102 Floristik und Systematik der Phanerogamen. 



rely of one kind of tree, including the following: a) Kauri forest of 

 Agathis australis with characteristic associates which however only 

 form a moderately dense undergrowth where lianes are almost ab- 

 sent; b) Kahikatea forest consisting almost exclusively o\ Podocarpus 

 docrydioides wiih Freycinetla Banksii, etc., forming a rigid entangle- 

 ment along the forest floor; c) Beech forest of Nothof agus with a 

 deeply shaded scanty undergrowth. 



IV. The Natural Shrubberies. The more important of these are 

 classified into: 1. Heaths or extensive areas with a uniform shrubby 

 Vegetation: a) Manuka heath of South Island dominated hy Lepio- 

 spermiim scopariiim; b) heaths of the northern part of North- 

 Island with a more varied selection of shrubs, e. g. Olearia fur- 

 furacea, Leiicopogon fasciculatus, Epacris paiiciflora., etc.; c) Heaths 

 of central North Island, intermediate in type; a considerable area 

 of this heath was buried deeply by volcanic ash during the Tara- 

 vera eruption in 1886 and the new Vegetation which is appearing 

 is under Observation. 2. Shrubs which occur mainly as belts, and 

 include many species of shrubs. The sub-alpine shrub is the most 

 noteworthy; it forms a zone above the Beech forest, and is the 

 headquarters of the shrubby Veronicas and Olearias. Reference is 

 also made to the authors experiments in prolonging the juvenile 

 form (Jugendform) of New Zealand shrubs. 



V. Vegetation of the Sea Coast. Brief descriptions are given 

 of the Chief features of the Vegetation of sandy and rocky shores,. 

 sandhills, mangroves, coastal shrubberies and the coastal Islands. 



VI. The Meadows. a) Lowland and Montane Tussock 

 Meadows; these occur in the drier parts (Canterbury piain, etc.), 

 and are the grazing grounds for the New Zealand flocks; Poa 

 caespitosa, P. Colensoi, Festuca ovina, Agropyrum scabrum, and 

 species of Danthonia are important native grasses, which are fre- 

 quently replaced by European grasses and clovers. b) Meadows 

 of the High Mountains; here, as in the European Alpenwiesen, 

 the number of species is large and the flowers are conspicuous, but 

 whites and yellows far outnumber the reds and blues so characte- 

 ristic of the Alps; brief notes are given on a large number of characte- 

 ristic species. The summits of the mountains are scantily covered 

 with „the Rock and Shingle-slip Vegetation", which the author re- 

 gards as the early stage of the sward of the Mountain Mea- 

 dows; the „vegetable sheep" (Haastia pulvitiaris and Raoiilia 

 eximimia are characteristic of this association). 



VII. Plauts of Fresh Water, Swamps and Bogs. Although New 

 Zealand is not rieh in aquatic plants native species oA Potamogeton^ 

 Isoetes, Azolla, Piliilaria, etc. lend interest, while Nasturtiiim pa- 

 lustre and Anacharis canadensis are prolific weeds. Swamps are 

 still common, although formerly more extensive; Phormiam tenax 

 a typical swamp-plant has a high economic value on account of 

 its fibre. The peaty Bogs of the lowlands and mountains favour 

 many species e. g. Gelmisia, Drosera, Gunnera, and the dwarf taxoid 

 Dacrydiiim laxifolium. 



VIII. The plants of the outlying islands. The authors name is 

 already known from his accounts of the Vegetation of the Chatham. 

 Auckland and other islands South of New Zealand; a sum- 

 mary of the chief formations of this sub-antarctic Vegetation is given 

 in this chapter along with a brief description of the sub-tropical 

 Kermedecs. 



