212 | The Plant Formations of the High Mountains. 
rhamnoides and Senecio elaeagnifolius. Metrosideros huwida is a rare plant in 
the E. part of the Western and the Eastern districts and its abundance on Mt. 
Peel points to a specially wet climate‘). 
G 
4. Stewart Island associations. 
The lowness of the Stewart Island mountains and the climatic conditions 
forbid much change in the forest until the subalpine-scrub or ZLepzospermum- 
belt be reached (300—600 m altitude). Even Dacrydium cupressinum itself 
and other lowland species ascend into the subalpine-scrub. 
Generally at an altitude of 300 m the forest decreases in height, Metrosideros 
lucida, sometimes with prostrate trunks, becomes more abundant, especially on 
exposed ridges, Weinmannia is still plentiful, tall Zepzospermum may appear, and 
& moss-cushions become more abundant. On the lower hills, so far as is known, 
% at about 270 m, the forest gradually decreases in height until its interior is a 
2 tangle of stems from semi-prostrate, slender trunks. On the uneven floor great 
cushions of Plagiochila gigantea and Dicranoloma robusta abound (Plate XL, 
Fig. 58). | 
5. Low forest allied to subalpine- scrub. 
Mar of the subalpine shrubs under favourable circumstances become 
trees, especially the taxads and composites. At various points on the Volcanic 
Plateau (altitude 1200 m or less), Phyllocladus alpinus combined with one or 
more taxads (Dacrydium biforme, D, Colensoi, D. Bidwilli) forms low almost im- 
penetrable forest 4—6 m high. Bodkörsue Hallü, Nothopanax Colensoi and 
N. Be are frequent constituents, : 
In the Western and certain parts of the North-western dätriets the highest 
forest-belt consists of Dracophyllum Traversiü (dominant) together with ‚the 
following as low trees: — Dacrydium biforme, Phyllocladus: alpinus, Gaya Lyallü, 
Nothopanax Colensoi, Griselinia littoralis, Dracophyllum longifolium and certain 
shrubby composites?). Zzbocedrus Bidkwillii and stunted Podocarpus Halli are 
 frequently present. The association is some 4.5 m high. The trunks of the 
.  composites are semi-prostrate (Plate XL, Fig. 59), with long strips of papery 
Tr Dark hanging downwards. Above is a tangle of branches; beneath the forest 
is more or less open. ‚Seen from eben certain of the trees, either through their F 
ee strongly affec AT 
Mr This is ale u by the presence of ke lg western. Bias in. ie 
belt: Asielia Petriei, Coprosma serrulata,  Leueogenes Leont topodium (or a near ally). 
ern 2) Oferie arborescens, O. macrodonta, O. eben -©. par u excorticata 
AR ringen and nd Senecio elaeagnifolius. Ei 
