Grass and Herb Formations. : 235 
most as if regularly mown. Certain other quite low-growing plants, mostly 
with ei: underground stems, grow in this association, e. g. — Trzodıa 
 pumila, T. Thomsoni, Carmichaelia nana, C. Enysit, C. uniflora (one or other 
= of. the Uhreh, Styphelia Fraseri and Wahlenbergia, albomarginata. The asso- 
_ eiation occurs from the North-eastern to the North Otago districts. 
ß) Dwarf Carmichaelia steppe. This has been already described for the 
ande, Is occurs on very stony, dry ground, notably ancient river-bed. 
One or other of the’ species of Carmichaelia noted above is dominant forming 
broad patches of short, flat, erect green stems. There may also be present 
. more or less prostrate Discaria toumatou, round mats of reddish-leaved Acaena 
inermis, the close turf-making suffruticose Coprosma Petriei, Wahlenbergia albo- 
marginata, low, flat, silvery cushions of Raoılia lutescens and probably R. austra- 
‚dis. The association occurs throughout the drier mountain valleys of dag: South 
land. 
u 
E 5 Poa acicularifolia association. So far P. acicularifolia has been re- 
corded only from the Mount Arthur Plateau (North-western district} and the 
' Trelissick Basin (Eastern district), growing in both localities on limestone soil‘). 
The grass itself is much branching and forms close flat leafy cushions, or 
patches, 7—ı5 cm in diam. The leaves are 4—8 mm long, involute, curved, 
 rigid, smooth and sharp-pointed. The closeness of the grass-cushions is in 
_  proportion to the stoniness of the ground, the plant thriving on consolidated‘ 
' shingle-slip. The neighbouring ae plants or REDE FIRREIS SER 
species enter into the association. 
5 ö) Carpet-grass (Danthonia australis) steppe. This remarkable assocition 
is confined to the alpine belt of the North-western, the wettest part ofthe 
 North-eastern and the N. of.the Eastern districts, where it may cover te 
_ mountain-side for many square metres, or, where the conditions are N & 
‚able, make merely small patches. 
put Fark, bat ee ones, : cm in a pass ‚off from Abe: yase 
The leaves have broad sheaths almost le the binden. x 
Een se . which are flat 
Discosa, C. Lyallii and 33 niermeiie 
‚there ar are a ı few tussocks Le “ 
