New Zealand Plants

DSC_5541 Toropapa (Alseuosmia macrophylla) red 'unfrilled' flowers. A small glossy shrub of North Island forests, with strong-smelling, pink to red tubular flowers which may vary in size, and the level of ‘frilling’ at the tips of the petals. Unfortunately it is heavily browsed by ungulates and possums nowadays, and rarely sets much viable seed in mainland forests, where endemic nectar feeding birds are now troubled by ship rats. Kauaeranga River, Coromandel *