140 The Plant Formations. 
The physiognomy of the association, as a whole, is determined by the 
dominance of B. fawa, a most graceful tree with willow-like foliage, already 
described in Chapter II of this section. Within, the association both floristically 
and ecologically resembles that of Dacrydium cupressinum, the species of 
course varying according to latitude. Young 2. Zawa is abundant and the forest 
will repröduce its like under uniform climatic ‚conditions, 
6. Puriri (Vitex lucens) association. 
This well-marked association was evidently once common on volcanic soil 
in the North Auckland botanical district, but the value of the puriri for fencing 
posts &c. has led to a great reduction ‘in its area. Väter lucens itself is a 
most handsome tree, 12—ı8 m high with a massive, frequently irregular trunk 
and much-spreading rounded crown with large digitate leaves on petioles some 
ıo cm long and 3—5 dark-green, smooth, glossy, oblong leaflets, the largest 
measuring 7.5 cm long, or more. Besides Vitexr the following were common 
members of the association: — Podocarpus totara, Beilschmiedia tarairi, Dys- 
oxylum spectabile and Melicytus ramiflorus. Asteliads were in abundance on 
the puriri '). 
7. Small tree-communities near banks of rivers. 
Here associations on deep alluvial soil are alone noted, those of stony 
river-bed being dealt with further on under another heading. The associations 
often form a fringe along the bank which may or may not be connected with 
an adjacent forest-mass. 
The following are the principal species of the above habitat: — Cordyline 
australis, Muehlenbeckia australis, Carpodetus serratus, Pittosporum Colensöi, 
P. Ralphi, Rubus schmidelioides var. coloratus, R. subpauperatus, Sophora 
tetraptera, 5. grandiflora, S. microphylla, Melicope simplex, Coriaria ruscifolia, 
Pennantia corymbosa, Aristotelia racemosa, Hoheria Populnea, H. sexstylosa, 
H. angustifolia, Plagianthus betulinus, Hymenanthera dentata var. angustifolia, 
..cata, F. Colensoi, Nothopanax anomalum, Parsonsia heterophylla, Veronica salici- 
Folta, Coprosma rotundifolia, Olearia Hectori and O. Fragrantissima. As 
Other low forest trees and shrubs. frequently form ‚an important part of ‚the i 
