Y 
} 
Coastal Forest. 9 
b. Pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) grove. 
In the Northern botanical province, groves or girdles of Metrosideros 
tomentosa (Plate XIV, Fig. 19), at times adorn the shore just above high-water 
mark. Such trees have only short primary trunks from which spring numerous 
ascending branches, which, copiously branching, form dense heads covered 
with wind-resisting, thick, green leaves, white beneath with dense tomentum. 
Frequently, the association may be pure, but at other times certain of the 
ee trees may be present. 
c. Northern coastal-forest. 
Though more uniform than is coastal-forest further to the S., since, with 
two exceptions, the N. possesses all the littoral trees, the composition of this 
association varies so considerably, that only a quite general account can be 
given. 
The forest is less tall, the tree-trunks more slender and the under-growth 
more open than in rain-forest generally. Where wind-swept, the roof is elose, 
but, as the forest depends on shelter, the wind-effect is not strongly marked. 
Metrosideros tomentosa is generally dominant, but Corynocarpus is often a most . 
important member and will give a distinct facies. En scoparium 
may dominate a sub-association, as in gully-forest surrounded by heath. The 
commonest of the remaining coastal trees are, — Macropiper, Pittosporum 
crassifolium, Dodonaea viscosa and Pseudopanax Lesson. Common non- 
coastal’trees are: — Anightia, Beilschmiedia tarari (insome parts), Dysoxylum, 
Hoheria populnea (in the far N.), Melicytus ramiflorus, Rapanca Urvillei and | 
Vitexr lucens. Tree-ferns (Cyathea dealbata, C. medullaris) are abundant. 
| Freyeinetia Banksıi (also. as a liane), Paratrophis er A ee ternata, a 
oa tree), Styphelia Jası ulatı Geniostoma, _ “ 
ottis r 
various species of Coprosma and Brach 
n ; opteris pennigera, D. velutina, Poly; | 
nn age ng serpens. Near streams, there : 
r in-leaved hert Co 
