Research sources include the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Department of Conservation, Environment Canterbury, New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand), and scientific research published in the New Zealand Journal of Botany. Te Papa lists these watercolours as having no known copyright restrictions, but it's still worth following its image-use guidance.
Botanical illustrations and native plants
1. Sarah Featon and The Art Album of New Zealand Flora (Te Papa) https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/the-art-album-of-new-zealand-flora
2. Sarah Featon's illustration of five hebes (Te Papa) https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/310850
3. Sarah Featon's horokaka and kōkihi illustration (Te Papa) https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/550198
4. New Zealand's Native Bees: Quiet Lives of Desperation (Te Papa, Julia Kasper, 2021) https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2021/02/01/new-zealands-native-bees-quiet-lives-of-desperation/
5. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network: native plant identification and ecology https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/
6. W. B. Johnston, Locating the Vegetation of Early Canterbury: A Map and the Sources (1961) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TRSBOT19610916.2.2
7. Howell and Jesson (2013): The Effect of Bird and Bee Visitation on Pollination and Reproductive Success in Harakeke
https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2013.772904
This study compares how effectively birds and honeybees transfer pollen on harakeke.
Taylor & Francis Online
8. Lynda Delph (2022): Functional Precocious Protogyny in New Zealand Sun Hebes https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2021.1936574 Examines hebe flower reproduction and records native flower beetles transferring pollen. Published online in 2021 and in the journal's 2022 volume.
9. Department of Conservation: Tī kōuka / cabbage tree. https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/cabbage-tree-ti-kouka/
10. Department of Conservation: Mānuka and kānuka https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/manuka-kahikatoa-and-kanuka/
11. Department of Conservation: Native ferns and their reproduction https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/ferns/
12. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network: Creeping fuchsia https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/fuchsia-procumbens/
Introduced bees and changes to New Zealand's environment
13. Historical account of Emma Belfield's 1881 bumblebee introduction, reprinted in the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture (1916) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZJAG19160821.2.18
14. Timaru Herald, 26 July 1876: Emma Leonora Mellish and Herbert Belfield's marriage notice https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18760726.2.5
15. Department of Conservation: Honeybees on conservation land https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/honeybees-on-conservation-land/
16. Environment Canterbury: Wild Russell lupin https://www.ecan.govt.nz/pest-search/wild-russell-lupin