Common name: Silver beech–broadleaf forest
Code: A: BBF2
Where does it occur?
This 484 000 ha alliance is widespread on Stewart Island, the South Island, both east and west of the Main Divide, and on the North Island south of 39°S. Altitudes range from sea level on Stewart Island to 1350 m in the North Island.
Description
The forest is dominated by Griselinia littoralis and Nothofagus menziesii in the canopy and Coprosma foetidissima and C. pseudocuneata in the subcanopy. This alliance occurs on Stewart Island, but in those stands silver beech is absent. Diagnostic species in the subcanopy are Myrsine divaricata, Raukaua simplex, Cyathea colensoi, Pseudopanax lineare (South Island only) and P. colensoi.
A: BBF2. Size structure of canopy dominants.
Diagnostic species on the ground layer include Uncinia filiformis, Blechnum fluviatile and Nertera villosa. Species most frequently occurring epiphytically are Asplenium flaccidum, Grammitis billardierei and Hymenophyllum multifidum. Species richness is moderate with on average 39 species per plot, with 18 of these being measurable tree species. The proportion of the total species richness that is exotic is typically low (mean = 0.3 per plot, range 0–4). On average there are 11 fern species on each plot (range 4–27), the most frequent being Grammitis billardierei, Asplenium flaccidum, Hymenophyllum multifidum and Blechnum fluviatile.
Indicator species
Co-occurrence of Coprosma pseudocuneata, Nothofagus menziesii and Raukaua simplex.
Stand characteristics
| Mean canopy height (m): | 17 m (range 5–32) |
| Mean stem density (stems/ha): | 5712 (585) |
| Mean basal area (m2/ha): | 82 (4.4) |
Synonyms
| Relationship | Name | Author |
|---|---|---|
| overlaps with | Beech forests: northern South Island | Wardle (1991) |
| is included within | Silver beech forest | Singers & Rogers (unpublished) |
| overlaps with | Silver beech forest [variant ii] | Singers & Rogers (unpublished) |
| overlaps with | Primary tree- and shrub-heaths and subalpine bush: Western South Island below latitude 43o 40’ | Wardle (1991) |
Nothofagus menziesii / Coprosma pseudocuneata – Pseudopanax colensoi – Raukaua simplex / Astelia nervosa – Hymenophyllum multifidum forest
Common name: Silver beech forest with Mountain five-finger, Pseudopanax and Coprosma
Code: a: BF12
Where does it occur?
This 136 100 ha association has been sampled only from the South Island from scattered locations in Fiordland and Westland south of the Mataketake Range, in NW Nelson and Harper Pass area. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (50º) with altitudes ranging from 600 to 1300 m.
Description
This forest association is, on average,13 m tall but can reach 25 m. It tends to contain a moderate amount of species with an average of 30 species on a plot which can range widely from 10 to 60. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.
Nothofagus menziesii / Raukaua simplex – Griselinia littoralis – Myrsine divaricata – Coprosma foetidissima / Grammitis billardierei forest
Common name: Silver beech forest with Pseudopanax, broadleaf, weeping matipo and stinkwood
Code: a: BF13
Where does it occur?
This 90 700 ha association has been sampled on the South Island's West Coast (outside of the beech gap) and in the southern Tararua Range of the North Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (50º). Altitudes range from 400 to 1090 m.
Description
This forest association is, on average, 19 m tall but can range from 10 to 30 m. It tends to contain a moderate amount of species with an average of 33 species on a plot which can range from 20 to 57. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.
Nothofagus menziesii / (Myrsine divaricata – Raukaua simplex) / (Grammitis billardierei – Polystichum vestitum) forest
Common name: Silver beech forest with weeping matipo and Pseudopanax
Code: a: BF11
Where does it occur?
This 60 500 ha association has been sampled mostly on the South Island in montane areas west of the Main Divide outside of the "beech gap". On the South Island it also occurs in the Richmond Range and scattered locations in eastern Southland. On the North Island, it has been recorded from the Aorangi and Kaweka ranges. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º). Altitudes range from 50 to 1360 m.
Description
On average stands are 16 m tall, but may be up to 30 m tall.These forests are moderate in species richness, with on average 20 species, but as few as 4 and as many as 48, recorded on a plot, with less than 2% of these, on average, being exotic.
Metrosideros umbellata – Griselinia littoralis – Pseudowintera colorata / Raukaua simplex – Coprosma foetidissima / Microlaena avenacea forest
Common name: Southern rata – broadleaf – horopito forest
Code: a: BLP7
Where does it occur?
This 15 000 ha association has been sampled only on the South Island and almost exclusively on the West Coast south of Greymouth and north of Jacob's River. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º). Altitudes range from 620 to 1080 m.
Description
On average stands are 11 m tall, but may be up to 18 m tall.These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 40 species, but as many as 50, recorded on a plot. These forests have a low level of invasion by exotics, with on average less than 1% of the species being exotic.
Know 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.