Prom Christ church to Springfield (1*2 miles) we rise 

 approximately 36 ft to fine mile. This area, now almost entirely 

 devoted to mixed arable farming, was originally low tussock 

 grassland, the species including those we will see at our first stop 

 in the Kowai River bed. 



This low tussock grassland has been greatly altered in 

 composition by the action of fire, the grazing animal and the 

 introduction of exotic plants* Species which we should find are:- 

 Poa caespitosa, P. colensoi, Festuca NovaeZelandiae , Agropyrum 

 scabrum, Dichelachne crinita, Danthonia semi annularis and 

 D. pilosa among the grasses. 



Geranium spp. Oxalis corniculata, Epilobium spp., Dichondra 

 repens, V/ahlengergia spp., Lagenophora pumila, Brachycome 

 sinclairii, Helichrysum bellidioides and K. filicanle, 

 Chrysobactron hookeri, Celmisia gracilenta, Raoulia spp. and 

 Senecio bellidioides among the herbaceous plants. 



Discaria toumatou, Cassinia fulvida, Leucopogon fraseri, 

 Carmichaelia subulata, C. monroi and C. nana, Coriaria sarmentosa 

 among the shrubs; 



And of special interest: Aciphylla colensoi and A. s^uarrosa, 

 ana Hoheria Lyallii at its eastern limit. 



On dry rock faces we find such xerophytes as Corokia cotoneastor 

 Helichrysum selago, Coprosma propinqua and Hymenanthera alpina. 



Between the top of the pass and the shingle slips we find a very 

 varied bag of Viola cunninghamii , Senecio lyallii* Danthonia 

 f lav-scens, Coprosma spp., Hierochloe redolens, Hebe spp*. 

 Dracophyllum spp* , Celmisia spp. and near the creek the local 

 endemic Ranunculus enysii. f 



On the shingle slips we may find Craspedin alpina, Poa 

 sclerophylla, Ranunculus haastil, Anisotomc carnosula, Cotula LTJPava 

 Stellaria roughii, Notothlaspi rosulrtum, Kaastia recurva or 

 H. sinclairii, Lobelia roughii and Epilobium pyenostachyum, heb^ 

 epacridea, H t lycopodioides and H. tetrasticha may also be found. 



The Raoulia eximia association grows -t about 3500 - 5000 ft 

 on greyv/acke rock. Plants often found epirftytic in the cushions .r 

 Celmisia spectabilis, C. viscosa, Aciphyll* colensoi and Danthonia 

 flavescens. 



At the Castle Hill reserve where an area has been specially 

 fenced to preserve the locally endemic Ranunculus paucifolius, thv-rc 

 also occur Notothlaspi rosulatum, U , Colensoi ( syn. decora), Poa 

 acicularif olia, Lepidium sisymbrioides , Oreomyrrhis andicola 

 (var. rigida), Anisotome enysii, Carmichaelia monroi, Crepis 

 Novae-zealandiae , and Senecio haastii. 



