The Plant Formations. 273 
a thick mantle through which the rhizomes of the filmy ferns ie: Es- 
pecially are the yellowish Dicranoloma Billardieri and Plagiochila ramosissima 
and Mastigobryum involutum conspicuous cushion-builders, while the dark-green 
Aneura multifida makes wide patches on the forest-foor. In many places, 
there is a close undergrowth which may consist chiefly of the semi-tree-fern, 
Polystichum vestitum, or of Suttomia dit varicata, the 3 divaricating species of 
Coprosma and C. EIER Here and there, the small trees iracopy (in 
longifolium and Nothopanax simplex are abundant. 
Olearia Lyallii forest is closely related to ©. Colensoi coastal-scrub of 
Stewart Island. On the Snares, it occupies the gullies and more sheltered 
slopes covering much of the main island. O. Lyalli is usually pure, but in 
places there is a little Senecio Stewartiae of similar growth-form. The dominant 
tree has generally a fairly thick trunk which lies prostrate for. half its. length, 
or more. A few more or less horizontal branches are given off, which, . 
branching sparingly, finally bend upwards and branching several times into a 
twos or threes bear, on the ultimate, stiff, white, tomentose branchlets, rosettes 
'. of dark-green, very thick, coriaceous, large leaves white beneath with dense 
tomentum and so close as to touch [Plate LXI, Fig. 90). Seen from within, Fe 
the forest is about 4.5 m high; trunks sprawl over the ground, sometimes for 
a aan ‚of gm and, everywhere, there is a rigid tangle of stiff, grey 
ranches, while above are naked stems and a close rögf of white foliage. 
ee the floor is bare, and undergrowth wanting except at the bottom w 
of a gully where there will be a few plants of Blechnum eg and rum; 
vestitum. 
M The association on Ewing Island (Aucklands) is similar, except that the 
: trees are taller er: m), less re Aue Senecio ‚Stewartia bse 
