A photo looking down from head height at a thin-leaved spiny plant. This is a taramea, a kind of NZ speargrass (also called spaniard). They're no longer common in the Port Hills, as they're susceptible to grazing by introduced mammals. I map out all the ones I find and add them to iNaturalist.

My full-res photo is at https://inaturalist.nz/observations/297848991
A photo looking down from head height at a thin-leaved spiny plant. This is a taramea, a kind of NZ speargrass (also called spaniard). They're no longer common in the Port Hills, as they're susceptible to grazing by introduced mammals. I map out all the ones I find and add them to iNaturalist. My full-res photo is at https://inaturalist.nz/observations/297848991
A photo of track down off the top of Sugarloaf peak through sheep grazed native grassland. In the background are the forests of Victoria Park and behind them the built city of Christchurch spreads out across the Canterbury Plains. The Southern Alps mountains rim the horizon.
A photo of track down off the top of Sugarloaf peak through sheep grazed native grassland. In the background are the forests of Victoria Park and behind them the built city of Christchurch spreads out across the Canterbury Plains. The Southern Alps mountains rim the horizon.
A photo of part of Latters Spur track, heading down towards the city. Bowenvale Valley is on the right. This section of track is grass with sheep pasture on the right and a weedy mess of Scotch broom, boneseed, tree lucerne, and wilding pines on the right (mostly out of view of this photo).
A photo of part of Latters Spur track, heading down towards the city. Bowenvale Valley is on the right. This section of track is grass with sheep pasture on the right and a weedy mess of Scotch broom, boneseed, tree lucerne, and wilding pines on the right (mostly out of view of this photo).