The Mount Cook Lily is endemic to wet alpine and sub-alpine areas in New Zealand's South Island. It is often associated with Mount Cook National Park as postcards of the park often show these flowers with snow covered peaks in the background.
The flower is incorrectly called a 'lily', rather it is a buttercup. They can reach over a metre high making it the largest buttercup in the world. The leaves can catch water in a cup like fashion allowing walkers/trekkers to enjoy a drink. It blooms from November to January.
Author & photographer: David Johnson (Virtual New Zealand). Providing a credit or link is appreciated.
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