C—l 4

14

(c.) The Tawa-Towai Sub-association. In passing from west to east through the Waipoua Forest after crossing the Toronui Stream and getting on to the higher ground, the following gradual changes are noticed in the forest: (1.) The kauri association gives out at 1,000 ft. altitude or less. (2.) The tarairi association becomes gradually modified. (3.) The tawa enters in more abundantly, and at the same time Weinmannia, no longer in its juvenile form, merely a plant of the undergrowth, becomes more abundant as a tree. (4.) Finally taxads become, if not dominant, of major importance. (5.) As the altitude increases the tree-ferns change, i/emitelia Smithii and Dicksonia squarrosa replacing in great measure < 'gathea dealbata and Cyathea medullans. Of course, this sub-association differs a good deal in various places, but an account of a fewselected spots may give some idea of the whole. The western slope of Toctoehaliko gives some notion of the composition of the class of finest under consideration. The following are some of my notes: —* "Beilschmiedia tawa is an important constituent of the Toetoehatiko forest. The undergroxvth varies according to whether a thicket of Astelia-Gahnia mixed xvith Rhipogonum scandens or merely arborescent vegetation plays a part. The tallest trees at the lower level of the mountain are Beilschmiedia tawa, Podocarpus totara, Metrosideros robusta occasionally, but both the two latter rarer than the first-named. Where open, the trees are straight-trunked, and there is undergrowth of the usual character consisting of Senecio Kirkii, Weinmannia sylvicola, Alseuosmia macrophylla, Coprosma grandifolia, Melicytus micranthus, Rapanea UrviUei, Lygodium artieulatum, Blechnum discolor, Blechnum Frazeri, Mi'croUrna avenacea, Freycinetia Banskii, Astelia /rim rvia, Geniostoma ligustrifolium, and the ordinary lianes of the forest. Generally speaking, the mountain vegetation is denser than on the lower slopes. Liverworts of the Gottschea type are plentiful, and Hemitelia Smithii is an important tree-fern Further up, young Beilschmiedia tawa is important in the undergroxvth, but not physiognomic as in some parts of New Zealand forests; also young B. tarairi, Rapanea salicina (occasionally), and Knightia excelsa. There are low roots all over the ground, moss- and fern-covered. Blechnum Frazeri and Lygodium articulatum are common. Here and there the trees are climbed by Freycinetia. Other plants noted: Nothopanax arboreum, Dysoxylum spectabile, Olea mou/aua. Cyathea midullaris. Schefflera digitata, Styphelia fasciculata. The tree-trunks are frequently mossed. . . . . In other places the forest becomes more open. Here is, e.g., a knee-deep open space of Frig vim tin, xvith Blechnum Frazeri rising out of it for a height of one or two feet, xvhile the ground beneath is covered with Gottschea Higher up, Ixerba brexioides appears, the other plants continuing as before. All the xvay there has been abundance of Trichomanes reniforme and HymenophyUum seabrum Not far from the summit is a close tangle of Bhipogonum, some Freycinetia, and any amount of hygrophytic leafy liverworts. The trees are hardly more than 30ft. tall. Weinmannia is dominant. Also present are Metrosideros robusta. Dacrydium cupressinum. and Podocarpus dae rydloidt s. There are large quantities of tall Dicksonia si/uar rota further on, another close supplejack tangle is encountered, in which is also Senecio Kirkii. The floor beneath is crowded with liverworts, while filmy ferns, including HymenophyUum tunbridgense and H. flabeUatum, are on the ti unfa ofUie trees " The plants noted here are Rapanea salicina, Schefflera digitata. Coprosma grandifolia, Mitrosideros hi/pericifolia. Lnrba brevioides, Dysoxylum spectabile, Hcdycarya arborea, Blechnum discolor, Polypodium diversifolium, HymenophyUum tunbridgense, Polystichum adiantifortne, Lygodium articulatum, Asplenium buUiferum, HymenophyUum flabeUatum. Myrtus buUata, Pittos/iorum f, iiiiifo/ium. Crisvlinia I uvula, Astelia trinervia, Beilschmiedia tarairi. Geniostoma ligustrifolium. Metrosideros alb,flora. DracophyUum latifolium, Melicope simplex, Cyathea dealbata, Podocarpus totara, Styphelia fasciculata, HymenophyUum dilatatum, Mclivillus ranuflorus, Asplenium luviduir, Beilschmiedia tawa, Microlana avenacea, Gahnia xanthocarpa, Dacrydium cupressinum, Asplenium fiaccidum, Nothopanax Edgerleyi, Histiopteris incisa, Rhopalostyhs sapida. hi,aria Cunninghamii, Pseudopanax erassifolium, Clematis imdivisaA These are not all together, but at any rate they are not far distant Much of the forest towards the River Waipoua, after crossing over the summit of Toetoehatiko, is quite open, the trees being few. while the dominant plants over large areas are the tree-ferns Hemitelia Smithii and Dicksonia squarrosa, nor are the shrubs which are present of any moment. Such trees as there are are merely dotted about here and there, and there is nothing in such a place approaching a continuous forest-roof. It looks—and the appearance of the trees justifies this idea—as if in such places as this the forest was naturally dying out—a thing xvhich must happen in the course of events. The trees, when present, are Dacrydium cupressinum and Beilschmiedia tawa, but they are frequently in a state of decay." . . , Near the eastern boundary of the Waipoua Forest after leaving the rimu belt the following is an example:— . ~ ~ "Dicksonia lanata is very common, growing more than breast-high. It varies considerably as to the size of its trunk. With it is very tall Blechnum Frazeri. Weinmannia sylvicola is a very common tree, reaching a height of 60 ft, It is more slender and regular in its growth than If racemosa. Its bark is pale grey. The physiognomy is marked by tree-ferns and tree-trunks. Where the ground becomes more open is Gottschea on the ground, and colonies of Blechnum Frazeri. The shrubby undergrowth there is scanty and consists of young Senecio Kirkii, xvhile young lygodium max- rise out of the Gottschea of the floor. The second tier is made up of drawn-up, slender Weinmannia sylvicola, with long, straight stems. Here there is no Dacrydtum cupressinum, the tall trees being Metrosideros robusta, Beilschmiedia tawa, Weinmannia sylvicola.

■ These uot.s were taken while olimbing the hill to its summit. f-These were growing associated together riot far from the summit of Toetoehakito.