Nothofagus truncata – Weinmannia racemosa (N. menziesii)/ Leucopogon fasciculatus forest

Common name: Hard beech – kāmahi forest
Code: A: BF6

Where does it occur?

This forest alliance occurs in lowland to montane areas (50 – 990 m)in the north-western South Island, from the Inangahua Range north and extending east into the Richmond Range. It also occurs in scattered N.I. locations.

Description

This alliance is dominated by Nothofagus truncata and Weinmannia racemosa in the canopy and Leucopogon fasciculatus in the shrub layer. Nothofagus menziesii, Dacrydium cupressinum, Prumnopitys ferruginea and Podocarpus hallii frequently occur in the canopy and Griselina littoralis and Pseudopanax crassifolius frequently occur in the subcanopy. Nothofagus truncata is the only indicator species. Species richness is moderately low, with, on average, 18 species per plot. Exotic species occur only rarely.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Nothofagus truncata.

Stand characteristics

Synonyms

Component Associations

Nothofagus truncata – Weinmannia racemosa / Myrsine salicina – Metrosideros fulgens – Coprosma foetidissima / Blechnum discolor forest

[Nothofagus truncata] predominates in the canopy and typically co-occurs with [Weinmannia racemosa]. The occurrence of these two species with [Myrsine salicina] and [Blechnum discolor] (shown here on the ground) is one way of identifying this association. Britannia track, North Westland.

Common name: Hard beech – kāmahi forest with toro, scarlet rata and stinkwood
Code: a: BBF3

Where does it occur?

This 45 400 ha association has been sampled primarily near the coast in North Westland and in scattered locations in the Nelson-Marlborough region and southern North Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (50º). Altitudes range from 45 to 650 m.

Description

On average stands are 21 m tall, but may be as tall as 35 m.These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 42 species, and as many as 65, 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

Nothofagus truncata and Weinmannia racemosa always co-occur in this association.

Co-occurrence of these two species with either Metrosideros fulgens OR Myrsine salicina and Blechnum discolor.

Nothofagus truncata – N. menziesii – Weinmannia racemosa / Griselinia littoralis – Leucopogon fasciculatus forest

Common name: Hard & silver beech – kāmahi forest
Code: a: BF21

Where does it occur?

This 37 800 ha association has been sampled from the north west of the South Island only. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º) with altitudes ranging from 140 to 860 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 21 m tall but can range from 9 to 30 m. It tends to be species poor with an average of 16 species on a plot which can reach 34. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Nothofagus menziesii – Metrosideros umbellata – Weinmannia racemosa – Quintinia serrata – (N. truncata) / Phyllocladus alpinus forest

Common name: Silver beech – southern rata – kāmahi – quintinia forest
Code: a: BBPF2

Where does it occur?

This 68 000 ha association was sampled only from the North West corner of the South Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º). Altitudes range from 305 to 870 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 15 m tall but can range from 7 to 26 m. It tends to contain a moderate amount of species with an average of 36 species on a plot which can range from 14 to 59. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Nothofagus truncata – Weinmannia racemosa / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Hard beech – kāmahi forest with crown fern
Code: a: BP4

Where does it occur?

This 60 500 ha association has been sampled primarily from the Richmond Range in Nelson Marlborough and in scattered locations in the North West of the South Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (52º). Altitudes range from 80 to 747 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 25 m tall but can range from 14 to 37 m. It tends to contain a moderate amount of species with an average of 24 species on a plot which can range widely from 11 to 70. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.