DSC_2526 Auckland Island gentian (Gentianella concinna) flowering on moss covered tree fern trunk in rata forest. May have red, pink, or white flowers. Differs from the only other gentian species present on the Auckland Islands, (Gentianella cerina) by its biennial growth habit and finer, more erect flowering stems. Can grow in open turf meadows, tussock grasslands, or in forest and scrub. Tagua Cove, Carnley Harbour. Auckland Islands Group *
DSC_6273 Puha (Sonchus kirkii) flower and buds. Today puha is usually only found around the coast, growing on cliff faces and in damp seepages, in areas less suited to faster growing introduced weeds. This large, robust native milk thistle probably once occupied a far wide range of habitats, but has retreated almost everywhere except on offshore islands. Otago Peninsula *
DSC_3353 Chatham Islands Sow-thistle (Sonchus grandifolia) colony of plants growing in sand dunes behind beach. This giant endemic thistle can reach over 1.5m in height, with leaves a metre long. Superficially resembling puwha, it has its own species of 'rust' - Embergeria Rust (Puccinia embergeriae) which is one of the rarest fungi in the world. Cape Pattisson, Chatham Islands *
