T. Kiek. — On New Zealand Beeches. 305 



abundant on the mountains of the South Island, often forming the sole 

 constituent of the forest from 2,000 feet to the limits of arboreal vegetation 

 at about 4,000 feet. It descends to the sea-level in Preservation Inlet. 



In many districts the abruptness of the higher limit is strongly marked : 

 on the St. Arnaud Eange, as on others in the South Island, the upper limit 

 forms a tolerably even line running for miles at a little below 4,000 feet. 



On Mount Torlesse a few small detached specimens attain an elevation 

 of 4,600 feet or thereabouts. 



Except in special situations it rarely exceeds 40 feet in height, and even 

 at low elevations is frequently much smaller. At the highest levels it is 

 little more than a shrub, often with prostrate stems, and if exposed to the 

 full influence of the wind with the branches so densely set that it is possible 

 to walk for long distances over the tops. 



In deep narrow valleys at high elevations this species is sometimes not 

 more than from .6 to 10 feet high, but retains the arboreal habit. At the 

 same time the leaves are excessively reduced in size, densely crowded, and 

 fruit is produced in abundance. At first sight this state presents the ap- 

 pearance of a distinct species, but a careful examination speedily dispels the 

 idea. 



On the other hand, isolated specimens growing in the open at below 

 3,000 feet, are often branched from the base, and form charming symmetri- 

 cal specimens of great beauty. When dotted over a wide area they give a 

 peculiar park-like character to the scene, and are peculiarly attractive. 



This species resembles Fagus solandri in the leaves of the young plant 

 being destitute of hairs on the lower surface, while full-grown specimens 

 have the leaves clothed with a thick layer of appressed white hairs. The 

 distichous arrangement of the leaves is a noteworthy character, although 

 in old specimens it is often obscured. 



The quality of the timber is much the same as that of entire-leaved 

 beech, and like that species it exhibits a considerable amount of durability 

 in certain cases, while in others it perishes within five or six years, as in 

 sheep-yards at Lake Pearson. 



In many districts it is of value as affording the only available timber, 

 but it assumes far greater importance when viewed with regard to its 

 influence on climate. In this respect it is not easy to overrate its import- 

 ance : its restraining action in the prevention of floods in certain situations 

 is so marked, that the destruction of the mountain beech forests would 

 speedily bring about the devastation of large tracts of country at low levels. 

 In wet situations the timber of this species often proves durable. Mr. 

 J. D. Enys informed me of an instance in which a large sleeper at the 

 margin of a spring in a situation where it was constantly moist was sound 



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