362 Transucfions. 



At 1,390 ra. altitude, where the ground is rocky, the erect needle-leaved 

 shrub Dracophyllum Urvilleanum var. montanum, distinguished by its brown 

 colour, is very plentiful, associated with tussocks of Danthonia fiavescens, 

 and mixed with them the large-leaved herbaceous plants, the whole making- 

 a closed association. 



On some of the Rakaia fell-fields there are wide stretches of Ranunculus 

 Lyallii mixed with Ourisia macrocarfa, and I suspect there would be also 

 plenty of Ranunculus Godleyanus, but there was no opportunity of ex- 

 amining such a combination. 



** Growth-forms. 



The growth-forms of forest-climate fell-field differ from those of the 

 steppe climate chiefly in the presence of a much more mesophytic element, 

 with leaves sometimes of great size — e.g., Ranunculus Lyallii, Ourisia 

 macrocarpa, Anisotome Haastii, Senecio scorzoneroides. But xerophytes are 

 not absent— e.^., Aciphylla Colensoi var. maxima, Phormium Cookianum, 

 Astelia montana, Celmisia coriacea, C. Sinclairii — though such as these are 

 not to be compared with Celmisia Lyallii, C. viscosa, or C. 'pseudo- Lyallii 

 of the drier fell-field, also large plants. At above 1,500 m. doubtless, as in 

 fell-field in general, true xerophytes increase in numbers, but so high an 

 altitude on the mountains of the forest climate was not reached. 



{d.) Subalpine Scrub. 

 * General. 



It has been already seen that a good many shrubs are present on fell- 

 field or rock. It is only necessary for certain conditions to prevail and 

 the shrubs will get the ascendency and scrub be installed These conditions 

 are probably an altitude of not more than about 1,200 m. (with which is 

 connected a snow-covering of shorter duration than at a higher altitude), 

 shelter from the more intense winds, a soil containing a considerable per- 

 centage of humus. 



Subalpine scrub occurs on old river-terrace, moraine, slopes near the 

 source of rivers, and as a belt on the hillsides, frequently between the upper 

 margin of the forest and the fell-field. 



The general character of subalpine scrub has been sufficiently described 

 by various authors (see, e.g., Haast, 1866 ; Green, 1883 ; Harper, 1896 ; 

 Laing and Blackwell, 1907 ; Cockayne, 1906, 1909, 1910). That of the 

 Rakaia, as Haast first pointed out (1866), is of a maximum density. The 

 roof is fairly even ; its dominating colour is green, but there are man}" 

 patches of brown. Its height varies according to altitude and exposure, 

 it being tallest on river-bed, in gullies, and at its lowest altitude. At 

 1,000 m. elevation it may average 1-8 m. The shrubs grow into one another, 

 their stiff or rigid branches frequently stretch horizontally down the slope, 

 the scrub as a whole being in places virtually impenetrable. 



** Composition. 



The following were the species noted : Polystichuni vcstitum (Fil.) ; Podo- 

 carpus nivalis, Phyllocladus alpinus (Taxac.) ; Clematis australis (Ranmi.) 

 Carmichaelia grandiflora (Legum.) ; Aristotelia jruticosa (Elaeocarpac.) 

 Gaya Lyallii (Malv.) ; Nothopanax simplex, N. parvum, N. Colensoi (Araliac.) 

 Griselinia littoralis (Cornac.) ; Aciphylla Cohnsoi var. maxima (Umbell.) 

 Archeria Traversii, Dracophyllum longifolium, D. Urvilleanum var. montanum 

 (Epacrid.) ; Veronica salici folia, V. subalpina (Scro])h.) ; Coproma serrulata, 



