Shrub Associations. 215 
growth-forms represented are: — the cushion, the ball-like, the Dracopkyllum- 
form, the divaricating, the leafless and the tussock. Leaf-rosettes, but not 
always well-defined, occur in ı2 species, tomentose leaves in 7 and coriaceous 
"leaves in nearly all. 
The landscape varies from a plantless expanse of scoria, by way ofa 
most open covering of a few species, to one almost closed where the whole 
florula is present. The abundance of Dracophyllum recurvum gives a general 
reddish or reddish-brown colour to wide stretches of the steppe. Where den- 
sest, other colours enter in especially: — yellow (Cassimia Vauvilliersii) pale- 
‚green (Dacrydium laxifolium) [see Plate XLI, Fig. 60), (Gleichenia dicarpa, 
Ourisia Colensoi), yellowish-green (Veronica tetragona) and silver (Raoulia 
australis)‘). ‘The species are generally more or less flattened to the ground; 
they grow mixed together forming patches separated by bare ground. 
Under the most unfavourable conditions, the black scoria is dotted at distant 
‚ intervals by silvery patches of the Raoulia, small straw-coloured tussocks of 
Danthonia semiannularis var. setifolia, vivid green semi-cushions of Pimelea 
 prostrata and isolated dark rosettes of Gentiana bellidifolia (see Plate XLII, Fig. 61), 
but the scene is one of desolation. More consolidated ground is occupied 
by abundant PSOERAN ARABR. patches of D. recurvum raised but a few centi- 
an, Gaulthrria re Ar Biene an are abundant. Re 
Where conditions are more favourable, the shrubs etc. growing mixed 
catch the fiying sand and build irregular mounds 30 cm high with the mar- 
gins either ragged or held firmly by a close mat of D. laxifolium or Podo- 
Bea nivalıs which may extend BE .“ I bare ren euer 
