Common name: Silver beech-red beech-kāmahi forest
Code: A: BBF3
Where does it occur?
This alliance is extensive (711 000 ha), being widespread on the South Island (except for the ‘beech gap’), especially in North West Nelson and Marlborough and in western Southland, and occurring on the North Island north to 39°S (Fig. 3). Altitudes range from 130–980 m.
Description
The canopy is dominated by Nothofagus menziesii , N.fusca and Weinmannia racemosa, with a dense understory of Blechnum discolor. Other important canopy species are Griselinia littoralis, Carpodetus serratus and Pseudopanax crassifolius (all usually < 5 m). Quintinia serrata, Q. acutifolia, Nothofagus solandri and N. truncata are occasionally co-dominant. Important species in the subcanopy are pepperwood, miro, Coprosma foetidissima, C. rhamnoides and Raukaua simplex.
In the ground layer important species are Blechnum procerum and Adenochilis gracilis. Several Hymenophyllum species are usually present, especially H. bivalve. Species richness is moderate with on average 35 species per plot. Typically over half of these (18) are measurable trees and over one-third (mean = 13 per plot, range 2–27) are ferns, the most frequent of which are Grammitis billardierei, Blechnum discolor, B. procerum and Asplenium flaccidum. Levels of invasion by exotic plants are low. This alliance is especially important for the provision of nectar resources for birds
Size-class distributions of kāmahi and silver beech suggest they will persist, and potentially increase, in their importance as canopy dominants.
Indicator species
Co-occurrence of Nothofagus menziesii, Weinmannia racemosa, Nothofagus fusca and Blechnum discolor.
Stand characteristics
| Mean canopy height (m): | 23 m (range 3–36) |
| Mean stem density (stems/ha): | 2993 (226) |
| Mean basal area (m2/ha): | 77 (4.0) |
Threatened species
The declining species Anemanthele lessoniana, Coprosma acerosa, Peraxilla colensoi, Peraxilla tetrapetala, and Pimelea aridula, the naturally uncommon species Chionochloa flavicans f. temata, Dracophyllum pearsonii, Elymus falcis, Geranium microphyllum, Hymenophyllum atrovirens, Ranunculus ternatifolius and Zotovia acicularis and the data deficient Rytidosperma merum have been recorded on plots in this alliance.
Synonyms
| Relationship | Name | Author |
|---|---|---|
| overlaps with | Beech forests: northern South Island | Wardle (1991) |
| overlaps with | Silver beech, kamahi, southern rata forest | Singers & Rogers (unpublished) |
| overlaps with | Red beech, podocarp forest | Singers & Rogers (unpublished) |
| overlaps with | Red, silver beech forest | Singers & Rogers (unpublished) |
Nothofagus fusca – N. menziesii / Carpodetus serratus / Blechnum discolor forest
Common name: Red & silver beech – marbleleaf forest with crown fern
Code: a: BF16
Description
Besides the nominal species, the subcanopy trees Pseudopanax crassifolius and Pseudowintera colorata, the shrubs Coprosma foetidissima and C. rhamnoides, and the climber Rubus cissoides are frequent in stands of this association. This forest association is, on average, 23 m tall but can range widely from 2 to 33 m. It tends to contain a moderate amount of species with an average of 24 species on a plot which can also range widely from 7 to 50. On average, there are very few(less than 1%) exotic species presen
Weinmannia racemosa – Nothofagus fusca (N. menziesii) / Griselinia littoralis / Blechnum discolor – Grammitis billardierei forest
Common name: Kāmahi – red beech – broadleaf forest
Code: a: BBPF4
Where does it occur?
On the South Island, this 173 900 ha association occurs primarily north of Arthur's Pass on the South Island West Coast and in the Nelson-Marlborough region. In the North Island it has been sampled from the Tararua, Kaimanawa and Kaweka ranges. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (55º). Altitudes range from 80 to 640 m.
Description
Besides the nominal species, the subcanopy tree Carpodetus serratus, the tree fern Cyathea smithii, the shrub Coprosma foetidissima and the fern Asplenium flaccidum commonly occur in this association. On average stands are 23 m tall, but may be as tall as 33 m. These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 35 species, and as many as 62, 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.
Quintinia acutifolia – Weinmannia racemosa – Nothofagus menziesii – N. fusca / Coprosma foetidissima – Raukaua simplex forest
Common name: Quintinia – kāmahi – silver & red beech forest
Code: a: BBPF3
Where does it occur?
This 60 500 ha association has been sampled on the South Island only, where it occurs on on the West Coast north of Arthur's Pass and in North-west Nelson. Sites range from flat to very steeply sloping (55º). Altitudes range from 220 to 1110 m.
Description
On average stands are 21 m tall, but may as tall as 34 m. Plots in this forest association have, on average, 25 species, and as many as 55, recorded on a plot and of these, less than 1% are exotic.
Indicator species
Quintinia acutifolia co-occurring with the species combinations of Nothofagus menziesii, Dracophyllum traversii, Grammitis billardierei and Blechnum discolor OR
Nothofagus menziesii, Nothofagus fusca, Raukaua simplex and Hymenophyllum demissum OR
Nothofagus fusca, Metrosideros umbellata and Coprosma colensoi OR
Nothofagus fusca, Raukaua simplex, Podocarpus hallii and Asplenium flaccidum
Weinmannia racemosa – Nothofagus fusca – Nothofagus menziesii / Griselinia littoralis – Coprosma foetidissima / Blechnum discolor forest
Common name: Kāmahi – red & silver beech forest
Code: a: BF17
Where does it occur?
This 30 250 ha association was sampled primarily from the Nelson Marlborough region of the South Island but was also sampled from the North Island's southern Tararua Range and the Wairarapa as well as the Kaimanawa Mountains. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (52º) with altitudes ranging from 219 to 1000 m.
Description
This forest association is, on average, 22 m tall but can range from 10 to 36 m. It tends to contain a low to moderate amount of species with an average of 23 species on a plot which can reach 46. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.
Known distribution maps
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.