1() PLANTS (IF NEW ZEALAND 



western ranges consist almost entn-ely of the various species of 

 NutJiufaf/us. In man>- districts of tlie North, particular!)' m 

 the south of Auckland Province, the tawa is found in immense 

 quantities. In swamps in l)oth Islands large masses of 

 kahikatea (white pine) occur. In other places scattered through 

 the islands the rata is the prevailing tree. The coastal forests 

 usually produce a very great variety of trees. The beech, 

 rata, and kauri forests will be described more fully when the 

 trees themselves are dealt with. 



Ll\nks. 



" Exulting Nature so delights, 

 So riots in profusion, she 

 Twice over does her worlv for glee ! 

 A tangled intricacy first she weaves, 

 Under and upper growth of bush and tree 

 In rampant wrestle for ascendancy. 

 Then round it all a richer overflow 

 Of recl^less wgetation llings, 

 That here close-moulding on the shruhs Vjelow 

 A matted coat of delicate leaves. 

 Mantles the muffled life whereon it clings, 

 Into a solid mass of greenery. 

 There nioiniting to the tree-tops, down again 

 Comes \\ ildly wantoning in a perfect rain 

 Of trailers — self-encircling living strings 

 Unravellable ; see how all aljout 

 The hundred-stranded creeper cordage swings ! ' 



DOMETT. 



Plants which depend up(jn others for existence, and therefore 

 cannot group themselves into associations, are said to form 

 Guilds. * Xo description of the bush would be complete 

 without some reference to the guilds it contaiirs. The chief 

 of these are the climbers or lianes, epiphytes, saprophytes and 

 ]")arasites. Of these, oiil\" the hrst two need Ije considered here. 

 The climbing and creeping i)lants have had a special fascination 



'Gcr., GenoHHy 



