Cockayne. — Plant Geography of the Waimahariri. 127 



from Mount St. Bernard into the Winding Creek are a most 

 surprising number of forms of two species of Veronica. Nume- 

 rous grass-fires, bush-fires, a certain amount of cultivation, and 

 the pasturage of many sheep have in some places changed 

 the character of the vegetation, especially so far as percentage 

 of components is concerned, and by destroying the tussock 

 shelter must have almost or entirely eradicated some of the 

 more lowly plants. The following are the most important 

 plant-formations : — 



Besides the above formations, other smaller ones will be 

 treated of. Some of the lowland and subalpine formations 

 also extend into this region. 



(3.) The Subalpine Eegion : This region is of great interest, 

 and contains many remarkable plants. It is here that the 

 effect of varied stations on plant-form can be especially well 

 studied. For example, it is hard to believe that Eirilohmm 

 chlorafolium of a very shady station among shrubs is the 

 same species as the form growing in the open. All the moun- 

 tainous country between an altitude of 761m. and 1,220 m. 

 found in the eastern climatic region belongs to this subregion. 

 Snow lies on an average for about one month during winter, 

 but for a longer period towards the upper portions of the 

 region, and, of course, in times of a heavy snowfall, for con- 

 siderably longer still. Frosts may occur during any month in 

 the year. The south-west wind often brings rain. Not un- 

 commonly is the soil of fair depth, in that case consisting of 

 yellow, rather sandy, clayey loam. Heavy winds are frequent, 

 but on the whole there are more calm days than in the low- 

 lands. The surface of the ground is usually very steep, 



* The shingle-slips have to be subdivided into limestone and sand- 

 stone, each bearing a somewhat different set of plants. 



t Several subdivisions will here also be necessary. Perhaps Aciphylla 

 colensoi should have been given as the principal plant ; it is certainly 

 most characteristic of the whole region in many ways, and it gives a 

 peculiar and special physiognomy to the landscape where growing in 

 abundance. 



