blooms in the cold subalpine herbfields

Size
Height: 10–20 cm
Lifespan
5–10 years
Diet
Photosynthetic. Draws energy from sunlight. Obtains nutrients from well-drained, often poor soils.
Habitat
Subalpine and alpine herbfields, rocky areas and open slopes. Prefers well-drained, often poor soils with full sun. Tolerates cold, wind and frost.
Range
Throughout New Zealand from Northland to Stewart Island. Most common in subalpine and alpine areas. Also found on Chatham Islands.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Habitat loss from climate change is primary threat. Browsing by introduced mammals. Climate change affecting alpine habitats.
Population
Populations considered stable but localised. Species common in alpine areas throughout New Zealand. Threatened by climate change and browsing.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
native herb, safe to handle
Conservation Note
Endemic herb; widespread in alpine and subalpine habitats in the South Island.
Assessment
NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
Te Ao Māori
In Māori tradition native daisy used medicinally. Leaves made into poultice for wounds and skin infections. Woolly texture noted. Plant also used as tinder for fire-making. Bright flowers admired. Name pārera means duck. Possibly referring to woolly downy leaves. Plant of high mountains. Gathered by those who climbed peaks.
Wind flattens its leaves. Brachyglottis lagopus is small, woolly herb. Silvery-grey leaves and yellow daisy flowers. Leaves edible but quite bitter. Can be used sparingly in salads. Grows in subalpine and alpine areas throughout New Zealand. Well-adapted to cold, harsh conditions. Plant of mountains where wind never stops. Leaves covered in dense layer of white or grey woolly hairs. Woolly coating helps protect plant from frost, wind, and intense sunlight. Leaves oblong or spoon-shaped. Arranged in basal rosette. Plant that wears coat against cold. Flowers bright yellow daisies. Many small petals surrounding central disc. Appear in summer. Followed by fluffy seed heads that disperse seeds on wind. Splash of yellow on grey scree. Small sun in cold. Native daisy is plant of high country. Grows in subalpine and alpine herbfields. On rocky slopes and in open, exposed areas. One of few plants that can survive harsh conditions of alpine zone. Frost, snow, wind that never stops. Native daisy does not care. To find native daisy is to climb mountains. Look for silvery-grey leaves. Bright yellow flowers. Plant of high places. Splash of colour in grey alpine zone. Leaves bitter but flowers bright. Trade-off. Deal struck with mountain. In alpine zone where rocks sharp and air thin native daisy opens yellow flowers to sun. Wind flattens woolly leaves against ground. Snow covers everything in winter. Then summer comes and daisy blooms again. Has been doing this for thousands of years. Will keep doing it. Mountain does not ask for more. It carries on regardless.