Art. V.—Notes on the Botany of Routeburn Valley and Lake Harris Saddle.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 46, 1913, Page 22

Art. V.—Notes on the Botany of Routeburn Valley and Lake Harris Saddle. By D. L. Poppelwell. [Read before the Otago Institute, 7th October, 1913.] During the Christmas holidays of 1912 Mrs. Poppelwéll and myself spent the period from the 27th December, 1912, to the 1st January, 1913, at Routeburn Hut, during which time we twice visited Lake Harris Saddle, and took notes of the botany of the valley generally. Although, this locality has frequently been visited by botanists, I can find no published description or list of its plants. I propose, therefore, without dealing exhaustively with the various plant associations, to describe some striking characteristics of the plant covering, and to give a list of the plants noted by me. There are also some peculiarities regarding the distribution of the plants in the locality which are interesting as much on account of what is missing from the associations as on account of what is present. Lower Routeburn Valley. The forest in this valley is almost entirely a beech one, and, as is usual, there is not much undergrowth. Here and there, however, along the damp gullies there are found such species as Carpodetus serratus, Gaya Lyallii, Coprosma lucida, Olearia nitida, Nothopanax simplex, N. Edgerleyi, N. Colensoi, Griselinia littoralis, Senecio elaeagnifolius, Muehlenbeckia complexa, Phyllocladus alpinus, Podocarpus Hallii, and a few others. The principal ferns are Hymenophyllum demissum, Histiopteris incisa, Blechnum penna marina, Polypodium australe, Polystichum vestitum, Asplenium flaccidum, A. Richardi (?), and Blechnum fluviatile (rare). Of the smaller plants in the lower open valley glades and forest the principal consisted of Acaena Sanguisorbae, A. microphylla, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Wahlenbergia saxicola, Veronica Lyallii, Lagenophora petiolata, Luzuriaga marginata (rare), Coriaria angustissima, Ranunculus lappaceus, Helichrysum bellidioides, Hydrocotyle novae-zealandiae, Claytonia australasica, Viola Cunninghamii, Ranunculus hirtus, Angelica Gingidium, Anisotome brevistyle, Gastrodia Cunninghamii, Urtica incisa, Geum parviflorum, and Craspedia uniflora. On the Routeburn Flat I noted Poa Colensoi, Agropyron scabrum, Celmisia longifolia, Viola Cunninghamii, Cotula dioica, C. squalida, Cardamine heterophylla, Craspedia uniflora, Microseris Forsteri, Senecio Lyallii, and Mysotis macrantha, the two latter on the creekbanks, with several species of Epilobium—i.e., E. pubens, E. pycnostachyum, E. linnaeoides, E. rotundifolium, and E. melanocaulon. The Upper Routeburn Valley. Just where the track emerges from the forest, at a height of about 3,300 ft., a magnificent view of the alpine scrub is obtainable, and as its association differs from, most others in this locality it is worth describing. It is exceedingly dense and externally is rounded and smooth, but of various colours. The prevailing colours are green, brown, and white. Perhaps the brown is the most marked. This is brought about by the abundance of Podocarpus nivalis, which is very plentiful, especially in the lower part of the scrub. Higher up a greenish-brown tinge is given by Dracophyllum

uniflorum. The white arises from the great abundance of bloom on the Veronicas. These consist principally of V. buxifolia, V. subalpina, and V. monticola, the forms varying in a most bewildering way. Veronica Hectori is also plentiful, and Cassinia Vauvilliersii is abundant. The damp rocky faces are white with the magnificent Ranunculus Lyallii, Celmisias of various kinds, and Anisotome. Here and there is a plant of Phyllocladus alpinus, and a dark patch of Polystichum vestitum. Coming to details, the principal Celmisias are C. Petrei (plentiful), C. coriacea, C. discolor, C. incana, C. petiolata, and C. verbascifolia; Senecio Lyattii and S. scorzoneroides are also abundant. The latter seem to be growing very luxuriantly, the leaves in many cases being over 2 in. broad. Bulbinella Hookeri is also plentiful, as is Gaultheria rupestris. Ourisia macrophylla and O. caespitosa are also present, but not in great abundance. Olearia moschata is common, and also Coriaria angustissima, Senecio elaeagnifolius, Aciphylla Colensoi, with Lycopodium volubile, L. ramulosum, and L. fastigiatum. Among other plants noted in this association were Coprosma cuneata, C. parviflora, C. serrulata, Phormium Cookianum, Raoulia grandiflora, Helichrysum grandiceps, and Dracophyllum Traversii, which latter constituted a marked red-brown patch. Farther up the valley it was interesting to note how Olearia moschata, by its light-grey foliage and rounded appearance, dominated the association by creating a strong contrast with the darker Veronicas and Podocarpus nivalis. I do not propose to further describe the general plant formation of the valley, but in the attached list have described where the various species noted are found. Conclusion. Appended is a list of plants noted, which with about a dozen reported by other observers but not observed by me makes up a total of 205 species, spread over 100 genera, and including forty-seven orders. The list shows certain pocularities somewhat difficult to account for. It will be seen, for instance, that neither Asplenium bulbiferum nor Blechnum discolor appear in it. The former is one of our commonest ferns in damp bush, and I offer no theory for its absence. Blechnum discolor generally covers the floor of dry open forests, and perhaps its absence is attributable to the closeness of the beech forest shutting out the light and the superabundance of the rainfall in this locality. It is singular, however, that this fern is plentiful in the beech forest in the Dart Valley, above Kinloch, only about twelve miles away. The great number of species in the locality can, I think, be traced to the abundance of the western rainfall and the wind-sheltered nature of the Lake Harris locality. The form of Celmisia coriacea is here a very stronggrowing one. Its lanceolate leaves reach 18 in. or more in length, and are sinuate at the edges. The common form on the drier mountains farther east is not nearly so robust, and the leaves are stiffer in shape and more closely covered with silvery tomentum on both sides. The abundance of Celmisa Petriei is also marked, while on the saddle itself C. Walkeri, C. laricifolia, and Forstera sedifolia are most abundant plants, covering the ground like a sward over a considerable area. Among the Veronicas are numerous forms that seem to connect V. buxifolia through V. monticola (V. Traversii Cheeseman?) and V. glaucophylla with V. subalpina. V. propinqua, a common plant of the drier eastern mountains, seems to be absent from this valley.

List Of Plants Noted At Routeburn. Pteridophyta. Hymenophyllaceae. Hymenophyllum demissum (Forst. f.) Sw. Common in forest. Polypodiaceae. Polystichum vestitum (Forst. f.) Presl. Forest clearings. — cystostegia (Hook.) J. B. Armstg. Crevices of rocks. Asplenium, flaccidum Forst. f. “Epiphytic in forest. — Richardi Hook. f. In forest; rare. Blechnum penna marina (Poir) Kuhn. Common on banks. — capense (L.) Schlecht. Rare; in forest. Hypolepis millefolium, Hook. Forest clearings; not uncommon. Histiopteris incisa (Thby.) J. Sm. Forest clearings; rare. Pteridium esculentum (Forst.) Cockayne. Common on lower levels. Polypodium Billardieri (Willd.) C. Chr. Epiphytie on trees and rocks. — diversifolirum Willd. Tree-trunks; not common. Lycopodiaceae. Lycopodium Billardieri Spring. On trees; rare. — ramulosum T. Kirk. Forest; rare. — fastigiatum R. Br. Alpine scrub; rare. — scariosum Forst. f. Forest track. — volubile Forst. f. Alpine scrub; rare. Seekmophyta. Taxaceae. Podocarpus Hallii T. Kirk. Bare in forest. — nivalis Hook. f. Abundant, subalpine scrub. Dacrydium laxifolium Hook. f. Rare. Phyllocladus alpinus Hook. f. Common. Gramineae. Danthonia Cunninghamii Hook. f. Common in forest. — flavescens Hook. f. Subalpine meadow. — crassiuscula T. Kirk. Subalpine meadow. Poa caespitosa Forst f. Subalpine meadow. Agropyron scabrum (R. Br.) Beauv. Upper Routeburn Flat; common. Cyperaceae. Oreobolus pectinatus Hook. f. Subalpine; in bogs. — pumilio R. Br. Mountains above Lake Harris; reported by T. Kirk. Uncinia tenella R. Br. Routeburn. Carex lucida Boott. In forest. — acicularis Boott. Mountains, Lake Harris; reported by T. Kirk. Juncaceae. Luzula campestris D.C. Common in subalpine meadow.

Liliaceae. Latzunaga marginata (Banks & Sol.) Benth. & Hook. In forest; rare. Astelia linearis Hook. f. Common; Lake Harris. — nervosa Banks & Sol. Common in forest. — montana (Kirk) Cockayne. Common; subalpine scrub. — Petriei Cockayne. Lake Harris; reported by Cockayne. Phormium Cookianum Le Jolis. Not common. Bulbinella Hookeri Benth. & Hook. f. Abundant; subalpine meadow. Herpoliron novae-zealandiae Hook. f. Subalpine; rare. Orchidaceae. Thelymitra uniflora Hook. f. Subalpine bog. Gastrodia Cunninghamii Hook. f. Beech forest. Fagaceae. Nathofagus fusca (Hook. f.), Oerst. Forest. — Menziesii (Hook. f.) Qerst. Forest. — Solandri (Hook. f.) Oerst. Forest. — cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Oerst. Forest. Urticaceae. Urtica incisa Poir. In forest; not common. Loranthaceae. Elytranthe Colensoi Engl. On Nothofagus; common near mouth of Route burn. Polygonnceae. Rumex flexuosus Sol. Routeburn Flat; common. Muehlenbeckia complexa (A. Cunn.) Meissn. In forest. — axillaris Walp. Common, Routeburn Flat. Portulacaceae. Claytonia australasica Hook. f. Abundant near Lake Harris. Canyophyllaceae. Stellaria parviflora Banks. & Sol. Subalpine meadow. Ranunculaceae. Ranunculus Buchanani T. Kirk. Rocks, Upper Routeburn (Speden). — Lyallii Hook. f. Abundant above bush-line. — gracilipes Hook. f. Sulbapine bogs. — hirtus Banks & Sol. Abundant in forest. — rivilaris Banks & Sol. Not common. — lappaceus Sm. Abundant throughout. — sericophyllus Hook. f. Near Lake Harris Saddle. — foliosus T. Kirk. Subalpine swamps; rare. — Enysii T. Kirk. Lake Harris; reported by T. Kirk. Caltha novae-zealandiae Hook. f. Lake Harris; reported by T. Kirk. Magnoliaceae. Drimys colorata Raoul. Not common.

Cruciferae. Cardamine heterophylla (Forst. f.) Schultz. Abundant. Droseraceae. Drosera Arcturi Hook. Bog, Lake Harris. Saxifragaceae. Carpodetus serratus Forst. Somewhat rare. Pittosporaceae. Pittosporum tenuifolium Banks & Sol. Routeburn Valley. Rosaceae. Rubus australis Forst. f. Routeburn Valley. — cissoides A. Conn. Forest, Routeburn Valley. Geum parviflorum Smith. Abundant above 2,000 ft. — uniflorum Buch. Lake Harris Saddle. Potentilla anserina L. var. anserinoides (Raoul) T. Kirk. Rare. Acaena Sanguisorbae Vah. 1. Common. — novae-zealandiae Kirk. Common. — microphylla Hook. f. Common. — glabra Buchanan. Mountains above Lake Harris; reported by T. Kirk. Geraniaceae. Geranium microphyllum Hook. f. Common at all heights. — sessiliflorum Cav. Routeburn Flat and Lake Harris. Oxalis magellanica Forst. Abundant, subalpine meadow. Coriariaceae. Coriaria thymifolia Humb. & Bonpl. Common. — angustissima Hook. f. Common. Leguminosae. Sophora tetraptera J. Mull. Routeburn Valley. Carmichaelia grandiflora Hook. f. Common, creek-sides, Routeburn Flat. Elaeocarpaceae. Aristotelia fruticosa Hook. f. Common, creek-banks, in forest. Malvaceae. Plagianikus betulimis A. Cunn. Lower Routeburn. Gaya Lyallii Baker. Common in forest. Violaceae. Viola Cunninghamii Hook. f. Plentiful at all levels. Thymelaeaceae. Pimelia laevigata Gaertn. Upper Routeburn. Drapetes Dieffenbachii Hook. Upper Routeburn.

Myrtaceae. Leptospermum scoparium Forst. Lower Routeburn. Onagraceae. Epilobium pubens A. Rich. Routeburn Flat. — rotundifolium Foist. Routeburn Flat. — linnaeoides Hook. f. Routeburn Flat. — pycnostachyum Haussk. Shingle-beds, Routeburn Flat. — melanocaulon Hook. Shingle-beds, Routeburn Flat. — chloraefolium Haussk. Not common. Fuchisa excorticata Linn. f. Damp; uncommon. Araliaceae. Nothopanax simplex (Forst.) Seem. Forest; rare. — Edgerleyi (Hook. f.) Seem. Forest. — Colensoi (Hook. f.) Seem. Forest; not common. Pseudopanax crassifolium (Sol.) C. Koch. Not uncommon. Umbelliferae: Hydrocotyle novae-zealandiae D.C. Plentiful, Upper Routeburn. Aciphylla Colensoi Hook. f. Common. — Lyallii Hook. f. Common, Upper Routeburn. — Monroi Hook. f. Lake Harris Saddle; rare. Anisotome Haastii Kirk. Upper Routeburn Flat. — brevistyle Kirk. Upper Routeburn Flat; common. Angelica Gingidium Hook. f. Common. Cornaceae. Griselinia littoralis Raoul. Lower Routeburn; not plentiful. Ericaceae. Gaultheria antipoda Forst. var. erecta Cheeseman. Not common; in forest clearings. — rupestris R. Br. Upper Routeburn; common. Epacridaceae. Pentachondra pumila (Forst. f.) R. Br. Subalpine heath. Styphelia Fraseri (A. Cunn.) F. Muell. Subalpine heath. Archeria Traversii Hook. f. var. australis T. Kirk. Forest; rare. Dracophyllum uniflorum Hook. f. Upper Routeburn. — Traversii Hook. f. Not uncommon. — Menziesii Hook. f. Mountains above Lake Harris; reported by T. Kirk. — prostratum T. Kirk. Mountains above Lake Harris; reported by T. Kirk. Myrsinaceae. Suttonia divaricata (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. Lower Routeburn. — nummularia Hook. f. Subalpine heath.

Gentianaceae. Gentiana Grisebachii Hook. f. Lake Harris Saddle. Apocynaceae. Parsonsia heterophylla A. Cunn. Lower Routeburn. Boraginaceae. Myosotis macrantha Hook. f. Routeburn Flat. Labiatae. Mentha Cunninghamii Benth. Not uncommon. Scrophularinaceae. Veronica salicifolia Forst. Creek-bank, forest. — buxifolia Benth. Common in alpine scrub. — subalpina Cockayne. Common in alpine scrub. — monticola Armstr. Common in alpine scrub. — linifolia Hook. f. Shady situations, Lake Harris track. — liniphylla Cheeseman. In forest; rare. — Lyallii Hook. f. Abundant. — Hectori Hook. f. Subalpine heath. — macrantha Hook. f. Lake Harris Saddle. — glaucophylla Cockayne. Subalpine heath. — Wilcoxi Petrie. Upper Routeburn. — Petriei (Buch.) T. Kirk. Lake Harris Saddle; reported by Wilcox and Cockayne. Ourisia macrophylla Hook. f. Upper Routeburn; common. — sessilifolia Hook. f. Lake Harris; common. — caespitosa Hook. f. Damp places, subalpine. — prorepens Petrie. Not common. — Cockayniana Petrie. Lake Harris. Euphrasia zealandica Wettst. Subalpine bog. — Dyeri Wettst. Subalpine bog. Plantaginaceae. Plantago Brownii Rapin. Subalpine; common. Rubiaceae. Coprosma lucida Forst. Damp forest. — parviflora Hook. f. Forest; common. — acerosa A. Cunn. var. brunnea Kirk. Forest. — foetidissima Forst. Shady forest. — cuneata Hook. f. Subalpine heath. — repens Hook. f. Upper Routeburn. — Petriei Cheeseman. Upper Routeburn. — serrulata Hook. f. Subalpine scrub. Nertera dichondraefolia (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. Damp logs. Galium umbrosum Sol. Routeburn Flat. Campanulaceae. Pratia angulata (Forst. f.) Hook. f. Common throughout. Wahlenbergia saxicola (R. Br.) A. D.C. Common throughout.

Stylidiaceae. Phyllachne clavigera (Hook. f.) F. Muell. Subalpine bogs. Oreostylidium subulatum (Hook. f.) Berggr. Subalpine bogs. Forstera sedifolia Linn. f. Lake Harris Saddle, Upper Routeburn; abundant. — var. occulata Linn. f. Lake Harris Saddle, Upper Routeburn; abundant. Compositae. Lagenophora pumila Forst. f. Not common. — petiolata Hook. f. Common in forest. Brachycome Sinclairii Hook. f. Subalpine scrub. Olearia nitida Hook. f. Common in forest. — virgata Hook. f. var. lineata Kirk. Creek-bank. — moschata Hook; f. Abundant, subalpine scrub. — nummularifolia Hook. f. Upper Routeburn. Celmisia longifolia Cass. Common throughout. — sessiliflora Hook. f. Abundant, Lake Harris. — bellidioides Hook. f. Rare; near creek, 2,700 ft. — verbascifolia Hook. f. Common, Upper Routeburn. — Petriei Cheeseman. Abundant, Upper Routeburn. — discolor Hook. f. Not common, Upper Routeburn. — densiflora Hook. f. Rare. — incana Hook. f. Tolerably plentiful. — Haastii (?) Hook. f. Lake Harris; fairly plentiful; perhaps a new species. — laricifolia Hook. f. Harris Saddle; common. — linearis Armstr. Ocean Peak. — petiolata Hook. f. Not common. — spectabilis Hook. f. Upper Routeburn. – ramulosa Hook. f. Ocean Peak. — glandulosa Hook. f. Common, Lake Harris. — Walkeri T. Kirk. Abundant, Harris Saddle. — Sinclairii Hook. f. Not common. — Lindsayi Hook. f. (?). Lake Harris; reported by H. J. Matthews. Gnaphalium. luteo-album Linn. Routeburn Flat. Raoulia grandiflora Hook. f. Lake Harris. — australis Hook. f. Shingle-bed, Routeburn Flat. — glabra Hook. f. Shingly bed, Routeburn Flat. — lutescens Hook. f. Upper Routeburn; on rocks. — Buchanani T. Kirk. Lake Harris. Helichrysum, bellidioides (Forst. f.) Willd. Common. — grandiceps Hook. f. Rocks, Upper Routeburn. — filicaule Hook. f. Common. Cassinia Vauvilliersii Hook. f. Upper Routeburn. Craspedia uniflora Forst. f. var. robusta Hook. f. In forest. Cotula dioica Hook. f. Common, Routeburn Flat. — squalida Hook. f. Routeburn Flat. Senecio bellidioides Hook. f. Lake Harris; rare. — Lyallii Hook. f. Abundant, Upper Routeburn. — scorzoneroides Hook. f. Abundant, Upper Routeburn. — lautus Forst. f. Routeburn Flat. — elaeagnifolius Hook. f. In forest; rare. — revolutus T. Kirk. Not common. Microseris Forsteri Hook. f. Routeburn Flat.