Molesworth Station, South Marlborough - Department of Conservation

Climate <strong>Molesworth</strong> endures a continental climate <strong>of</strong> extremes. Hot and generally dry summers are followed by harsh winters. Snow may fall at any time <strong>of</strong> the year, some years covering the entire property for up to eight weeks in winter. At the homestead, frosts are recorded as <strong>of</strong>ten as two days in three. Average annual rainfall ranges from 670 mm in the east to 3000 mm in the west, the marked gradient reflected in the varied soils and vegetation. 2 Lake Tennyson. Photo: Neil Deans Vegetation <strong>Molesworth</strong> is an area <strong>of</strong> national ecological significance. Over 70 threatened plant species grow here, a quarter <strong>of</strong> which are acutely threatened. These are mostly herbs and include two native mistletoes, five daisies, a hairy mountain cress, a buttercup, a gentian, a plantain and a hebe. More than 60 endemic plant species are found in <strong>South</strong> <strong>Marlborough</strong> (the area south <strong>of</strong> the Richmond Ranges to the Conway River); close to half <strong>of</strong> these grow on <strong>Molesworth</strong>. 3