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Story: South Canterbury region

An iconic lily

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An iconic lily

The Mt Cook lily (Ranunculus lyallii) is in fact a buttercup – the world’s largest. It can grow up to 1.5 metres tall and has large leathery leaves and delicate white flowers. It is probably New Zealand’s best known alpine plant, partly because it is the emblem for Mt Cook Airlines. Aoraki/Mt Cook is in the background, with the Hooker Glacier below.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Jock Phillips

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, South Canterbury region – Climate, vegetation and wildlife, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11315/an-iconic-lily (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 February 2017.