Ourisia

The Ourisias are sometimes called mountain foxgloves. This is a common name with at least some validity since foxgloves and Ourisia belong to the same family, the Scrophulariaceae.

The two large species of Ourisia found in tussock herbfield, like the large Ranunculus species, have leathery or somewhat fleshy, dark green leaves. The flowers are white with yellow centres, 2-3 cm across and have the five petals fused at the base. The flowers are distinctively arranged in spreading circles or whorls, one above the other. Ourisia macrophylla with two subspecies is found on wetter mountains in the North Island and O. macrocarpa also with two subspecies in similar sites throughout the South Island.