Floristik, Geographie, Systematik etc. 
179 
racters would give preference. The forest soil consists of a surface 
layer ot humus, and unterneath is weathered volcanic material 
which becomes excessively dry in summer. The zonation of the 
forest from the plains on the Western side (Waimarino Plains) is 
indicated. Against the plain is a narrow beit of low trees of Pitto- 
sporum Colensoi, Nothopanax Colensoi, Veronica salicifolia , Cordyline 
indivisa, etc. with abundance of Dicksonia lanata. Higher (on Hau- 
hungatahi) comes a taxad forest with numerous moderate-sized trees 
of Dacrydium cupressinum (Rimu), Podocarpus ferrugineus (Miro), 
P. Hallii (Totara), and some Libocedrus Bidwillii (Cedar); the under- 
growth is dense with much Dicksonia lanata (Wooly Tree-fern) and 
other flowering plants and ferns. At higher elevations Dacrydium 
decreases, Libocedrus increases and Nothofagus fusca appears. On 
Tongariro Podocarpus P[allii forms a forest of some interest, 
since Nothof agus is not present; Podocarpus forms trees 15 M. high 
and 1 M. diameter at the lower elevations, diminishing at higher 
altitudes, although trees 6 M. high occur at 1200 M. The lower zone 
of Nothofagus , that of N. fusca, succeeds the taxad forest ou Ruapehu; 
this tree may be 25M. high and 2 M. diam., but it becomes smaller at higher 
altitudes. „The tender green of the leaves and the open character 
of the foliage, giving it a lace-like appearance, mark the ph3 r - 
siognomy of this formation, while the thick and buttressed trunks 
with their furrowed bark still more accentuate the difference.” The 
undergrowth includes Coprosma tenuifolia and Myrtus pedunculata 
as abundant shrubs; the ferns are much reduced in number, except 
Polypodium Novae-Zealandiae. The next zone is the subalpine Beech 
forest of Nothofagus Mensiesii (Silver Beech). This occurs at an alti- 
tude of about 1000 M. on the south and west of Ruapehu, and 
also in the higher parts of the river-gorges on the east of Tonga¬ 
riro.” „The N. Menziesii forest of this district owes its physiognomy 
in part to the short leafy boughs which are given off from the 
trunks almost to their bases, wTiile the abundance of Coprosma foe- 
tidissimaj which here replaces C. tenuifolia of the N. fusca forest, 
gives the stamp to the straggling and rather open undergrowth.” The 
trees may attain 20 M. in height and 2 M. in diameter. As the altitude 
increases, N. cliffortioides seedlings become more common, Co¬ 
prosma cuneata becomes more abundant, and an occasional young 
plant of Libocedrus Bidwillii and Podocarpus Hallii appear. Finally 
N. cliffortioides becomes dominant and forms the forest of the 
highest altitude and the most exposed position. This forest seen 
from without appears dense, dark and uniform. The trees are 
fairly close, well branched and with abundant foliage. Within the 
forest undergrowth is somewhat scanty, but in places two tiers may 
be recognised, a layer of young beech, shrubs and low trees, and 
the close covering of the forest-floor. Among the more conspicuous 
of the mat-forming plants are Hymenophyllum multifidum and Lage- 
nophora petiolata. 
Deserts, Stepp es, and Scrub s. These closely related for- 
mations occupy the largest part of the National Park. At about 
1000 M. altitude, plains with an even brown covering of Danthonia 
Raoulii extend for miles, more or less interspersed with a „shrub- 
steppe” of orange-red Dracophyllum recurvum which becomes domi¬ 
nant about 1200 M.; these merge into deserts of scoria or sand. 
From an altitude of 1500 M. and upwards desert prevails, in many 
places quite without plants, but with certain alpine formations on 
Tongariro. Descriptions are given of many leading plants of phy- 
