Biology of the Plants. — The Plant-Formations. 253 
as follows: — Canopy tree .4; tuft-tree 3 (palm ı, fern 2); bushy-tree 10; 
bushy-shrub 2; straggling-shrub ı. Most of the trees also occur as shrubs. 
Three species which in New Zealand proper ars rarely more than low trees 
here attain a stature of 20 m. 
€ leaves of the trees and shrubs are: — compound 5; simple 16; very 
large (more than 20 cm long) 5; large (10—20 cm) 2; medium (5—ıocm) 10; 
small (2.5—5 cm) 4; coriaceous or thick 8; thin ı3; glabrous ı8; hairy 3 
(tomentose 2); rolled 3; glossy 6; waxy beneath ı. 
Aereal roots are abundant in Metrosideros villosa and are in harmony 
with a moist atmosphere. In wet forest, states OLIVER, “the prostrate trunk of 
a tree may be a metre above ground supported by hundreds of large and 
small root-props, and sending up large branches like distinct trees”. 
b. Herbs, semi-woody plants, lianes and epiphytes. 
The herbs and semi-woody plants number 77 of which ı0 are annuals 
‘or biennials, 4 summergreen, 5 semi-woody and perhaps 7 xerophytes or 
sub-xerophytes. Regarding height, 3 are very tall (more than go cm), 22 tall 
(60—90 cm), 13 of medium height (30—60 cm), 29 small (15—30 cm), and 
ıo very small (less than ı5 cm). 
The growth forms together with the number of species to each are as 
follows: — ı. Annuals or biennials ı0 including: — erect-branching herb 7; 
tuft-grass 2 and semi-prostrate grass ı. 2. Perennials 67 — «. Spot bound 45, 
— a. semiwoody 3 including, — erect-branching 2 and mat ı. — Ö. herba- 
ceous 42 including, — tufted-form ıg (fern ıı, grass 7, rush r); tussock-form 
6 (grass 3, rush 3); erect-branching 8; straggling 5 and erect non-branching 4 
(all summergreen). — #) Wandering 22 — a. semi-woody 2 including, — 
erect-creeping ı; mat-form ı — d. herbaceous 20 including, — erect-creeping 
14 (fern 10, heb 4); turf-form ı and mat-form 5. 
'Lianes number 5; all, except ZLycopodium volubile, are coastal herbs: their 
biology has been already dealt with when treating of the mainland vegetation. 
There are ı2 epiphytes (ferns 10, including filmy 4, creeping 3, tufted 2; 
lycopods 2; and succulent creeping herb ı). It is worthy of note that the mono- 
cotylous and dicotylous lianes and epiphytes of the mainland are unrepresented. 
The.leaves of the 94 plants here being dealt with may be characterized 
as follows: — very large (over 20 cm long) 8; large (10—20 cm) 2ı; medium 
5—ıocm ı9; small (2.5—5 cm) 33; very small (2.5 cm or less) 9, thin 57% 
thick or coriaceous 33; glabrous 83; hairy 7. Four species are leafless. 
4. The Plant-Formations'). 
a. Coastal Formations. 
ı. Rock. 
Nearly all the coast-line is rocky. The rock-association is uniform through- 
Out and related to that of the Northern botanical province. The most impor- 
Ve ren r 
2) What follows is based on W.R.B, OLIVER 1910: 118—175. 
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