DSC_7293 William's broom, or Giant-flowered broom (Carmichaelia williamsii) the winter flowers are unique among Carmichaelia in being bird pollinated. Now known mainly from the Poor Knights and Alderman Islands. On the mainland it is heavily browsed and seriously threatened with extinction. It prefers open forest, scrub, cliff faces and talus slopes. This is the only yellow-flowered native New Zealand broom, all other Carmichaelia species have small mauve, pink or white insect pollinated flowers. Aorangi Island, Poor Knights *
DSC_7291 William's broom, or Giant-flowered broom (Carmichaelia williamsii) the winter flowers are unique among Carmichaelia in being bird pollinated. Now known mainly from the Poor Knights and Alderman Islands. On the mainland it is heavily browsed and seriously threatened with extinction. It prefers open forest, scrub, cliff faces and talus slopes. This is the only yellow-flowered native New Zealand broom, all other Carmichaelia species have small mauve, pink or white insect pollinated flowers. Aorangi Island, Poor Knights *
DSC_1942 Yellow bush lupin (Lupinus arboreus) originally from California, this introduced species has changed the chemistry of dune soils, allowing other exotics to establish, to the detriment of our native dune vegetation (which is adapted to low nitrogen levels). Otago Peninsula *
