4 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



a grassy sward, which would in spring and sininner be spangled 

 with flowers. In New Zealand, they are covered with a 

 vegetation of a very different type. As far north as Lake 

 Taupo, it consists chiefly of tussock grass, toi-toi, and cabbage 

 tree (palm-lily) . This plant formation is most highly developed 

 in Canterbury, where wide open tussock-clad plains cover an 

 area of two and a half million acres. The Englishman, on his 

 arrival here, is puzzled by the appearance of detached hillocks 

 of grass, in place of the continuous turf of the green fields to 

 which he is accustomed. He cannot understand that this dry 



Fig. 1 — Tussock Conni r 



hard wiry straw can replace, to a large extent, the pasture 

 lands of England. This plant association not ()nl\- covers 

 much of the flat country, but is found in many places 

 throughout the South Island upon the hills, especially on the 

 eastern slopes of the ranges. The chief species of grasses 

 found in it are Poa caespitom and Festuca diiriusciila, l)ut 

 some Danthonias are also to be met with in such situations. 



The tussock country is dearly loved by every New Zealander. 

 It is full of associations for him. The stock-rider, the shepherd, 

 the swaggei', and even the sun-downer know every aspect of 



