a N alen ze de a anne > la al 
a a Ser az 2a 2 Dali 
Salt Swamp. 67 
Island beyond Timaru; the great salt-swamp near Invercargill, for example, 
consists of Lepfocarpus (dominant) and some S. americanus. | 
The general physiognomy of the association depends upon the dominant 
rush-form. Seen from a distance, it presents a dark even surface, but usually 
the Zeptocarpus is slightly taller than. the Funcus, while the Scirpus forms 
greener patches. Perhaps 70—80 cm might be considered the usual depth of 
the vegetation. Growing on the dryest ground, and not exposed to salt-water, 
except at the highest tides, is a girdle of the dark-coloured. rounded bushes 
of the divaricating-shrub, /lagianthus divaricatus, go cm high or less. Land- 
wards of this comes salt-meadow. 
Leptocarpus'‘) and Juncus?) form pure girdles or clumps, but which is the 
more salt-tolerating, I do not know, since in different localities, either may 
form the seaward girdle. Here and there in the main mass of the association 
are tussocks of Carer litorosa. Cladium junceum is common in the Northern 
botanical province. Where deep pools occur, there is abundance of Scarpus 
robustus and with it 5. americanus. Near the junction of salt-swamp and salt- 
meadow, various species of the fatter come in, especially, — Selzcorma australis, 
Apium filiforme, Selliera radıcans and Cotula dioica. 
c. Scirpus lacustris association. 
As the water of the shallow tidal river becomes less salt, a girdle of the 
‚tall rush-like Scirpus lacustris°), 1.5 m or so, in height, fringes the bank, but 
in the South Otago, Stewart and perhaps Fiord districts the association is 
absent. Although not depending in the least upon the Scirpus, Plagianthus 
divaricatus frequently forms a girdle on the landward side of the former, its 
dark hue contrasting with the green of the Scirpus. 
d. Mimulus repens association. 
“ Where sluggish streams flow through salt-meadow, 1 not in every 
locality, the above association occurs. Usually, there is a fairly deep, flowing 
portion of the stream and a shallow sluggish part, this latter caused by a slight 
overfiow. In the shallower part, M. repens*) may be dense enough to hide 
the water. Through it may grow some Sceirpus americanus, Triglochin striata 
var. filifolia and perhaps a little Cofula coronopifolia. In the deeper part there 
is Scirpus robustus with an undergrowth of more or less Mimulus. Greater 
stagnation of water soon brings in Cotula a with Asating ei and Es ir 
the other plants are absent. # 
1) This is not in.the least Eyendast upon Na Cl since it ee pen 0 on the, shores 5 
of Lakes Te Anau and Manipouri. 
2) Oceurs ‚Inland on the Volcanie Platexd but in the vieini vieinity of hot-springs. 
3} The species also oecurs on margins of lakes &e., at some. ‚sonsiderabl 
sea, ascending to 450 2, according to CHEESEMAN (1906: 7. 
4) A prostrate herb with stout, su 
sub erect ge ches 
