Weinmannia racemosa - Metrosideros umbellata - Nothofagus solandri / Coprosma foetidissima forest and tall shrubland

Common name: Kāmahi – Southern rata forest and tall shrubland
Code: A: BBPF1

Where does it occur?

This 371 000 ha alliance was sampled on the South Island (where it occurs in the south and west) and Stewart Island. Altitudes range from sea level to 650 m.

Description

The canopy is dominated by Weinmannia racemosa, Metrosideros umbellata and Nothofagus solandri with an understory often dominated by Gahnia procera. Podocarpus hallii, Dacrydium cupressinum and Phyllocladus alpinus can be co-dominant in the canopy. Metrosideros umbellata, Lepidothamnus intermedius, Gahnia procera, Halocarpus biformis and Luzuriaga parviflora are diagnostic.Other important canopy species include Elaeocarpus hookerianus, and Pseudopanax linearis. Important species in the subcanopy are Archeria traversii, Coprosma colensoi, C. foetidissima, Raukaua simplex, broadleaf, Pseudopanax colensoi and Myrsine divaricata.

A: BBPF1. Size structure of canopy dominants.

On the ground layer important species are Luzuriaga parviflora, Blechnum procerum and less frequently Libertia pulchella and Schizaea fistulosa. Species occurring frequently as epiphytes include Grammitis billardierei, Hymenophyllum multifidum, Tmesipteris tannensis and Ctenopteris heterophylla. Species richness is moderate with on average 44 species per plot, with 21% of these (18) being measurable trees. Typically only a moderate percentage (25%) of the species present is ferns. Very few exotic species occur in plots of this class (mean = 0.5 per plot, range 0–2), and no individual species was particularly frequent.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Blechnum procerum, Halocarpus biformis and Podocarpus hallii OR
Dracophyllum longifolium, Leptecophylla juniperina and Metrosideros umbellata OR
Lepidothamnus intermedius and Nothofagus solandri.

Stand characteristics

Synonyms

Component associations

Lepidothamnus intermedius – Weinmannia racemosa – Metrosideros umbellata – Halocarpus biformis – Leptospermum scoparium / Gahnia procera forest and tall shrubland

Common name: Yellow silver pine – kāmahi – southern rata – pink pine forest and tall shrubland
Code: a: PF3

Where does it occur?

This 105 900 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island West Coast, Fiordland and Stewart Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (50º). Altitudes range from sea-level to 440 m.

Description

On average stands are 11 m tall, but may be as tall as 35 m. These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 38 species, and as many as 59, recorded on a plot.These forests have a low level of invasion by exotics, with on average only 1% of the species being exotic.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Halocarpus biformis and Lepidothamnus intermedius OR
Phyllocladus alpinus, Leptospermum scoparium, Dracophyllum longifolium and Lepidothamnus intermedius.

Weinmannia racemosa – Nothofagus solandri – Metrosideros umbellata – Podocarpus hallii / Coprosma foetidissima / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Kāmahi – mountain beech – southern rata – Hall's totara forest
Code: a: BBPF1

Where does it occur?

This 128 500 ha association has been sampled from South Westland and Fiordland. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (55º). Altitudes range from 20 to 780 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 18 m tall but can range from 5 to 30 m. It tends to be species-rich with an average of 38 species on a plot which can range from 23 to 59. On average, there are few (less than 2%) exotic species present

Nothofagus solandri – Weinmannia racemosa – Metrosideros umbellata – Quintinia acutifolia / Phyllocladus alpinus – Coprosma foetidissima forest

Common name: Black/mountain beech – kāmahi – southern rata – quintinia forest
Code: a: BBF1

Where does it occur?

This 30 200 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island's West Coast (outside of the beech gap), Fiordland, and the southern North Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º). Altitudes range from 340 to 1130 m.

Description

On average stands are 16 m tall, but may as tall as 26 m. Plots in this forest have, on average, 22 species, and as many as 54, recorded on a plot.These forests have a low level of invasion by exotics, with on average only 1% of the species being exotic.