The Vegetation of the Sea-coast, 
Scrub consisting of M. australis occurs on the more southerly of the 
Open Bay Islands. The plants, sometimes mixed with the fern Zrstopteris 
incisa, grow into one another making dense thickets. 
Liane-scrubs frequently denote the existence of former forests, and in the 
case of the Open :Bay Islands afford strong evidence of former connection with 
the mainland (see COCKAYNE 1905: 373, 374). 
Urtica-Muehlenbeckia-scrub. 
On the beach near Nugget Point, South Otago district, there is a dense 
thicket of the shrubby nettle, Urtica ferox together with the ferns Pieridium 
esculentum and Dryopteris punctata and the shrubs Melicytus ramiflorus and 
Fuchsia excorticata, Muehlenbeckia australis binding the whole into a close mass. 
A similar scrub, but with fewer members, occurs on Centre Island, Foveaux 
Strait and probably on some of the other islands of the Stewart district. 
2. Forest-scrub. 
Here are included those collections.of forest-plants which are prevented 
from developing into forest through powerful coastal winds or other agencies. 
Between this vegetation-form and wind-shorn forest there is merely a difference 
in height and density. Certain species respond more readily to wind-stimulus 
than do others, and such a quality may be considered a specific-mark. 
Pohutakawa (Metrosideros tomentosa scrub). 
a. West coast of N. Auckland district. 
In front of the clifis to the N. of the Manakau Harbour the usual coastal 
_ forest is represented by scrub. Where there is a stony terrace with a soil of 
shallow clay the composition of the association may be somewhat as follows: 
— M. tomentosa (dominant), Cordyline australis, Macropiper excelsum, Pitto- 
sporum crassifolium, Corynocarpus laevigata, Pseudopanax ee GR 
ae Ce Biene Brachygloitis repanda, (Fig. 10). 
B. Rangitoto Island. (Plate XI, Fig. 
N Rangitoto Island is an ancient volcano situated in the Hauraki Gulf, more 
‘or less circular in form, about 6 km in diam. and from its centre rises the 
scoria cone some 270 m high surrounding which is an extensive lava-field 
_ made up of blocks of scoria of all sizes piled upon one another and full of 
gullies, hollows and chasms. There is no visible water on the island, the rain 
passing at once through the open substratum, though some must be absorbed 
there are not merely rock-plants present but both open. and closed scrub. and 
‚even ea Mer Nena of plaut-cologisation ‚also can be seen, from. cc 
x ib. live N Dar 5 
