DSC_5537 Toropapa (Alseuosmia macrophylla) pink '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 *
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 *
11009-31010 Small-leaved coprosma (Coprosma propinqua var. propinqua) detail of blue berries. A divaricating shrub with small, dark green leaves with red margins, and white to blue fruit. Blue fruits are thought to be attractive to reptiles, which eat the berries and disperse the seeds, indeed jewelled geckos lived in this particular bush. This coprosma is found from Kaitaia south to Stewart Island. Otago Peninsula *
