Plant of the Week!!! Yay!!!11

So one semi-regular thing that I thought I would do is write about some plants that I like or come across that are interesting…can’t promise I’ll do one every week, but what they hell. You probably don’t even read this regularly. I’ll mainly do natives, but an exotic every now and then won’t hurt…This week…

Nihinihi – Shore bindweed – Calystegia soldanella

Like all bindweeds, nihinihi belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. Most of the Convolvulaceae, including the Convolvulus genus after which the family is named, are creeping herbaceous vines or prostrate shrubs. Nihinihi is no exception, forming large mats in sandy and rocky coastal areas and lakes.

Nihinihi is native to our shores, and is found throughout most of the country, especially in the northern regions of the North Island. It really is a neat little plant with lovely curved leaves and beautiful pale pink or mauve flowers. I found it recently growing on Te Haupa, an uninhabitated island in the Hauraki Gulf, during some field work there, but I have spotted it elsewhere.

Anyway, it’s nice to say some positive things about the Convolvulaceae, given that several species, particularly from the Convolvulus genus, are invasive in New Zealand, forming inpenetrable mats over everything.What a treat