Laing. — Vegetation of Bankx Peninsii/u. 367 



Where the bush was partly burnt, or burnt patolies occurred in the 

 middle of the forest, fire weeds such as Aristotelia racemosa, Solanum. avicu- 

 lare, Erechtites prenanthoides, Plagianthus hetulinus, and other fast-growing 

 ])lants appeared, but, owing to the complete destruction of the forest, patches 

 containing these second-growth species have now also disappeared. 



(9) The Lowland Scrub mid Heath. 



Not all the scrub and heath areas are areas of second growth. There are 

 scrub areas which have not at any recent time been covered with timber- 

 trees, containing shrubs such as Melicope simplex, Corokia Cotoneaster, 

 Helichrijsum glomeratum, Coprosma crassifolia, C. areolata, C. virescens, 

 Myrtus obcordata, Teucridium parviflorum, Mgoporum laeticm ; and as 

 climbers Clematis foetida, Rubus cissoides, Angelica geniculata, Parsonsia 

 heterophylla var. rosea ; whilst on the adjacent or interspersed rocks are 

 Sophora prostrata, Libertia ixioides, and Clematis afoliata. Such scrub occurs 

 where the rainfall has been too small or the exposure too great to admit of 

 forest growth. All the species mentioned above occur on Mount Pleasant 

 (behind Lyttelton) and again at Island Bay, and doubtless elsewhere. It 

 constitutes a plant society which is characteristic of Banks Peninsula, and 

 the same combination, so far as I know, does not occur elsewhere. Similar 

 associations are to be found near the wharf at Port Levy, and also at Caton's 

 Bay, though not so fully developed as in the two localities mentioned. 



With the scrub area I have associated the heath, which occurs at 

 Governor's Bay, Port Levy, Duvauchelle's Bay, Barry's Bay, and Wainui, 

 and is perliaps as well developed at Wainui as anywhere on the peninsula. 

 Here it consists of Leptospermum ericoides (often covered with the parasite 

 Viscum, salicornioides), smaller quantities of L. scoparium, Gaultheria antipoda 

 (the erect form), Cyathodes acerosa, Lycopodium volubile, Blechnum capense 

 (a small form), Pteridium esculenturii, Pteris scaberula, and the orchids 

 Thelymitm longifolia and Pterostylis Banksii. Pseudopanax crassifolium 

 occurs in it scantily, and elsewhere Leucopogon fasciculatum is a common 

 constituent. Here also RaouUa subsericea appears exceptionally, and at an 

 unusually low level of not more than 500ft. A somewhat similar heath 

 may be seen at the back of Mount Karetu. 



(10) The Subalpine Scrub. 

 This consists, in addition to some species from the upper limits of the 

 forest, of Olearia cymbifolia (forma), 0. ilicifolia, with rare specimens of 

 Aristotelia fruticosa and Gaultheria antipoda (the prostrate form). Veronica 

 buxifolia was once found in it. This association is best seen on the old 

 Purau line between Mounts Herbert and Fitzgerald, and again on the up})er 

 edge of the Mount Herbert bush. Species that might be expected and do 

 not occur are Coprosma foefidissima, C. cimeata, and Ve^-onica propinqua. 

 Pentachondra pumila has been found on one or two hilltops. The poor 

 development of the subalpine scrub may be due to an insufficient supply 

 of moisture and a too high summer temj)erature. Near Dunedin it is much 

 better developed, and includes two species of Dacrydium and Phyllocladus 

 alpinus. These taxads are absent from Banks Peninsula. 



(11) The Subalpine Grasslands. 

 Above 2,500 ft. there is to be found a distinct subalpine pasture.* 

 It is characterized by the presence in abundance of Ourisia macrophylla 



* See also Trans., N.Z. Inst., vr.l. 4(). p. 58, U)14. 



