168 a The Plant Formations. 
actual formation depends for its very existence on the tussock, as does a forest 
on its tall trees. 
The species number about 77, leaving out those found only in tall tussock, 
made up of: — trees and shrubs ı0; herbs and semi-woody plants 47; grass- 
‚like plants 15; rush-like plants 2; ferns 3. 
b. The associations. 
1. Low tussock-steppe (Poa-Festuca tussock association). & 
This plant-community is exceedingly uniform in physiognomy, no matter 
its altitudinal position. When viewed from a distance, the ground appears 
clothed with a yellow carpet so smooth and even as to give the impression 
that all litter had been swept away with some giant broom. Here and there 
on the hillsides are dimples on its surface marking gullies or depressions. 3% 
Such apparent smoothness is quite deceptive. Multitudes of tussocks, each some 
40 cm high, stand everywhere either close and touching or with spaces between. 
 miculata, Epil 
zelandiae, Sty 
Raonlü, Wal 
 Helichrysum filic 
