Weinmannia racemosa – Prumnopitys ferruginea - Dacrydium cupressinum / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Kāmahi-podocarp forest
Code: A: BPF1

Where does it occur?

This is the most spatially extensive (794 000 ha) forest alliance and was sampled on the South Island, where it occurs primarily west of the Main Divide and in the south and on Stewart Island.. Altitudes range from sea level to 650 m.

Description

The forest is dominated by Weinmannia racemosa, Prumnopitys ferruginea and Dacrydium cupressinum, with the understory frequently dominated by Coprosma foetidissima and Blechnum discolor. Other important canopy species are Griselinia littoralis, Pseudopanax crassifolius and Dicksonia squarrosa.

A: BPF1. Size structure of canopy dominants.

In the subcanopy diagnostic species are Raukaua simplex, Neomyrtus pedunculata and on the ground layer are Nertera villosa, Grammitis billardierei, Hymenophyllum demissum, H. revolutum, Blechnum procerum and Nertera depressa. Species occurring frequently as epiphytes include kāmahi, broadleaf, Ctenopteris heterophylla, Asplenium flaccidum, Grammitis billardierei and Tmesipteris tannensis as well as several Hymenophyllum species. Species richness is moderate with on average 54 species per plot, with more than half of these being measurable trees. Ferns are important in this forest class, comprising on average 36% of the species. Exotic species richness is low (mean = 0.8 per plot, range 0–5) and no individual species is particularly frequent.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Dacrydium cupressinum, Prumnopitys ferruginea and Weinmannia racemosa OR
Metrosideros umbellata, Dicksonia squarrosa and Blechnum discolor OR
Hymenophyllum demissum, Pseudopanax colensoi and Neomyrtus pedunculata.

Stand characteristics

Synonyms

Component Associations

Weinmannia racemosa – Prumnopitys ferruginea – Dacrydium cupressinum – Dacrycarpus dacrydioides / Griselinia littoralis / Metrosideros diffusa forest

Common name: Kāmahi – miro – rimu – kahikitea forest
Code: a: PF5

Where does it occur?

This 37 800 ha association has been sampled only on the West Coast of the South Island primarily between Okarito in the north to Cascade Point in the south. Sites range from flat to moderately sloping (20º) with altitudes ranging from sea-level to 370 m (mean altitude 28 m).

Description

This forest association is, on average, 26 m tall but can range widely from 8 to 47 m. It tends to be species-rich with an average of 48 species on a plot which can range from 33 to 73. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Dacrydium cupressinum – Weinmannia racemosa – Prumnopitys ferruginea – Metrosideros umbellata / Neomyrtus pedunculata / Grammitis billardierei forest

Common name: Rimu – kāmahi – miro – southern rata forest with myrtle and strap fern
Code: a: PF1

Where does it occur?

This 37 800 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island where it occurs primarily on the southern West Coast (south of the beech gap), but also occurs in scattered locations Fiordland, Southland and North Westland. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (60º). Altitudes range from sea-level to 800 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 24 m tall but can range widely from 1 to 40 m. It tends to be species-rich with an average of 40 species on a plot which can range from 26 to 58. On average, there are few (less than 2%) exotic species present.

This association is dominated by the trees Dacrydium cupressinum and Weinmannia racemosa in the canopy. The trees Prumnopitys ferruginea, Podocarpus hallii and Metrosideros umbellata are also important in the canopy. Typical trees in the subcanopy are Pseudopanax crassifolius, Neomyrtus peduculata, Phyllocladus alpinus, Pseudopanax colensoi and Griselinea littoralis. The shrubs Coprosma foetidissima and Coprosma colensoi are usually present. Ferns are the most important ground-layer species with the most common and abundant ground being Grammitis billardierei, Blechnum novae-zealandiae, Trichomanes reniforme, Hymenophyllum multifidum, H. demissum, Lindsaea trichomanoides and Ctenopteris heterophylla. The herbs Luzuriaga parviflora and Libertia pulchella are also important.

Beech trees are rarely encountered. The two species that may occur in this forest type are Nothfagus menziesii and N. solandri (sensu lato).

Dacrydium cupressinum – Weinmannia racemosa – Prumnopitys ferruginea – Metrosideros umbellata / Coprosma foetidissima / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Rimu – kāmahi – miro – southern rata forest with crown fern
Code: a: BLP5

Where does it occur?

This 113 000 ha association has been sampled only the South Island from Stewart Island and the south coast of the mainland. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (70º). Altitudes range from 15 to 380 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 17 m tall but can range from 4 to 30 m. It tends to be species-rich with an average of 41 species on a plot which can range from 24 to 60. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Weinmannia racemosa – Dacrydium cupressinum – Hedycarya arborea / Dicksonia squarrosa – Freycinetia banksii – Metrosideros fulgens forest

Common name: Kāmahi – rimu – pigeonwood
Code: a: PF4

Where does it occur?

This 37 800 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island's West Coast, primarily in South Westland. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (60º). Altitudes range from sea-level to 440 m.

Description

On average stands are 25 m tall, but may be as tall as 40 m.These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 45 species, and as many as 69, 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

Weinmannia racemosa, Freycinetia banksii and Metrosideros fulgens always co-occur in this association. Co-occurence of these three species with the combinations of either Aspleniumflaccidum, Pseudopanax crassifolius and Ascarina lucida OR
Blechnum novae-zelandiae, Coprosma lucida and Ascarina lucida OR
Griselinia littoralis, Pseudopanax colensoi and Hymenophyllum dilatatum OR
Coprosma foetidissima, Microsorus pustulatus and Myrsine australis

Quintinia acutifolia – Weinmannia racemosa – Metrosideros umbellata – Prumnopitys ferruginea / Griselinia littoralis / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Quintinia – kāmahi – southern rata forest
Code: a: BLP10

Where does it occur?

This 83 200 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island West Coast south of Reefton and north of Jacob's River. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (50º). Altitudes range from just above sea level to 860 m.

Description

On average stands are 17 m tall, but may be up to 40 m tall.These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 42 species, but 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 present being exotic.

Nothofagus menziesii – Weinmannia racemosa – Prumnopitys ferruginea – Dacrydium cupressinum / Pseudopanax crassifolius – Coprosma foetidissima / Grammitis billardierei forest

Common name: Silver beech – kāmahi – miro – rimu forest
Code: a: BP3

Where does it occur?

This 37 800 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island where it occurs primarily on the southern West Coast (south of the beech gap), but also occurs in scattered locations in Fiordland, Southland and North Westland. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (60º). Altitudes range from sea-level to 800 m.

Description

On average stands are 23 m tall, but may be up to 36 m tall.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 being exotic.

Indicator species

Nothfagus menziesii and Weinmannia racemosa always co-occur in this association.Co-occurence of these two species with the combinations of either Metrosideros umbellata, Dacrydium cupressinum, Coprosma colensoi and Astelia solandri OR
Metrosideros umbellata, Neomyrtus pedunculata, Microsorus pustulatus and Luzuriaga parviflora OR
Neomyrtus pedunculata, Luzuriaga parviflora, Astelia solandri and Coprosma rhamnoides OR
Metrosideros umbellata, Metrosideros fulgens, Raukaua simplex and Rumohra adiantiformis.

Weinmannia racemosa – Dacrydium cupressinum – Prumnopitys ferruginea / Dicksonia squarrosa – Metrosideros diffusa / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Kāmahi – rimu – miro forest
Code: a: BLP11

Where does it occur?

This 90 700 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island's West Coast, Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º). Altitudes range from sea-level to 850 m.

Description

On average stands are 23 m tall, but may be as tall as 45 m.These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 44 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 present being exotic.

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.