Continuing on our plant theme. There have been some exciting new plants finds, as well as fish finds.
Peter found three species of filmy ferns that are new records for the Kermadecs when we were around Raoul. Trichomones humile and Hymenophyllum polgathos are both tropical species, which have never been recorded in New Zealand before. Here is Peter with one of his new records.
Botanist Peter de Lange with a filmy fern, never recorded in New Zealand before
You can hear Peter talk about the new records here.
Peter talks about exciting new fern discoveries
The third new record, Hymenophyllum saguinolatum, is a New Zealand fern which as also recently been recorded in Rarotonga. Peter has also collected mosses, lichens and liverworts and is turning up new records amongst those as well, but as is usual with small things it will require microscopes and expert help back home before they can be accurately identified.
Peter is sorting his specimens into species, and filing each species of vascular plant between layers of newspaper. Once he has a big sandwich of plants and newspaper, he douses it in his ‘evil brew’ of vinegar and methylated spirits to preserve everything. Back in New Zealand he will re-sort the specimens onto proper herbarium sheets ready for permanent storage.
Mosses and liverworts, on the other hand, are put into paper packets, and dried in the warmth of the engine room.
Peter filing species between layers of newspaper ready for dousing with vinegar and methylated spirits – a makeshift preservation strategy
We’re excited to see what might come back with Peter and Warren after we drop them on Macauley Island!
