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THE EMBLEM OF NEW ZEALAND WOMEN
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This glory of New Zealand alpine plants has tall branched flowering stems, usually with many large white flowers, each with numerous overlapping petals, and is found in the southern alpine regions of the South Island and the highest peaks of Stewart Island. The leaves are almost circular, can be up to almost 40 cm across, and in the central hollow where the stalk is attached, can be deep enough to hold a cup of water. The flowers can be between 5 and 8 cms in diameter, the white petals surround the golden stamens, and in the centre the greenish pistils overlap like fish scales. It is a noble plant and the largest and finest ranunculus in the world. Details supplied towards the end of the 1970s by botanist and WARO member, the late Brenda Shore, whose callsign was ZL4OQ. |
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