242 E The Plant Formations of the High Mountains. 
or grasses, above ı5 cm high, 54; and. plants with very hairy or tomentose 
leaves 57. 
The most beautiful herbaceous plants of the New Zealand region, those 
of the Subantarctic province excepted, occur in subalpine herb-field, and, when 
in full bloom, the highest slopes of the Ruahine-Tararua Mountains, or the 
virgin passes of the Southern Alps, where alpine and subalpine vegetation 
mingles, are lovely natural gardens (Plate LI, Fig. 77). 
/ 
2. Dry Herb-field. 
e@. Mount Hikurangi (East Cape distriet, North Island). 
Aciphylla Colensoi' and A. squarrosa are dominant. The following is a 
list of the species according to J. ADAMS (1898: 418, 19): Hkerochloe Fraseri, 
" Trisetum antarcticum, Danthonia Cunninghamiü, D. semiannularis var. setifolia, 
Poa caespitosa, P. anceps, P. Colensoi, Oreobolus pectinatus, Schoenus pauci- 
florus, Uncinia compacta, Ranunculus insignis, Coriaria angustissima, Epilo- 
bium glabellum, Oreomyrrhis Colensoi, Pentachondra pumila, Gentiana belhidi- 
Folia, Myosotis pygmaea, Celmisia spectabilis, Raoulia grandiflora, ee 
FeDRUGEERG, Craspedia uniflora and Taraxacum magellanicum. 
ee ?. The Tararua Mountains. 
The peculiar and striking feäture of the formation on these mountains is 
& he enormous quantity of Asteia montana in clumps 2.5 m 1.9 m or it may 
form a silvery and continuous covering for many square metres at a time. 
In many places Danthonia Raoulii or D. flavescens are dominant and a steppe- 
like character results. Very characteristic are the circular clumps of Ranun- 
culus insignis, the green leaves contrasting with the equally abundant silvery 
'sheets of Leucogenes Leontopodium, which are most lovely when in full bloom 
with the peduncles closely clothed with appressed silvery bracts and the flower 
‚heads 4 cm in diam. with their snow-white flannely bracts. The following 
 conspicuous plants are present in abundance: Chrysobactron Hookeri, Aciphylla. 
conspicua (noticeable with its orange midrib), Anisotome dissecta (a rather tall 
_ Umbellifer with finely-cut leaves), flat circular cushions of Celmisia spectabilis. 
and C. kieracifolia‘) (Plate LII, Fig. 79). As is usual some of the subalpine- 
scrub shrubs appear in the association, especially Coprosma cuneata and Veronica 
evenosa, but ‚the following belong properly to the combination, — Gaultheria 
 depressa, Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium and Veronica Astoni (cupressoid-shrub, 
e prostrate to rounded bushes 30— 60 cm high) Pimelca Gnidia (Plate LU, Fig. 80). 
The following are the more important of the smaller grasses and herbs: Poa 
 anceps, Triodia australis (forming a turf in some localities), Ranunculus gerani 
=“ ee Oxalis magellanica, en chloraefolium, E: Cockaynianum, ai: z 
E ) There i is a Be woody ereeping stem delhad aber with a dene  covering ei a 
- loose rosettes of pliable linear-oblong, ob: 1 
elothed beneath with smooth, erg en tomentum. 
