Grass and Herb Formations. 241 
Jolia, Raoulia Hectori (South Otago and S. of Western distsiot on the east), 
Senecio scorzoneroides and es BR S. revolutus TRUE wide, flat mats. 
d. Herb-Field, 
. General. 
Herb-field öccurs on all = high mountains subject to BER OY rain and 
where the climate is less favourable for the disintegration of rock and soil than 
on the dry mountains but much more favourable for the making and accumula- 
tion of raw humus or peat. Where fully developed, the members grow closely 
and there is no bare ground, but there is every transition in this regard from 
herb-field to fell-field. The water-content of the soil is a factor of much moment, 
there being two distinct types of herb-field, “dry” and “we”, the latter closely En 
‚related to moor while the former, where tall tussock era ; er Be 
resembles steppe (tussock-grassland). nr 
The formation, especially dry herb-field, is less er hen fell-held, BL 
indeed certain chäsäckertähe members are mesophytes distinguished by large, Ei 5 
glabrous leaves (Ranunculus Lyallii, Ourisia macrocarpa vars. calyema nd 
cordata, Anisotome Haastii). Even species with marked xerophytic structure can 
develope leaves of considerable size (Celmisia coriacea, ‚60 x 7 m, ee ER 
mazxima, 1.5 m long). EN 
 Herb-field occurs in the North Island on the main range Ks dhe highest 2 
 peaks of the East Cape Mts. southwards;. and, in the South Island, on both 
sides of the Southern Alps subject to the western downpour together. with 
the mountains of the North-western district, many in ı the South ei o district, 
‚and those of Stewart Island, but Ka for the most pa 1 
