Go to National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Volume 52, 1920
Previous Article | Table of Contents | Next Article
This text is also available in PDF
(555 KB) Opens in new window
– 239 –

Art. XXVIII.—Notes on the Indigenous Vegetation of the North-eastern Portion of the Hokonui Hills, with a List of Species.

By D. L. Poppelwell..

[Read before the Otago Institute, 14th October, 1919; received by Editor, 24th October, 1919; issued separately, 23rd June, 1920.]

The Hokonui Hills consist of the high country which lies within the triangle formed by the Gore-Invercargill section of the Main Trunk Railway, the Invercargill-Lumsden section of the Invercargill-Kingston line, and the Waimea Railway. They are roughly triangular in form, Gore, Lumsden, and Winton being the corners. Each side of the triangle is about thirty miles long, the total area being therefore about 300,000 acres. The highest point (Bare Hill) is 2,260 ft. above sea-level. The most southerly point is not more than a few miles from the sea, whilst the northern end extends about thirty miles inland. The Hokonui Hills are isolated from the surrounding chains, being bounded by the valley of the Oreti on one side, the Mataura valley on another, and the Southland Seaward Plains on the third side. It is palpable that the different parts of a stretch of country such as this must show considerable difference in their plant covering, as they extend from near the sea to quite beyond what is usually accepted as the littoral belt. This block contains several thousand acres of bush, but most of it consists of uplands divided by several more or less open valleys with constant streams. Every class of soil and situation is therefore presented, and consequently the plant-life is of a very varied kind. To attempt to give a complete report would be a task quite beyond the time at my disposal at present, hence I will confine my remarks to that portion of the Hokonuis nearest Gore, locally known as Croydon Bush, and the uplands in the vicinity. I have also to point out that these notes do not profess to be exhaustive. Numerous introduced plants are also found, but are not further mentioned. The highest point in the area dealt with is East Peak (2,000 ft.) and an unnamed peak to the westward thereof, which is slightly higher than the former.

– 240 –

From the list of species the curious fact will be noticed that Nothofagus is completely absent from the area dealt with, and, so far as my observations go, from the whole Hokonuis. This is difficult to account for, especially as this genus is common on all the surrounding hill-groups.

In time to come, when the botanical districts of New Zealand are divided into subdistricts, the absence of Nothofagus alone will almost justify the setting-apart of the Hokonuis as a subdistrict of the South Otago Botanical District.

In the meantime I do not propose to describe the plant formations, but merely append a list of species observed during many visits to the north-eastern portion of the Hokonuis. The list contains 285 species comprising 146 genera, and spread over 57 families.

List of Indigenous Plants.
Pteridophyta.
Hymenophyllaceae.

  • Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum (Forst. f.) Sw. Common in forest.

  • —— dilatatum (Forst. f.) Sw. Common in forest.

  • —— flabellatum Lab. Common in forest.

  • —— demissum (Forst. f.) Sw. Common in forest.

Cyatheaceae.

  • Dicksonia squarrosa (Forst. f.) Sw. Fairly common in forest.

  • —— fibrosa Col. Common.

  • Hemitelia Smithii (Hook. f.) Hook. Not uncommon.

  • Alsophila Colensoi Hook. f. Not uncommon.

Polypodiaceae.

  • Polystichum vestitum (Forst. f.) Presl. Common.

  • —— Richardi Diels. Fairly common.

  • Lindsaya linearis Sw. Tussock meadow.

  • Asplenium bulbiferum Forst. f. Abundant in forest.

  • —— flaccidum Forst. f. Abundant in forest.

  • —— flabellifolium Cav. Not uncommon, but local

  • —— Hookerianum Col. Rocky places in open bush.

  • —— var. Colensoi Moore. Rocky places in open bush.

  • Blechnum Patersoni (R. Br.) Mett. Common in damp gullies.

  • —— discolor (Forst. f.) Keys. Abundant in dry places.

  • —— lanceolatum (R. Br.) Sturm. Moist gullies.

  • —— capense (L.) Schlecht. Fairly common.

  • —— penna marinum (Poir.) Kuhn. Abundant.

  • —— fluviatile (R. Br.) Lowe.

  • Hypolepis tenuifolia (Forst. f.) Bernh. Fairly common.

  • Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J. Sm. Abundant

  • Pteridium esculentum (Forst. f.) Cockayne. Plentiful.

  • Polypodium Billardieri (Willd.) C. Chr. Tree-trunks, & c., in forest.

  • —— diversifolium Willd. Plentiful in forest.

  • —— grammitidis R. Br. Rare on tree-trunks, & c.

  • —— punctatum Thunb. Common.

  • Botrychium ternatum Swartz. Rare.

– 241 –

Gleicheniaceae.

  • Gleichenia Cunninghamii Hew. In patches; local.

Osmundaceae.

  • Leptopteris hymenophylloides (A. Rich.) Presl. Damp gullies in forest.

  • —— superba (Col.) Presl. Damp gullies in forest.

Ophioglossaceae.

  • Ophioglossum lusitanicum L. Tussock meadow.

Lycopodiaceae.

  • Lycopodium Billardieri Spring. Not uncommon.

  • —— fastigiatum R. Br. Plentiful.

  • —— scariosum Forst. f. Not plentiful.

  • —— volubile Forst. f. Not plentiful.

  • Tmesipteris tannensis Bernh. On logs, & c.

Spermophyta.
Taxaceae.

  • Podocarpus Hallii T. Kirk. Common in forest.

  • —— totara D. Don. Rare; in forest.

  • —— ferrugineus D. Don. Fairly abundant.

  • —— spicatus R. Br. Fairly abundant.

  • —— dacrydioides A. Rich. Plentiful.

  • Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. Plentiful.

Potamogetonaceae.

  • Potamogeton Cheesemanii A. Benn. In pools.

Gramineae.

  • Microlaena avenacea (Raoul) Hook. f. Common in forests.

  • Hierochloe redolens (Forst. f.) R. Br. Fairly common.

  • Agrostis parva Petrie. Bush tracks.

  • Dichelachne crinita (Forst. f.) Hook. f. Mountain meadow.

  • Danthonia Cunninghamii Hook. f. Common in uplands.

  • —— Raoulii Steud. Abundant.

  • —— flavescens Hook. f. Steppe. Not so common as D. Raoulii.

  • —— pilosa R. Br. Not uncommon in meadow.

  • —— semiannularis R. Br. Not uncommon in meadow.

  • Arundo conspicua Forst. f. Common.

  • Poa caespitosa Forst. f. Common on hills.

  • —— imbecilla Forst. f. Not uncommon.

  • —— Colensoi Hook. f. Fairly plentiful in meadow.

  • —— var. intermedia Cheesem. Fairly plentiful in meadow.

  • Festuca rubra L. Lower steppe. Common.

  • Agropyron scabrum (R. Br.) Beauv. In upper meadow.

Cyperaceae.

  • Scirpus aucklandieus (Hook. f.) Boeck. Swamps.

  • Carpha alpina R. Br. In swamps.

  • Cladium Vauthiera C. B. Clarke. Wet places.

  • Gahnia procera Forst. f. In forest; common.

  • Oreobolus pectinatus Hook. f. In boggy places; not common.

– 242 –

  • Uncinia compacta R. Br. Mountain meadow.

  • —— uncinata (L. f.) Küken. In forest.

  • Carex secta Boott. Lowland swamps.

  • —— ternaria Forst. f. Damp lowland swamps.

  • —— dissita Sol. Forest.

  • —— lucida Boott. Swampy places.

  • —— pseudo-cyperus Linn. Damp places in bush.

Typhaceae.

  • Typha angustifolia L. Lagoon on north side.

Restiaceae.

  • Hypolaena lateriflora Benth. Lowland swamps.

Juncaceae.

  • Juncus polyanthemos Buchen. Damp places; common.

  • —— bufonius L. Damp places; common.

  • —— planifolius R. Br. Damp places; common.

  • Luzula campestris DC. Several varieties; common.

Liliaceae.

  • Enargea parviflora Kunth. Rare; only one plant noted, in manuka heath.

  • Cordyline australis (Forst. f.) Hook. Not plentiful.

  • Astelia linearis Hook. f. Boggy places, lowland meadow.

  • —— nervosa Banks & Sol. Common in forest.

  • —— montana (T. Kirk) Cockayne. Not uncommon in swamps.

  • Phormium tenax Forst. Common on foothills.

  • —— Cookianum Le Jolis. Abundant on uplands.

  • Chrysobactron Hookeri Col. Common in damp situations.

  • Herpolirion novae-zelandiae Hook. f. Common in meadows.

Iridaceae.

  • Libertia ixioides Spreng. Not uncommon.

  • —— var. with creeping stolons. This variety is common in lowland tussock meadow. It differs in having stolons. The leaves are wider and more striate, the peduncles much shorter than the leaves, and the flowers larger. Perhaps it should be accorded specific rank.

Orchidaceae.

  • Earina mucronata Lindl. Not plentiful.

  • Thelymitra longifolia Forst. Common.

  • —— uniflora Hook. f. Common on banks, & c.

  • Microtis uniflora (Forst. f.) Rochb. Common in steppe meadow.

  • Prasophyllum Colensoi Hook. f. Common in steppe meadow.

  • Pterostylis Banksii R. Br. Not common.

  • —— australis Hook. f. Fairly abundant in damp meadow.

  • Caladenia bifolia Hook. f. In manuka heath.

  • —— Lyallii Hook. f. In manuka heath at 1,000 ft.

  • Corysanthes rotundifolia Hook. f. Common on creek-banks.

  • —— macrantha Hook. f. Damp places in forest.

  • —— triloba Hook. f. Damp places in forest.

– 243 –

Urticaceae.

  • Urtica incisa Poir. Common on bush tracks.

  • —— ferox Forst. Rare; in northern part of forest.

  • Paratrophis microphylla Blume. Rare in forest.

Loranthaceae.

  • Loranthus micranthus Hook. f. Plentiful in forest.

  • Tupeia antarctica Cham. & Schl. Abundant.

  • Korthalsella Lindsayi (Engl.) Van Tiegh. Common.

  • —— clavata (Cheesem.) Van Tiegh. Not common.

Polygonaceae.

  • Rumex flexuosus Sol. Not plentiful; north side chiefly.

  • Muehlenbeckia australis (Forst. f.) Meissn. Abundant; forest-margin.

  • —— complexa (A. Cunn.) Meissn. Abundant; forest-margin.

  • —— axillaris Walp. Dry situations in meadow.

Caryophyllaceae.

  • Colobanthus acicularis Hook. f. In boggy ground.

  • Stellaria parviflora Banks & Sol. In open places in forest.

  • Scleranthus biflorus (Forst.) Hook. f. Dry meadow; common.

Ranunculaceae.

  • Clematis indivisa Willd. Plentiful.

  • —— hexasepala DC. Not uncommon.

  • —— foetida Raoul. Common on forest-margin.

  • Ranunculus hirtus Banks & Sol. Fairly common.

  • —— rivularis Banks & Sol. Common in damp places.

  • —— lappaceus Sm: Plentiful.

  • —— multiscapus Cockayne. Common.

  • —— foliosus T. Kirk. Not common.

Magnoliaceae.

  • Drimys colorata Raoul. Plentiful.

Cruciferae

  • Cardamine heterophylla (Forst f.) O. E. Schultz. Plentiful.

  • —— depressa Hook. f. Not uncommon.

Saxifragaceae.

  • Carpodetus serratus Forst. Very abundant in forest.

Pittosporaceae.

  • Pittosporum tenuifolium Banks & Sol. Abundant.

  • —— Colensoi Hook. f. Common.

  • —— eugenioides A. Cunn. Common.

Cunoniaceae.

  • Weinmannia racemosa L. f. Not uncommon in southern forest.

Rosaceae.

  • Rubus australis Forst. f. Abundant.

  • —— subpauperatus Cockayne. Common.

  • —— schmidelioides A. Cunn. Not plentiful.

– 244 –

  • Rubus cissoides A. Cunn. Not plentiful.

  • Potentilla anserina L. var. anserinoides (Raoul) T. Kirk. Not plentiful.

  • Acaena novae-zelandiae T. Kirk. Not uncommon.

  • —— Sanguisorbae Vahl. Common throughout.

  • —— var. pilosa T. Kirk. Hilltops.

  • —— microphylla Hook. f. Hilltops only.

Geraniaceae.

  • Geranium microphyllum Hook. f. Common in tussock meadow.

  • —— sessiliflorum. Cav. var. glabrum Kunth. Common in steppe.

  • Oxalis magellanica Forst. Rare. On bank of Otamete Stream at 1,000 ft.

  • —— corniculata L. Abundant.

Rutaceae.

  • Melicope simplex A. Cunn. Plentiful in forest.

Olacinaceae.

  • Pennantia corymbosa Forst.

Callitrichaceae.

  • Callitriche verna L. In pools, & c.

Coriariaceae.

  • Coriaria ruscifolia L. Plentiful.

  • —— thymifolia Humb. & Bonpl. Common.

Leguminosae.

  • Sophora tetraptera J. Mull. var. microphylla Hook. f. Fairly abundant.

  • Carmichaelia subulata T. Kirk. Creek-banks.

Elaeocarpaceae.

  • Aristotelia racemosa (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. var. with red berries. Plentiful in forest.

  • —— Colensoi Hook. f. Creek-banks.

  • —— fruticosa Hook. f. On creek-banks above 1,000 ft.

  • —— var. with white flowers. On creek-bank; rare.

  • Eleaocarpus Hookerianus Raoul. Fairly abundant.

Rhamnaceae.

  • Discaria toumatou Raoul. Common on stony faces.

Malvaceae.

  • Plagianthus betulinus A. Cunn. Plentiful; forest-margins.

  • Hoheria populnea A. Cunn. var. vulgaris Hook. f. Forest-margins.

  • —— var. angustifolia Hook. f.

Violaceae.

  • Viola Cunninghamii Hook. f. Plentiful in steppe.

  • —— filicaulis Hook. f. Plentiful in steppe.

  • Melicytus lanceolatus Hook. f. Fairly common but local.

  • Hymenanthera dentata R. Br. Forest-margin.

  • —— var. alpina T. Kirk. Hilltops.

– 245 –

Thymelaeacea.

  • Pimelea prostrata Willd., one or more varieties. Plentiful.

  • —— sericeo-villosa Hook. f. Not plentiful.

  • Drapetes Dieffenbachii Hook. f. In elevated boggy places.

  • —— Lyallii Hook. f. In elevated boggy places.

Myrtaceae.

  • Leptospermum scoparium Forst. Plentiful.

  • Myrtus pedunculata Hook. f. Plentiful in lowland forest.

  • Metrosideros lucida (Forst. f.) A. Rich. Plentiful in forest.

  • —— hypericifolia A. Cunn. Plentiful but local in forest.

Onagraceae.

  • Epilobium chionanthum Haussk. Boggy places

  • —— pictum Petrie. Plentiful.

  • —— Hectori Haussk. Common.

  • —— confertifolium Hook. f. Common.

  • —— alsinoides A. Cunn. Common.

  • —— Billardierianum Ser. Common.

  • —— junceum Sol. var. hirtigerum A. Cunn. Not uncommon.

  • —— pubens A. Rich. Plentiful.

  • —— nummularifolium R. Cunn. Bush tracks.

  • —— linniaeoides Hook. f. Bush tracks.

  • —— insulare Haussk. Common.

  • Fuchsia excorticata L. f. Plentiful.

  • —— Colensoi Hook. f. Common.

Halorrhagaceae.

  • Halorrhagis depressa Walp. Fairly abundant.

  • —— micrantha (Thumb.) R. Br. Meadows.

  • Myriophyllum elatinoides Gaud. Pools.

  • Gunnera flavida Col. Swamps.

  • —— prorepens Hook. f. Swamps.

Araliaceae.

  • Nothopanax simplex (Forst) Seem. Abundant in forest.

  • —— Edgerleyi (Hook. f.) Harms. Not uncommon.

  • —— Colensoi (Hook. f.) Seem. Abundant.

  • Pseudopanax crassifolium (Sol.) C. Koch. Common in forest.

  • —— ferox T. Kirk. Dry situations in forest.

  • Shefflera digitata Forst. Not uncommon in damp gullies.

Umbelliferae.

  • Hydrocotyle novae-zealandiae DC. Abundant in damp places.

  • —— asiatica L. Plentiful.

  • Apium filiforme (A. Rich.) Hook. Tolerably rare.

  • Aciphylla Colensoi Hook. f. Rare; only two plants noted.

  • —— squarrosa Forst. Fairly common.

  • Angelica Gingidium Hook. f. Abundant on banks, & c.

Cornaceae.

  • Griselinia littoralis Raoul. Plentiful.

  • Corokia Cotoneaster Raoul. Abundant near lower edge of forest.

– 246 –

Ericaceae.

  • Gaultheria antipoda Forst. f. Fairly common in heath.

  • —— erecta (Cheesem.) Cockayne. On creek-banks; rare.

  • —— depressa Hook. f. Abundant from 1,500 ft. upwards.

  • —— perplexa R. Br. Plentiful.

Epacridaceae.

  • Pentachondra pumila (Forst.) R. Br. Mountain-heaths.

  • Styphelia Fraseri (A. Cunn.) F. Muell. Throughout heath.

  • Cyathodes empetrifolia Hook. f. Sphagnum bogs with Hypolaena.

  • Dracophyllum longifolium (Forst. f.) R. Br. Mountain-heath

  • —— Urvilleanum A. Rich. Not very common.

Myrsinaceae.

  • Rapanea Urvillei (A. DC.) Mez. Plentiful in forest.

  • Suttonia divaricata (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. Fairly abundant.

Gentianaceae.

  • Gentiana Grisebachii Hook. f. Not uncommon on upland heath.

Apocynaceae.

  • Parsonsia heterophylla A. Cunn. Abundant.

  • —— capsularis R. Br. Fairly common.

Convolvulaceae.

  • Calystegia tuguriorum Forst. f. Forest-margins; rare and local.

Labiatae.

  • Mentha Cunninghamii Benth. Creek-banks, & c.

Scrophulariaceae.

  • Veronica salicifolia Forst. f. Lowland forest; abundant.

  • Mazus radicans Cheesem. Abundant in damp meadow.

  • Euphrasia Dyeri Wettst. Damp meadow.

Plantaginaceae

  • Plantago Raoulii Decne. Not plentiful.

Rubiaceae.

  • Coprosma rotundifolia A. Cunn. Plentiful near creeks in forest.

  • —— areolata Cheesem. Not uncommon.

  • —— parviflora Hook. f. Plentiful; creek-banks.

  • —— crassifolium Col. Fairly common.

  • —— rigida Cheesem. Fairly common.

  • —— foetidissima Forst. Abundant.

  • —— rhamnoides A. Cunn. Not plentiful.

  • —— Colensoi Hook. f. Rare.

  • —— acerosa A. Cunn. Dry banks, & c.

  • —— brunnea (T. Kirk) Cockayne. Creek-banks

  • —— propinqua A. Cunn. Creek-banks.

  • —— lucida Forst. f. Not abundant.

  • —— linariifolia Hook. f. Plentiful; dry hills in forest.

  • —— ramulosa Petrie. Common.

– 247 –

  • Nertera depressa Banks & Sol. Common on damp logs.

  • —— dichondraefolia (A. Cunn.) Hook. Not plentiful.

  • —— setulosa Hook. f. (?). In damp bog.

  • Galium umbrosum Sol. In meadow; not uncommon.

  • Asperula perpusilla Hook. f. Lowland meadow.

Campanulaceae.

  • Pratia angulata (Forst. f.) Hook. f. Abundant.

  • Wahlenbergia albomarginata Hook. Abundant.

  • —— gracilis (Forst. f.) A. DC. Not uncommon.

  • —— var. with very short stems and small flowers. Lowland heath.

Stylidaceae.

  • Forstera tenella Hook. f. Fairly plentiful above 1,800 ft.

Compositae.

  • Lagenophora pumila (Forst. f.) Cheesem. Dry banks.

  • —— petiolata Hook. f. Common in meadows.

  • Brachycome Sinclairii Hook. f. Plentiful in upper meadows.

  • Olearia virgata Hook. f. Fairly common; creek-banks, & c.

  • —— var. lineata T. Kirk. Fairly common.

  • —— ilicifolia Hook. f. In subalpine scrub in southern parts.

  • —— arborescens (Forst. f.) Cockayne and Laing. Common on heath, & c.

  • —— odorata Petrie. On margin of forest.

  • —— Hectori Hook. f. On margin of forest.

  • —— fragrantissima Petrie. Stony faces in north.

  • Celmisia longifolia Cass. Abundant.

  • —— var. alpina T. Kirk. Swampy places.

  • —— coriaceae Hook. f. (?). Rare; only one plant noted, on rocks.

  • Gnaphalium luteo-album L. Abundant.

  • —— trinerve Forst. f. Common on clay banks, & c.

  • —— Traversii Hook. f. Wet, sour ground.

  • Raoulia australis Hook. f. Not abundant.

  • —— glabra Hook. f. Plentiful.

  • —— subsericea Hook. f. Mountain meadows.

  • Helichrysum bellidiodes (Forst.) Willd. Abundant.

  • —— filicaule Hook. f. Plentiful in meadows.

  • —— glomeratum Benth. & Hook. Rocky faces, & c.

  • Cassinia Vauvilliersii Hook. f. Abundant.

  • —— var. rubra T. Kirk. Not uncommon.

  • Craspedia uniflora Forst. f. Plentiful in meadow.

  • Cotula australis Hook. f. Damp places.

  • —— dioica Hook. f. Damp meadows.

  • —— maniototo Petrie. Damp tracks, & c.; plentiful.

  • Senecio bellidioides Hook. f. Common throughout.

  • —— southlandicus Cockayne. Abundant.

  • Erechtites prenanthoides (A. Rich.) DC. Plentiful in forest tracks.

  • Taraxacum magellanicum Comm. Not uncommon.

  • Microseris Forsteri Hook. f. Not uncommon in steppe.

  • Sonchus asper Hill. Fairly common.

Previous Article | Table of Contents | Next Article