Soils and vegetation of the lateral moraine at Malte Brun, Mount Cook Region, New Zealand

Abstract

Soils and vegetation at an altitude of 1710 m on a lateral moraine above the Tasman glacier at Malte Brun, Southern Alps of New Zealand arc described. Surface morphology includes rectilinear and lobatc solifluction terraces, which are vegetated and stabilised, and colluvial debris in the form of fans. Two soil profiles are described, one from the solifluction terraces, the other from a colluvial fan. The latter had higher base saturation, C/N ratio, and organic phosphorus, but lower inorganic phosphorus. Vegetation is described for the tall-tussock herbfield with particular reference to solifluction terraces with rectilinear alignment. The zonation of plants on these terraces is similar to those described from Central Otago, New Zealand. Plant cover of lobate solifluction terraces, snowbank areas, and fcllficld is described briefly. Soil developed on the colluvial fans is probably the zonal soil in the area, being associated with a climax vegetation of Ch'wnocMoa tussock grassland. A floristic list includes 111 vascular plants, 30 bryophytcs, and 8 lichens.