BOTANICAL SURVEYS 



273 



etation of distinct character. Small areas in the Waipoua 

 Forest are covered by a heath formation which is much more 

 extensive elsewhere in the North Island. The dominant 

 plants of the heaths are species of Leptospennnm (Myrta- 

 ceae), Ptendiiim, Gleichema and Lycopodiiim, together with 

 a number of shrubs. The heath is not a natural formation, 

 but shows by the presence of gum in its soil that it was for- 

 merly occupied by Kauri forest, although the evidences of 



Fig. 5. — Scene in the Waipoua Forest. On the right Beilschmiedia tarairi 

 (Lauraceae) ; in the background Metrosiceros robusta ( Myrtaceae), 

 to show the habit of branching. l^lioto. 1^. Cockayne. 



its active reoccupation at the present day are very slight. 

 The Tongariro National Park of New Zealand, situated 

 in the central part of the North Island, embraces a variety 

 (){ natural features such as is found in few areas of its size 

 in any country. The region of the Park rises out of a plateau 

 of 3000 feet altitude and culminates in the three volcanic 

 peaks Ruapehu (9175 ft.), Xgauruhoe (7515 ft.) and 

 Tongariro (6458 ft.), on and about which are active craters, 

 hot springs, glaciers, lakes, bogs, deserts of scoriae and 



