Pseudowintera colorata – Fuchsia excorticata – Griselinia littoralis / Polystichum vestitum forest

Forest stand with [Fuchsia excorticata] and [Pseudowintera colorata] over an understorey dominated by [Polystichum vestitum]. Omahu Bush, Canterbury.

Common name: Pepperwood – fuchsia – broadleaf forest
Code: A: BPF5

Where does it occur?

This forest alliance occurs on both the S.I. and N.I., although it has mostly been sampled in Western Southland and the S.I. West Coast. It occurs at altitudes from sea level to 900 m.

Description

This forest is dominated by Pseudowintera colorata, Fuchsia excorticata, Griselinia littoralis and Carpodetus serratus in the overstory and Polystichum vestitum and Microsorum pustulatum in the ground layer. Podocarp trees, such as Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, Podocarpus hallii, Prumnopitys taxifolia, P. ferruginea and Dacrydium cupressinum, and the beech Nothofagus menziesii may be present. Species richness is moderately high with, on average, 39 species per plot. Few of these (2.4%) are exotic.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Pseudowintera colorata, Fuchsia excorticata and Pennantia corymbosa.

Stand characteristics

Synonyms

Component Associations

Fuchsia excorticata – Pseudowintera colorata – Griselinia littoralis – Nothofagus menziesii / Blechnum fluviatile forest

Common name: Fuchsia – horopito – broadleaf forest with silver beech
Code: a: BL3

Where does it occur?

This association occurs primarily in the Tararua Ranges and in scattered S.I. locations, on sloped sites ranging from 15º to 50º.Altitudes range from 620 to 1000 m.

Description

These successional forests are generally short-statured, with the average height being 8 m (range 5 to 14 m).On average there are 23 species per plot and none of these are exotic.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of either Fuchsia excorticata, Pseudowintera colorata and Polystichum silvaticum OR Fuchsia excorticata, Pseudowintera colorata and Epilobium spp.

Prumnopitys taxifolia – Dacrycarpus dacrydioides – Melicytus ramiflorus – Podocarpus totara / Dicksonia fibrosa / Asplenium bulbiferum forest

Common name: Mataī – kahikatea – māhoe – tōtara
Code: a: PF2

Where does it occur?

This association has been sampled from the central North Island. Sites range from flat to moderately sloping (21º). Altitudes range from 270 to 670 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 23 m tall but can range from 18 to 30 m. It tends to be species rich with 65 species on a plot. No exotic species were recorded.