Beilschmiedia tawa - Weinmannia racemosa - Melicytus ramiflorus / Ripogonum scandens forest

Common name: Tawa forest
Code: A: BPF3

Where does it occur?

This 522 000 ha alliance occurs between 36 and 42°S south on North and South islands. Altitudes range from 80 –785 m.

Description

The forest is dominated by Beilschmiedia tawa, Weinmannia racemosa and Melicytus ramiflorus, with B. tawa the only diagnostic species. Important species in the subcanopy are Geniostoma rupestre, Coprosma grandifolia and the tree fern Dicksonia squarrosa.

A: BPF3. Size structure of canopy dominants.

Important species in the ground layer are Uncinia uncinata, Hymenophyllum demissum, Metrosideros diffusa, Leptopteris hymenophylloides, Microlaena avenacea, Microsorum pustulatum, Astelia solandri and Asplenium flaccidum, the latter three of which are also very frequent epiphytes. Climbing rata (Metrosideros diffusa, M. perforata, M. fulgens) are frequent. Species richness is moderate with on average 48 species per plot, with over half of these (25) being measurable trees. Ferns are important in this forest class, comprising on average 38% (18) of the species (range 8–31), the most frequent being Asplenium flaccidum, Microsorum pustulatum, Hymenophyllum demissum and Leptopteris hymenophylloides.

Indicator species

Co-occurrence of Beilschmiedia tawa, Ripogonum scandens and Weinmannia racemosa OR
Beilschmiedia tawa, Cyathea dealbata and Weinmannia racemosa OR
Beilschmiedia tawa, Cyathea smithii and Hedycarya arborea OR
Beilschmiedia tawa, Blechnum discolor and Hedycarya arborea.

Stand characteristics

Synonyms

Component Associations

Beilschmiedia tawa - Melicytus ramiflorus – Weinmannia racemosa – Hedycarya arborea / Cyathea smithii – Cyathea dealbata – Ripogonum scandens forest

Common name: Tawa – māhoe – kāmahi forest
Code: a: BL1

Where does it occur?

This 30 200 ha association has been sampled from scattered locations in the mid to southern North Island with a cluster in inland Taranaki. Site slopes range from flat to extremely steep (70º). Altitude ranges from 100 to 620 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 22 m tall but can range widely from 6 to 35 m. It tends to contain a moderate amount of species with an average of 34 species on a plot which can range from 12 to 54. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Beilschmiedia tawa - Weinmannia racemosa - Hedycarya arborea - (Knightia excelsa) / Cyathea dealbata - Ripogonum scandens forest

Common name: Tawa – kāmahi forest – pigeonwood forest with silver fern
Code: a: BLP4

Where does it occur?

This 90 700 ha association has been sampled from scattered locations largely across the mid North Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (50º). Altitudes range from 120 to 620 m.

Description

This association is consistently dominated by Beilschmiedia tawa, Weinmannia racemosa, and Hedycarya arborea in the canopy. The trees Knightia excelsa and Elaeocarpus dentatus are also common. Cyathea dealbata is always present in the subcanopy.The climber Ripogonum scandens is usually present and Metrosideros perforata and M. diffusa are also frequent. The ferns Blechnum discolor and Asplenium flaccidum are common in the ground layer.This forest association is, on average 19 m tall but can range from 8 to 40 m. It tends to contain a moderately rich amount of species with an average of 32 species on a plot, but has been recorded with as many as 57. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Beilschmiedia tawa - Weinmannia racemosa - Hedycarya arborea[ / [Cyathea smithii - Dicksonia squarrosa / Blechnum discolor forest

Common name: Tawa – kāmahi forest – pigeonwood forest with hard and soft tree ferns
Code: a: BLP3

Where does it occur?

This 6 800 ha association has been sampled from scattered locations largely down the Western half of mid to southern North Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º). Altitudes range from 290 to 690 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 19 m tall but can range from 6 to 35 m. It tends to contain a moderately rich amount of species with an average of 34 species on a plot which can reach 72.On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Beilschmiedia tawa - Weinmannia racemosa - (Melicytus ramiflorus) / Cyathea smithii / Metrosideros diffusa – Ripogonum scandens forest

Common name: Tawa – kāmahi forest with hard and soft tree ferns
Code: a: BLP2

Where does it occur?

This 75 600 ha association has been sampled primarily from the mid North Island but also from Marlboropugh and Southland. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (42º). Altitudes range from 110 to 800 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 29 m tall but can range from 7 to 45 m. It tends to be species-rich with an average of 40 species on a plot which can reach 65.On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Beilschmiedia tawa – Melicytus ramiflorus – Hedycarya arborea / Cyathea dealbata – Freycinetia banksii – Ripogonum scandens forest

Common name: Tawa – māhoe – pigeonwood forest with silver fern
Code: a: BLP1

Where does it occur?

This 128 500 ha association has been sampled from scattered locations mostly in the North Island particularly from East Cape and west of Mt Ruapehu. Sites range from shallow (11º) to steeply sloping (47º). Altitude ranges from 120 to 712 m.

Description

This forest association is, on average, 18 m tall but can range widely from 7 to 35 m. It tends to be species-rich with an average of 54 species on a plot which can range from 39 to 76. On average, there are very few (less than 1%) exotic species present.

Weinmannia racemosa - Hedycarya arborea (Melicytus ramiflorus) / Dicksonia squarrosa - Freycinetia banksii - Ripogonum scandens forest

Common name: Kāmahi – pigeonwood forest with hard fern and kiekie
Code: a: BLP15

Where does it occur?

This 15 100 ha association has been sampled on the South Island's West Coast and in scattered locations in Southland, the Tararuas and the western North Island. Sites range from flat to steeply sloping (45º). Altitudes range from sea level to 505 m.

Description

On average, stands are 14 m tall, but may be as tall as 35 m. These forests are relatively species-rich, with on average 42 species, and as many as 70, 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.

Indicator species

Hedycarya arborea, Freycinetia banksii and Ripogonum scandens always co-occur in this association.Co-occurence of these three species with the combinations of Myrsine salicina, Carpodetus serratus, Asplenium bulbiferum and Microlaena avenacea OR
Myrsine salicina, Weinmannia racemosa, Schefflera digitata and Metrosideros diffusa OR
Myrsine salicina, Asplenium bulbiferum, Microsorus pustulatus and Grammitis billardierei

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.