Weinmannia racemosa - Griselinia littoralis – Pseudowintera colorata / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Kāmahi–hardwood forest
Code: A: BBF1

Where does it occur?

This alliance occupies 612 000 ha, primarily on the South Island south and west coasts (extending north to 42°S) and in montane areas of the North Island south of 40°S. Altitudes range from sea level to 820 m.

Description

The canopy is dominated by Weinmannia racemosa, Griselinia littoralis, Pseudowintera colorata, and the tree fern Cyathea smithii, with an understory dominated by Blechnum discolor.Diagnostic species in the subcanopy are marbleleaf, Coprosma foetidissima, Raukaua simplex and Myrsine divaricata.

A: BBF1. Size structure of canopy dominants.

Diagnostic species on the ground layer are Nertera villosa, Blechnum discolor, B. fluviatile, and Nertera depressa. Though less frequent, the fern species Leptopteris superba, Rumohra adiantiformis, Blechnum nigrum and Trichomanes colensoi are highly diagnostic of this class, as is Uncinia gracilenta. Species richness is moderate with on average 53 species per plot, with 43% of these (23) being measurable trees. A relatively large percentage of the species present are ferns, these comprising on average 21 species per plot (39% of the total species richness). Very few exotics are encountered in this alliance. This alliance is also quite vulnerable to both deer and possum browse with a highest proportion of deer and possum-selected species.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Pseudowintera colorata, Raukaua simplex, Schleffera digitata and Rumohra adiantiformis.

Stand characteristics

Synonyms

Component Associations

Weinmannia racemosa – Cyathea smithii – Dicksonia squarrosa – Schleffera digitata / Metrosideros diffusa – Asplenium bulbiferum forest

Common name: Kāmahi – patē – soft & hard tree fern forest
Code: a: OF3

Where does it occur?

This 60 500 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island on the West Coast south of Greymouth and in Fiordland. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (50º). Altitudes range from just above sea level to 600 m.

Description

On average stands are 20 m tall, but may be up to 40 m tall.These forests are species-rich, with on average 47 species, but as many as 72, recorded on a plot. These forests have a low level of invasion by exotics, with on average less than 1% of the species present being exotic.

Nothofagus menziesii – Weinmannia racemosa – Pseudowintera colorata / Blechnum discolor – Grammitis billardierei – Asplenium flaccidum forest

Common name: Silver beech – kāmahi – horopito forest with crown fern
Code: a: BF18

Where does it occur?

This 189 000 ha association has been sampled primarily in southern Westland and Fiordland. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (60º). Altitudes range from 40 to 820 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 21 m tall but can reach 34 m. It tends to contain a moderate amount of species with an average of 36 species on a plot which can range widely from 12 to 82. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present

Metrosideros umbellata – Weinmannia racemosa / Griselinia littoralis – Pseudowintera colorata – Raukaua simplex forest

Common name: Southern rata – kāmahi – broadleaf – horopito forest
Code: a: BLP6

Where does it occur?

This 38 000 ha association has been sampled only from the South Island in Westland from Haast northwards to Lake Brunner. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (55º). Altitudes range from 370 to 1000 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 17 m tall but can range widely from 4 to 30 m. It tends to be species-rich with an average of 40 species on a plot which can range from 17 to 53. On average, there are few (less than 2%) exotic species present.

Nothofagus menziesii – Pseudowintera colorata – Weinmannia racemosa / Cyathea smithii / Microlaena avenacea – Metrosideros diffusa forest

Common name: Silver beech – horopito – kāmahi forest with soft tree fern
Code: a: BP2

Where does it occur?

This 52 900 ha association has been sampled primarily on the South Island where it mostly occurs on the southern West Coast (south of the beech gap), but also occurs in scattered locations in Fiordland, North Westland and the southern North Island. Sites range from flat to those having steeply sloping (40º). Altitudes range from sea-level to 1000 m.

Description

On average, stands are 23 m tall, but may be as tall as 42 m.These forests are relatively species-rich with, on average, 49 species and as many as 66, recorded on a plot. These forests have a low level of invasion by exotics, with, on average, less than 1% of the species being exotic.

Indicator species

Cyathea smithii and Microlaena avenacea always co-occur in this association.Co-occurence of these two species with the combinations of either Nothofagus menziesii, Coprosma rotundifolia, Microsorus pustulatus and Blechnum fluviatile OR
Nothofagus menziesii, Coprosma rotundifolia and Rumohra adiantiformis

Weinmannia racemosa – Melicytus ramiflorus – Carpodetus serratus / Cyathea smithii – Metrosideros diffusa forest

Common name: Kāmahi – māhoe – marbleleaf forest
Code: a: BL5

Where does it occur?

This 45 400 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island where it occurs primarily on the West Coast, but also occurs in scattered locations near the coast in Southland and the Nelson/Marlborough region. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (60º). Altitudes range from 100 to 920 m.

Description

On average stands are 16 m tall, but may be as tall as 30 m.These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 42 species, and as many as 63, recorded on a plot. These forests have a low level of invasion by exotics, with on average less than 1% of the species present being exotic.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Weinmannia racemosa, Cyathea smithii, Carpodetus serratus, Myrsine australis, Pennantia corymbosa,Blechnum discolor andBlechnum chambersii OR
Weinmannia racemosa, Cyathea smithii, Quintinia acutifolia, Metrosideros diffusa, Microsorum pustulatum, Blechnum fluviatile and Blechnum chambersiiOR
Weinmannia racemosa, Cyathea smithii, Quintinia acutifolia, Pseudowintera colorata, Pennantia corymbosaand Dicksonia squarrosa OR
Weinmannia racemosa, Cyathea smithii, Quintinia acutifolia, Carpodetus serratus, Melicytus ramiflorus, Microsorum pustulatumand Histiopteris incisa.

Weinmannia racemosa – Pseudowintera colorata – Griselinia littoralis – Carpodetus serratus / Blechnum fluviatile forest

Common name: Kāmahi – horopito – broadleaf – marbleleaf forest with kiwakiwa
Code: a: BLP14

Where does it occur?

This 38 000 ha association has been sampled primarily on the South Island where it occurs on the West Coast near the main divide and in Southland. One North Island location has been sampled in the Hauhungaroa Range. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (60º). Altitudes range from 420 to 950 m.

Description

On average stands are 13 m tall, but may be up to 22 m tall.These forests are species-rich, with on average 44 species, and as many as 82, recorded on a plot. These forests have a low level of invasion by exotics, with on average only 1% of the species present being exotic.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Pseudowintera colorata, Griselinia littoralis, Carpodetus serratus,Blechnum fluviatile, Podocarpus hallii, Hebe salicina, and Asplenium bulbiferum OR
Pseudowintera colorata, Griselinia littoralis, Carpodetus serratus,Blechnum fluviatile, Coprosma colensoi, Polystichum vestitum, Histiopteris incisa, Asplenium bulbiferum and Aristotelia serrata OR
Pseudowintera colorata, Griselinia littoralis, Carpodetus serratus,Blechnum fluviatile,Myrsine divaricata, Coprosma colensoi, Raukaua simplex, Coprosma lucida and Aristotelia serrata OR
Pseudowintera colorata, Griselinia littoralis, Carpodetus serratus,Blechnum fluviatile, Coprosma lucida, Metrosideros umbellata, Microsorus pustulatus, Coprosma colensoi and Polystichum vestitum

References

Wiser, S.K., Hurst, J.M. 2010. Composition and structure of 24 New Zealand forest and shrubland vegetation communities. Landcare Research Contract Report LC0910-073. Prepared for the Department of Conservation and the Sustainable Management Fund of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Wiser, S.K., J.M. Hurst, R.B. Allen, E.F. Wright. 2011. New Zealand’s forest and shrubland communities: a classification based on a nationally representative plot network. Applied Vegetation Science 14: 506-523.

Wiser, S.K.; De Cáceres, M. 2013. Updating vegetation classifications: an example with New Zealand's woody vegetation. Journal of Vegetation Science 24: 80-93.

De Cáceres M, Legendre P, Wiser SK, Brotons L (2012) Using species combinations in indicator value analyses. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 3(6): 973-982.