General Account

Communities such as the above occupy, like the Hoheria glabrata low forest, deep, moist, freely drained soils But the soils are older with more advanced development of profile, and the communities are more varied and richer. On the old alluvialfan where the typical community is sited, there is considerable variation. Dracophyllum traversu, Olearia lacunosa, O. ilicifolia and Hoheria glabrata may each be clearly dominant, or conversely, absent over small areas. The shrub storey shows similar variations Usually the canopy of Olearia low forest is pierced by trees of Libocedrus bidwillii and occasionally by Podocarpus hallii Olearia colensoi, Senecio elaeagnifolius and Archeria traversii are present where the tree canopy is not continuous.

Olearia Colensoi Scrub.

Typical Community. Altitude, 3,200ft Slope, 45°. Aspect, N. E.

General Shrub Canopy. Olearia colensoi contributes half of the canopy. The plants measure 12ft from ground to apex, but grow nearly horixontally. Archeria traversii, Senecio elaeagnifolius and Olearia lacunosa are also important. There are scattered bushes of Dracophyllum longifolium.

Discontinous Storey of Tallers Shrubs. Dracophyllum traversii forms scattered groups. The stems are up to 10in in diameter and 20ft tall, and their lower parts are inclined.