Vegetation and flora of tertiary calcareous rocks in the mountains of western Nelson, New Zealand

Abstract

Vegetation and flora are described for some 225 km² of Tertiary calcareous rocks that form plateaux and hill country in western Nelson. The areas are between c. 800 and 1500 m above sea level and have a cool, wet, windy climate. Twenty-three vegetation units are described, ranging from Nothofagus spp. forests, through Chionochloa spp. tussocklands, to openlands with <20% vegetative cover. Their relationship to landscapes and soils is presented. Calcicoles are found only on skeletal soils on limestone. The 489 indigenous gymnosperms, lycopods, ferns and flowering plants are listed. Only 11 are considered to be strong calcicoles. Notes on distribution, putative hybrids, taxonomic considerations, and other observations are made.