BOTANISING ON “ THE OLD MAN."

Otago Witness, Issue 3758, 23 March 1926, Page 11

BOTANISING ON “ THE OLD MAN."

A RECENT VISIT. By One of the Party. The mountain range known as the “Old Man,” which runs geographically from norih to south between Clyde and Roxburgh, has been an object of interest from the earliest of the goldfields days in Otago. The extraordinary rock on the top of the range, towards ts northerly end, which is supposed from a distance to resemble the figure of a man, has withstood in lonely isolation the storms of many centuries. Familiar landmark as it was to the adventurous spirits who roamed the surrounding country in the days of the Dunstan rush, and no less familiar to the many thousands who have passed to and fro in the long course of years since the early day of Otago’s history, yet the number of tnose who have actually climbed to the rock is small by comparison. And yet it is easily reached, perhaps most easily from the locality for long years known as Bald Hill Flat—a name that for the past eight or nine years has given place to that of Fruitlands. 1 said just now that the rock is easily reached, b it I did not mean that the climb is an easy one; it cou'd not be easy seeing that an altitude of 5500 ft has to be reached There are, however, no difficulties to surmount in the track that leads to the top of the mountain, and those who are not equal to the climb on foot can ride to within a hundred yards or so of the rock, dismount, tie their horses to the boundary fence, and proceed on foot right up to their goal. The climb (but not on foot) was recently made by a small party of botanical enthusiasts interested in the cultivation of certain species of our native flora. '1 hev were able to secure horses at Fruitlands—good, reliable animals who know the mountain well The day was bright, and the ascent along the winding track presented no difficulties to our sure-footed steeds We quickly got into the region of the tussocks, where some well-known plants—Wahlenber gia, Aciphylla, and Rao-dlia—presented themselves. The last-named (R. grandiflora). with countless tiny dots of white blossom covering its compact and cushioning form, displayed itself everywhere on each side of the track.

After an hour and a-half’s steady climbing, rocks in varying grotesque outlines were reached, and on the left of our track one of these stood up in the likeness of a huge king penguin, a landmark and guide to the collecting area southward that was our goal. We had decided, however, to first visit, the Old Man ( rock itself, a mile or so distant to the north, so we turned our horses’ heads to the right, and here we encouptered the full force of a biting gale from the north-west. It was only by bend ing our bodies horizontally from the saddle towards the wind that we escaped being blown off. The horses strugg’ed on against the gale, but under protest, and every now and again one of them would manifest a strong determination to turn round and end the struggle. Perseverance, however, finallv brought us to within a hundred yards of thp ock; but further progress was barred by a boundary fence. There would hive been no use in dismounting and tying the horspc to the fence, for they would not have stood in the teeth of the gale that, was blowing, and turning southward we made our way towards n gully where collecting was to begin. Travelling along the top was very rough owing to tile broken nature of the rocky ground, but fortunately the distance was not great. Veronica Hecton and Poppelwelli and Celmisia yisoosa were the predominant plants met with until we reached our camping ground. Here in a gully with the last remnan'i of the season’s snow rapidlv melting under the influence of the grateful rays of the sun. the billv was boiled and lunch having been partaken of, we began our work of collecting. There were many of the smaller genus of plant* on the sloping sides of the little gully. Celmisias, dasiphvlla. viseosa, argonfea, glutosoens, Novae Zealand ia, and sossiliflora were plentiful, nnd some fin*' clumps of the latter were obtained. Of the veronicas, V. Hectori and Poppelwellii predominate I

We had scarcely finished lunch when three ladies, with a male escort, made their over the brow of the hill. They had made th»» climb from Fruitlands in about four hours, inclusive of an hour’s delay for lunch. Needless to say. they were greeted with enthusiasm, and quickly provided with a cup of tea to refresh thorn after tlieir strenuous exertions. After a short rest, it was their intention to start on their return down the mountain track, and before leaving them to commence our examination of the surrounding gullies and hillsides, we had a pleasant nnd animated tnlk on things in general, nnd specially on their nch’erement in reaching the summit of the Old Man in three hours.

A good deal of the surrounding countrv was traversed, and it disclosed a wealth of native plants. In the area of a mile north, south, and west, it was estimated that there must be an aggregate of 30 to 40 acres of celmisias of the various kinds, densiflora being the most plentiful. Sheep are now grazing on the particular area referred to, and the probabilities are. a? nn manv other nertora-1 mountains, that the native vegetation will be eaten out ere many years hare passed. The whole of the members of the pßrty spent about throe hours collecting the various species of plants in different directions. They secured many well-known species, nnd probably two or three not at present known to science. In addition to these it is almost certain that there are other species not yet known It is evidently most desirable that further and complete botanical examination of this interesting mountain range should be made, nnd specimens secured for preservation nnd cultivation, otherwise there is the risk of some species being exterminated. The following is a list of the flowering plants noted, specimens of the least uncommon being brought away for cultivation:— Ranunculus pachyrrhizus f'nltha qbtusu Cuidamine depressa Viola Cuuninghamii Viola filicaule Claytonia nustralnsica Geranium microphylum Sessiliflora _ Oxalis corniculata Oxalis mauellaiiita Discaria Toumatou

Rubins Acaeua glabra Donatia Novae Zealandice Epilobuim graeilipes Epilobuim repens Auosctome up. I'nprosnia repeus Nertera depressa; Cclnnsias ramulosa, Novae Zealaulioj, longiti lia. prorepons, Lynllii, lareifolu, sessili flora, densiflora, argentea, and visccsa; Aciphylla C'olensoi, Crosbysmithii, and Tr.tilh (?); Unaphaliuin paludosum Raoulia australis, Mwnroi. glabra, sub* sericea, Parkii, and graudiflora; Biaehycome Sinclairii and liu^ata; HeetorcLla eaespitosa Abrotanella eaespitosa CciFstriJn fulvida CiMfpedia uniflora, var. Janata: Senecio, small species not yet described, J’hylncline colensoi and rubra, Pratia perpusila Wab'eubergia gracilis and sexicoia Dracophyllum longifolium and prostr.» t urn Dimelia arenaria and Laevigata var. replus Gen Tana linata, Saxosa, and filipcs Leucopogon Fraseri Vercniea Poppelwelli. Dr.isypbylla, pimehoides, var. glauca, Birleyi, Ilecioii, and Buchanani; Onrisia glandulosa Plantago lanigera Drapetes Dieffenbachii and Lyallii. It is probable that were the range botanically examined ear.ier in the flowering season many more species would ba found.