educated at the Glasgow High School and went on to study medicine at Glasgow University, graduating M.D. in 1839. This degree qualified him for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tararua Range
The Tararua Range, often referred to as the Tararua Ranges or Tararua, is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand. The Tararua Range runs northeast–southwest for from near Palmerston North to the upper reaches of the Hutt Valley, where the northern tip of the Remutaka Range begins. It is separated in the north from the southern end of the Ruahine Range by the Manawatu Gorge. Most of the Range is wilderness, protected as the Tararua Forest Park. The highest peak in the Tararua Range is Pukeamoamo / Mitre (not to be confused with Mitre Peak) at . Other prominent peaks include Mount Bannister at and Mount Hector at , which is named after the scientist Sir James Hector. Its Māori name is Pukemoumou, or 'hill of desolation'. Geography The Tararua Range is divided into two distinct northern and southern regions. Each of these is dominated by a central mountain peak: Arete in the north and Hector in the south. A total of ten rivers rise on the ... [...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] |
New Zealand Threat Classification System
The New Zealand Threat Classification System is used by the Department of Conservation to assess conservation priorities of species in New Zealand. The system was developed because the IUCN Red List, a similar conservation status system, had some shortcomings for the unique requirements of conservation ranking in New Zealand. plants, animals, and fungi are evaluated, though the lattermost has yet to be published. Algae were assessed in 2005 but not reassessed since. Other protists have not been evaluated. Categories Species that are ranked are assigned categories: ;Threatened This category has three major divisions: ::*Nationally Critical - equivalent to the IUCN category of Critically endangered ::*Nationally Endangered - equivalent to the IUCN category of Endangered ::*Nationally Vulnerable - equivalent to the IUCN category of Vulnerable ;At Risk This has four categories: ::*Declining ::*Recovering ::*Relict ::*Naturally Uncommon ;Other categories ;;Introduced and Natur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Department Of Conservation (New Zealand)
The Department of Conservation (DOC; Māori: ''Te Papa Atawhai'') is the public service department of New Zealand charged with the conservation of New Zealand's natural and historical heritage. An advisory body, the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) is provided to advise DOC and its ministers. In addition there are 15 conservation boards for different areas around the country that provide for interaction between DOC and the public. Function Overview The department was formed on 1 April 1987, as one of several reforms of the public service, when the ''Conservation Act 1987'' was passed to integrate some functions of the Department of Lands and Survey, the Forest Service and the Wildlife Service. This act also set out the majority of the department's responsibilities and roles. As a consequence of Conservation Act all Crown land in New Zealand designated for conservation and protection became managed by the Department of Conservation. This is about 30% of New Z ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sheep Farming In New Zealand
Sheep farming is a significant industry in New Zealand. According to 2007 figures reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, there are 39 million sheep in the country (a count of about 10 per human). The country has the highest density of sheep per unit area in the world. For 130 years, sheep farming was the country's most important agricultural industry, but it was overtaken by dairy farming in 1987. Sheep numbers peaked in New Zealand in 1982 to 70 million and then dropped to about 27.6 million. There are 16,000 sheep and beef farms in the country which has made the country the world's largest exporter of lambs, with 24 million finished lambs recorded every year. History Sheep were introduced into New Zealand between 1773 and 1777 with credit to James Cook, the British explorer. Samuel Marsden, a missionary, introduced some flocks of sheep to the Bay of Islands, and then also farmed in Mana Island close to Wellington for the purpose of feedi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tussock Grasslands Of New Zealand
Tussock grasslands form expansive and distinctive landscapes in the South Island and, to a lesser extent, in the Central Plateau region of the North Island of New Zealand. Most of the plants referred to as tussocks are in the genera '' Chionochloa'', ''Festuca'', and '' Poa'', also ''Carex''. What would be termed "herbfields" for European mountains, and bunchgrass meadows in North America, are referred to as tussock herbfields in New Zealand due to a dominance of this type of plant. Species of the genus ''Chionochloa'' dominate in these areas. The larger tussocks are called snow grass (or less commonly snow tussocks) and may grow up to in height. They grow slowly and some specimens are estimated to be several centuries old. See also * Canterbury–Otago tussock grasslands * Southland montane grasslands *Environment of New Zealand The environment of New Zealand is characterised by an endemic flora and fauna which has evolved in near isolation from the rest of the world. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leioproctus
''Leioproctus'' is a genus in the plaster bee family Colletidae. Its members are primarily found in Australasia and temperate South America, and include the most common native bees in New Zealand. Species It includes the following species: *'' Leioproctus abdominalis'' (Smith, 1879) *'' Leioproctus abdominis'' Michener, 1965 *''Leioproctus abnormis'' (Cockerell, 1916) *''Leioproctus acaciae'' (Rayment, 1939) *''Leioproctus advena'' (Smith, 1862) *'' Leioproctus albopilosus'' (Rayment, 1930) *'' Leioproctus albovittatus'' (Cockerell, 1929) *''Leioproctus alienus'' (Smith, 1853) *''Leioproctus alismatis'' (Ducke, 1908) *''Leioproctus alleynae'' (Rayment, 1935) *'' Leioproctus alloeopus'' Maynard, 1991 *''Leioproctus amabilis'' (Smith, 1879) *''Leioproctus andinus'' (Herbst, 1923) *''Leioproctus antennatus'' (Smith, 1879) *''Leioproctus anthracinus'' Michener, 1989 *''Leioproctus apicalis'' (Cockerell, 1921) *''Leioproctus argentifrons'' (Smith, 1879) *''Leioproctus arnauellus'' M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melangyna Novaezelandiae
''Melangyna novaezelandiae'' (commonly referred to as the "large hoverfly") is a hoverfly endemic to New Zealand.Parkinson, Brian (2007). ''A Photographic Guide To The Insects Of New Zealand''. New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd. . It is a generalized pollinator of a large range of plants that are both native and exotic to the New Zealand flora. ''M. novaezelandiae'' is widespread throughout New Zealand, including in agricultural environments. The larvae of this species feeds on other arthropods and may have uses as a biocontrol agent. Taxonomy This species was first described in 1849 as ''Syrphus ortas'' by F. Walker. It was described again in 1855 by Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart as ''Syrphus novaezelandiae''. In 1875, it was described yet again as ''Syrphus rectus'' by M. S. Nowicki. In 1969, it was transferred from the genus ''Syrphus'' to ''Melangyna'', and placed in the newly erected subgenus '' Austrosyrphus''. It is sometimes referred to as ''Melangyna novaezealandiae'' alth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canterbury Region
Canterbury ( mi, Waitaha) is a region of New Zealand, located in the central-eastern South Island. The region covers an area of , making it the largest region in the country by area. It is home to a population of The region in its current form was established in 1989 during nationwide local government reforms. The Kaikoura District joined the region in 1992 following the abolition of the Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council. Christchurch, the South Island's largest city and the country's second-largest urban area, is the seat of the region and home to percent of the region's population. Other major towns and cities include Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Rolleston. History Natural history The land, water, flora, and fauna of Waitaha/Canterbury has a long history stretching from creation of the greywacke basement rocks that make up the Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/Southern Alps to the arrival of the first humans. This history is linked to the creation of the earth, the so ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arthur's Pass National Park
Arthur's Pass National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand and covers 1,185 km2 of mostly mountainous terrain. Adjacent to it lies Craigieburn Forest Park. History Arthurs Pass National Park was established in 1929, becoming the first national park in the South Island and the third in New Zealand. Land (Arthur's Pass and the Ōtira Gorge) was originally set aside under the Lands Act 1885 and the Scenery Preservation Act of 1903. This land became the foundation for the national park. With the railway built, train trips from Christchurch to the Ōtira Gorge began with day trippers visiting Arthurs Pass in 1926. Unfortunately native flowers were popular souvenirs. Some individuals chose to cut down trees to obtain rātā blooms. As a result, there was a large push to establish national park status for the area. This led to the establishment of Arthur's Pass National Park in 1929. Underfunding meant that this was initially in name only and in took a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nelson Province
Nelson Province was constituted in 1853 under the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, and originally covered the entire upper South Island, including all of present-day Buller, Kaikoura, Marlborough, and Tasman districts, along with Nelson City, Grey District north of the Grey River, and the Hurunui District north of the Hurunui River. It was reduced in size by the creation of Marlborough Province in November 1859, then abolished in 1876, along with all the provinces of New Zealand. Area Nelson Province initially covered the entire upper South Island. The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the Marlborough region, but the funds were mostly used in the Nelson region. Land sales in Nelson and Marlborough netted the Nelson Provincial Council £33,000 and £160,000, respectively. Of that, £200 were expended benefiting the Marlborough region. There was c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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