132 Be The Plant Formations. 
Much more common than such extensive kauri-communities are groves, 
large or small, scattered through the forest-mass. The kauri trees are generally 
20 m or more distant and the intervening space is occupied by an extremely: 
thick Gahnia-Astelia thicket containing also — Freycinetia, Metrosideros florida, 
M. albiflora, Phebalium nudum, Senecio Kirkii and all the other species already 
cited as prominent members of the sub-association. Obviously these shrubs &c. 
are wanting where the Gahnia-Astelia is densest. 
3. Southern kauri-forest. 
The kauri-forests on the E. of Auckland and S. of Kaipara Harbour, on 
the W., are almost eradicated though areas more or less damaged still exist 
and are, in places, slowly regenerating. Thanks to an early paper of CHEESE- 
MAN’s (1872: 270), it is possible to give some account of the original vast forest 
on the Waitakerei Hills, since he examined a portion before it had been seriously 
interfered with. : 
The dominant tree was Kirlschmiedia tawa «lich, Serohahly formed three- 
-fifths of the forest”. The other most abundant trees were: — Agathis, Dac- 
rydium cupressinum, Elaeocarpus dentalus, Knightia, Litsaea calicaris, Metro- 
sideros robusta, Pittosporum tenuifolium and Rapanea Urvilei,. The undergrowth 
was dense and consisted of: — Alsewosmia macrophylia (abundant), species of 
Gahnia, Astelia and Coprosma, Rhipogonum, Myrtus bullata and Senecio Kirkü; 
Hymenophyllaceae, ferns in general and bryophytes were very plentiful. 
The originally extensive forests of the Thames sub-district, except on 
the Little Barrier Island, Mount Te 'Aroha and a few other localities, are 
altogether gone or much imedied, Some light is thrown on the original plant- 
covering by the writings of T. Kirk (1870a: 89) and J. ADams (1884: 385; - 
1889: 32). Without going into details, the forest was much as already hr 
gibs; but Beilschmiedia tarairi and Dicksonia MEER. were scarce. 
= rassitenn between forest and heath. 
Between kauri-forest and gumlands’ heath there is frequently itelenkätet, 
a low tree-association where heath-and forest-plants intermingle, that may be 
considered the first. stage in the evolution of kauri-forest. Its most common 
members are: — Cyathea dealbata, Knightia excelsa, Persoonia toru, Wein: 
mannia sylvicola, Leptospermum ericoides, L. ‚scoparium, Pseudopanax crassi- 
_ folium, Stypkelia fasciculata, Olearja Cunninghamii and Senecie Kirkü. Some 
young kauris will also be present, indeed stunted  examples appear on the 
‚ heath itself. Common undergrowth plants are: — Blechnum Fraseri, Lycopodium ; 
densum, L. volubile, Gahnia zanihocanha, Astelia trinervia and Geniostoma., 
= Rejuvenation. © 
en a. kauricforest is in a a state either of progression or retrogressio. 
ER instance, one area Bay DOe® | 
= ‚anofher area may have fu 
a 
