122 Transactions. 



THE PLANT ASSOCIATIONS. 



In dealing with these it will be necessary to make the distinctions of 

 (1) forest, (2) subalpine scrub, (3) steppe, (4) alpine meadow, (5) rocks and 

 cliffs, (6) bogs and swamps. 



(1.) Forest. 



The principal forests are those in the head of the Waikaia Valley, in 

 Gow's Creek, and on East Dome. These will be treated separately. 



Waikaia Valley Forest. 



This is a beech forest, but contains perhaps a larger admixture of other 

 species than is usual in such forests. The beeches noted by me consist 

 of Nothofagus Menziesii and N. Solanderi at the lower levels, the height 

 above sea-level being about 700 ft. On the higher ground near at hand 

 Nothofagus fusca is also growing. The latter species is in places of great 

 height, many trees measuring over 40 metres and some probably over 

 45 metres tall, the lowest branches being perhaps 20 metres from the base. 

 The trees vary from 1 to 1-5 metres in diameter, and have fine straight 

 boles, although covered in some instances with mosses and lichens. The 

 physiognomy of the forest is sombre, as is usual, although the lighter green 

 colour and more open branches of N .fusca at once mark out where it is domi- 

 nant. On the bank of the Waikaia River in this locality a somewhat mixed 

 association of shrubs was noted, consisting of Olearia nummularifolia, Car- 

 michaelia robusta, C. subulata, Veronica salicifolia, Olearia aborescens, Senecio 

 elaeagnifolius, Gaultheria erecta, Pittosporum Buchanani, Nothopanax Edger- 

 leyi, N. Colensoi, Fuchsia excorticata, Phylocladus alpinus, Gaya Lyallii, 

 Coprosma crassifolia, Olearia ilicifolia, and Podocarpus Hallii. The creepers 

 Muehlenbeckia complexa and Rubus australis are also fairly common ; while 

 the parasites Elytranthe Colensoi, E. tetrapeiala, and E. flavida are abundant 

 on the beech-trees, and light up the dark forest with blazes of red and orange. 

 < 'uriously enough, E. Colensoi and E. tetrapetala were only noted on Notho- 

 fagus Menziesii, although a close lookout was kept on the other beeches for 

 them. 



The plants of the ground layer consist of Astelia nervosa, Poa Colensoi, 

 Helichrysum bellidioides, Rumex flexuosus, Acaena sanguisorbae, A. pilosa, 

 Senecio bellidioides, Lagenophora petiolata, Hydrocotyle novae-zealandiae, 

 Raoulia glabra. Uncinia riparia, Cardamine heterophylla, Ranunculus lappa- 

 ceus, Chrysobactron Hookeri, Juncus planifolius, Viola Lyallii, Microlaena 

 avenacea, and the ferns Blechnum penna marina, Polystichuni vestitum, 

 Asplenium flaccidum, A. Hookerianum, A. flabellijolium, and Hymenophyllum 

 uiultifidum. Close to the river Lycopodiutu, Billardieri was also noted, 

 epiphytic on Nothofagus Menziesii. Farther up, as we approach the denser 

 forest, the following make their appearance : Rubus australis, R. sub- 

 pauperatus, Carpodetus serratus, Coriaria tliyutifolia, Coprosma areolata. 

 Corokia cotoneaster, Suttonia divaricata, Coriaria angustissima, Wahloi- 

 bergia saxicola, and Uncinia rubra, with Juncus effusus and J. plani- 

 folius in the damp places. In open spots I also noted Nertera setulosa, 

 Blechnum capense, Helichrysum- filicaide, Geranium microphyllum, Pteridium 

 esculentum, Epilobium pubens, and Hypolepis tenuifolium. On the edge 

 of the forest the following are found : Muehlenbeckia australis, Drimys 

 colorata, Dracophyllum longifolium, and Griselinia littoralis. Here and 

 there under the beech-trees are patches of Histiopteris incisa, Nertera dichou- 

 draefolia, with the orchids Pterostylis australis, P. Banksii, Cory sunt lies 



