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Forest Vines to Snow Tussocks: The Story of New Zealand Plants
Canopy
Canopy
North of 36°S on the Northland Peninsula, taraire (Beilschmiedia tarairi), with its broad mesophyll leaves, dominates the canopy, usually in association with kamahi's northern relative towai (Weinmannia silvicola). At higher altitudes in Northland, taraire's relative tawa (B. tawa), with its smaller, willow-like leaves, is a minor component of the canopy, but from about 36°S it replaces taraire as the dominant at low altitudes and continues in this role as far as the north-east of the South Island at
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page 10242°S. Succeeding tawa altitudinally as the canopy dominant in the North Island from about 39°S is kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa); it also replaces tawa in the lowland conifer broadleaf forests of most of the South Island and Stewart Island.
Figure 60 A grove of nikau palms (Rhopalostylis sapida) growing near the sea at 42°S on the west coast of the South Island south of Westport.
Photo: J. W. Dawson.
Several other species also contribute to the canopy. Puriri (Vitex lucens), which has strong tropical affinities, is limited to the northern half of the North Island; tanekaha or celery pine (Phyllocladus trichomanoides) and black maire (Nestegis cunninghamii) reach the northern South Island.60 Hinau (Elaeocarpus dentatus) reaches the central South Island, while its higher altitude relative pokaka (E. hookerianus) reaches Stewart Island.
On the west and south of the South Island southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata) contributes to the canopy of kamahi forests.