Serub Plants. 183 
= tomentose beneath. All are simple, but there are marked specific distinctions 
- in size and shape‘). Several species attain the stature of small trees with 
stout, frequently semi-horizontal trunks, from which hang long strips of papery 
'bark (Plate XL, Fig. 59) e. g.: — Olearia ılieifolia, O. macrodonta, O. arbores- 
cens, O. avicenniaefolia, O. excorticala, O.lacunosa, O. Colensoi, Senecio elaeagnı- 
folius. 
b. Divaricatingly-branched hr (Plate XXXV Fig. 48). 
The divaricating growth-form consists of much-branched, stiff, wiry, some- 
times flexuous stems closely pressed together and interlaced, the branching 
being frequently at, or about, a right angle. There is considerable variation 
from great rigidity to extreme flexibility. As already seen, the form occurs 
abundantly in many lowland formations, but it is also characteristic of montane 
and subalpine river-bed and terrace scrub. Taking the whole New. Zealand 
‚region, the growth- -form occurs in 16 families, 2ı genera and 5ı species, 23 of 
which ascend to the mountains). Although, in some cases, it is not possible i 
to refer this striking physiognomic and biological form to habitat-conditions, 
in many instances the relation is obvious, and a most notable DE of ie: 
 convergent epharmony is afforded. Be 
Besides growing in dense masses on river-terraces &c., these a also 2 
occur isolated, or in small clumps on a where u appear as 
. dark S“ 
. The chen species e Veronica Ah: (Serophnlar.): 
A quite narrow belt which lies between 600 and goo m altitude with some 
e extension in either direction is the special home of many shrubby. species of 
Veronica, especially in the steppe-climate of the Southern Provincee. Two 
RUE the “ball-like” and the “cupressoid” are of great physiognomic 
‚and biological importance in this class of shrubs. In the first i 
