Among the plants of our mountains are many endemic species and most of these belong to only a few genera. The genus Celmisia, of which there are 58 endemic species, are the mountain daisies which have been regarded as the dominant plants of these regions. The flowers are white and usually large and beautiful. These are herbaceous plants, with leaves covered by hairs, and of shape and arrangements which seem to guard against loss of water by transpiration. In C. sessiflora, C. argentea, C. lateralis, and C. laricifolia are leaves of this nature. C. gracilenta is a species which is very widespread, being found throughout New Zealand from sea coast up to about 5,000 ft. C. spectabilis is also common and is recognised by a thick covering of buff-coloured hairs on under surfaces of leaves. Olearia is another genus with a large number of endemic species. These are shrubs or small trees with hard, leathery leaves having white or buff-coloured tomentum on the under surface. There are 32 species, all endemic. Olearia paniculata is found near the sea but also at great altitudes. O. moschata, mountain musk, is common in sub-alpine scrub as a tree 5 to 15 ft in height. O. ilicifolia is found throughout both Islands and O. avicenniaefolia is widespread at high altitudes.

The genus Hebe is a large one which is highly developed in New Zealand where 79 species are recorded, the largest number of any native genus. Most are endemic. They are found from sea coast to the upper limit of vegetation on our mountains. For many years this genus was known as Veronica, with the Maori name koromiko applied to many species. H. salicifolia is most widespread; H. traversii is common particularly on the Southern Alps, with H. monticola and H. epacridea in all mountain districts from Nelson southward to Otago. Many Hebes have minute scale-like leaves, overlapping and closely appressed to thin wiry stems. These are the whipcord hebes.

Aciphylla is another genus of which all the 39 species are endemic. Most of them have long thin spike leaves, forming a dense mass of fearsome appearance. The flower stalks are long, covered with spines, and bearing large panicles of flowers. When young the leaves are soft and may be eaten by cattle and sheep. Aciphylla monroi is found in alpine and sub-alpine regions. A. colensoi and A. squarrosa, kuri-kuri or wild Spaniard, are the best known and from the latter the Maoris obtained a scented gum.

We have some striking examples of the “cushion” habit of growth in the genera Raoulia and Haastia. When these plants grow to a large size the extensive mass with white hairy leaves has an unusual appearance which has given rise to the name “vegetable sheep”. Two species very common in the Southern Alps are Raoulia eximia and R. mammilaris, R. haastii is a much-branched prostrate herb of mountain river beds. There are 20 endemic species of Raoulia and the genus Haastia is also endemic.