200 The Biology of the High Mountain Plants: 
Ourisia macrocarpa, Celmisia verbascifelia and other plants. still blossom. 
Various species of Gentiana are also late or long flowerers and their season 
extends to the beginning of April. But generally speaking, the flowering season 
is over and the herbs have ripened their seeds. By the end of the month 
many of the shrubs are loaded with fruit and, at this stage, species of Coprosma 
covered thickly with translucent drupes are objects of great beauty. On river- 
beds of the Southern Alps, C. drunnea forms strings of shining beads in every 
shade of blue. Throughout April and early May, there are still many berries, 
Fig. 53. Helichrysum_ coralloides growing on dry rock, Shingly Range, North-eastern district. 
Photo L. Cockayne. 
drupes &c. to be seen, but by June they have nearly all disappeared, Gaya 
Lyalliı, for some time beautiful with autumn colouring, has shed its leaves, 
dead foliage alone marks the presence of Ranunculus Lyallii and. Senecio 
scorzoneroides, the shingle-slip species winter beneath the stones and the alpine 
vegetation, some of it now reddish or purplish in colour, is at rest until the 
melting of the snow and the increasing warmth of spring. 
