360 Tranmctious. 



Celmisia viscosa, Veronica pulvinaris, LuziiJa jmmua, and Phi/Uachue 

 Colensoi are \'irtuallv confined to the alpine belt. 



** Groivth-forms. 



Our list of eastern fell-field plants is too meagre to warrant a detailed 

 inquiry into the growth-forms, and such would be misleading. Suffice it 

 to say that there are represented creeping and rooting shrubs, suhshruhs and 

 herbs, herbs and subshrubs of the cushion form, rosette plants, and tussocJc- 

 grasses, while xerophytic structure of many kinds is exhibited. 



(C.) Forest-climate Formations. 



(a.) GENERAL. 



The very much greater rainfall and the increase in number of rainy 

 days lead to a more rapid growth and speedy establishment of species, 

 together with a much closer plant covering, than does the steppe climate. 

 Likewise there are much more extensive formations of trees and shrubs. 

 The formation and accimiulation of raw himius is strongly favoured — so 

 much so, indeed, that even rocks may be covered Avith a true soil, and bear 

 a fairly dense and rich plant covering. On the other hand, the Avinter 

 snowfall is greater, and th^ proximity of permanent snowfields and glaciers 

 are counteracting factors. 



(/i.) THE ROCK-FOREST SERIES. 



(1.) General. 



The sequence of events in the succession of the plant-associations in the 

 Upper Rakaia Valley can be well seen on the northern bank of the river, 

 taking the mouth of the River Louper as a central point.! 



Thus, " Bare rock is the first. Its disintegration leads to shingle-slip, on 

 which special shingle-slip plants, or those of rock or fell-field possessing 

 suitable adaptations, can settle. These prepare the way for fell-field, and 

 this in its turn may give place to forest by way of scrub at the lowest alti- 

 tude. 



" At the same time reversion frequently occurs, and there are excellent 

 examples to be seen where forest has been destroyed by a shingle-stream. 

 Recolonizing ensues, the plants coming from those close at hand. On the 

 south side of the river the process is also in progress. Here a descending 

 stream of stones has cut a path through the forest. Shingle-slip plants 

 come first, then a grassy fell-field, which is replaced by shrubs, and these, 

 at a suitable elevation, by forest." 



(2.) The Associations, 

 (a.) Rock. 



Although plenty of the alpine rocks bear an abundant plant covering, 

 this does not betoken a pioneer association, but is much younger than 

 a good deal of the vegetation adjoining, many of the species depending on 

 the peaty soil and having probably come by way of the fell-field. 



The rocks examined were at an altitude of from 1.280 m. to 1,390 m. They 

 were covered in places with a good deal of raw humus. The species noted 



J What follows is almost word for word from notes written by Cockayne on the 

 spot. 



