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Volume 68, 1938-39
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Previously published lists of species collected from the Tararua Mountains are either too fragmentary or cover but isolated narrow routes only. Besides, the very scanty information supplied with them is often erroneous or tends to give an erroneous impression. It would appear from the information given in Cheeseman's Manual that about 236 species more than so far recorded from the Tararuas should occur there by reason of the fact that they occur on the mountains both north and south of the Tararuas. Because of the above reasons and the large amount of fresh information accumulated it is very desirable to publish a thoroughly revised and enlarged list of species together with notes on their distribution.

In the following list the past records are checked fairly, if not quite, completely, and persons making records are noted. Only the specific citations for the Tararua Mountains are here accepted as recorded for them.

In its arrangement of species the list closely follows that of the Manual, but a number of departures are made in nomenclature so as to bring this up to date as nearly as possible. No attempt is being made here to describe any new species and varieties or correct any known errors which crept into the Manual and which have not yet been formally published, except where this is absolutely necessary to avoid possible confusion. It is hoped that in all cases of alteration of specific names there is sufficient means of identifying them with those of the Manual. It must be stressed here that no attempt is being made to distinguish Tararuan jordanons from those elsewhere, although there is usually more than one very distinct jordanon in every species. Only in those species which are represented on the Tararuas by more than one recognised jordanon are the varieties indicated.

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Fig. 1.–Timber-line at its maximum altitude Eatern sope of Mt. Alpha, c. 1200 m. Fig. 2–Forest advancing on to the scrub is being cut off from the main body of the forest by the scrub. South-western slope of West Peak (near Mt. Hector) c. 1050 m. Fig. 3.–Note effect of the moist north-westerly wind on distribution of formations. A small hanging valle just below the main divide (left) which is c. 1200 m., looking south. Fig. 4.–A naturally drained big–now dry–but supporting only a scanty vegetation, Oriwa Lake-Hollow.

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Fig. 5.–Wind-channelled tussock on the north-westerly s'ope of the high ridge north-east of Mt. Holdsworth, Fig. 6.–Raouha rubia-Phyllachne Colensol association on top of wind-swept West Peak (near Mt. Hector) c. 1360 m. Fig. 7.–Prostrate growth of Nothofagus Menziesii and Dracophyllum Urvilleanum on the wind-swept north-western slope of a knob (c. 1100 m.) near Mt. Omega. Old trees are here only about 50 cm. high. Fig. 8.–Dracophyllum-Sphagnum bog on Mt. Omega.

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Fig. 9.—Intetion of Oleama colensole scrub on western slope of Mt. Watopehu, c. 100 m. The Scrub here is 2–3 m. high. Fig. 10.—Intetion of forest in Ohau Valley (Western Area), c. 200 m. J. Nicholls, photo.

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Fig. 11.—Freycinetia banksii climbing up the trunk of Lamelha nora-zealandiae, Ohau Valley, c. 200 m. Fig. 12.—Rhipogonum scandeus entanglements, Tiritea Valley (western side of Northern Area), c. 150 m. The ground is covered with dead leaves. Fig. 13.–Herb-field on Mt. Pukematawai (near Mt. Arete), c 14.50 m. The larger plants seen are Celmisia spectabihs. Leucogenes leontopodium, and Danthonia antarctica var.

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Fig. 13a.—Usnea sp. festooning Nothofagus menziesin. Mt. Holdsworth (Eastern Area), c. 1200 m. Fig. 14.—Nothofagus fusca-Weinmannia racemosa forest on eastern slope of Mt. Holdsworth (Eastern Area), c. 600 m. Fig. 15.—Bryophyte-clad young Podocarpus hallii. Near Field Hut (Western Area), c. 850 m. Fig. 16.—Weinmannia racemosa-Nothofagus [ unclear: ] menziesitt forest on a western slope near Tematawai Hut (near Mt. Walepehu), c. 200 m.

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Fig. 17.–Raoulia rubra-Phyllachne colensoi association on wind-swept slope of Mt. Hector c. 1.500 m. Fig. 18.–Cordyline indivisa near Mt. Omega, c. 1000 m. The young leaves of the trees 1–2 m. high were attacked by deer during winter of 1932. All trees in the grove of some 30 are now dead. Fig. 19.–Aciphylla colensoi conspicua in Danthonia tussock on Mt. Hector, etc., 1150 m. Fig. 20.–Dacrydium cupicssinum-Metrosideros robusta-Weinmannia racemosa forest on a western slope, Western Area, c. 600 m. Gleichma cunninghamii In foreground; in centre Senecio kirkii in flower.

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Fig. 21.—Aenal 100ts of Griselinia lucida encircling the trunk of Coryno-carpus laeugata Mukumuku Valley, Southern Area. Fig. 22. —Grischma littoralis ringbarked by deer from 1 to 2 m. from the ground. Fig. 23.—Uppermost branches of Nothofagus menziesii from timber-line near Field Hut (western slope), Western Area, c. 900 m. Fig. 24.—Uppermost branches of N. menziesii from timber-line on eastern slope of Mt. Alpha. Eastern Area. c. 1200 m. The scale of the photographs 23 and 24 is identical (about x 1.4) Fig. 25.—Podocarpus halhi showing shade (left) and sun foliage (right). In scrub formation frequently only the sun foliage is prominently developed.

CORRIGENDA TRANS. ROY. SOC. N.Z., Vol., 68, 1939.
Insert under abbreviations p. 291:–
NTA: North Tararua Area.
STA: South Tararua Area.
ETA: East Tararua Area.
WTA: West Tararua Area.
ATA: All Tararua Area.

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