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1908. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS: REPORT ON A BOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE WAIPOUA KAURI FOREST. By L. COCKAYNE, Ph.D.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Sm > — Department of Lands, Wellington, 23rd June, 1908. I have the honour to submit herewith Report on a Botanical Survey of the Waipoua Kauri Forest (reserved under " The New Zealand State Forests Act, 1885 ") which was carried out in 1907 by Dr. Cockayne under your instructions. This is the first attempt that has been made to minutely describe the conditions of plant life and formation of a kauri forest, and the report is consequently of a unique and interesting nature and adds considerably to our knowledge of the indigenous vegetation of Xew Zealand, possessing in addition great scientific value through being the outcome of original research and the most careful investigation. Taken in conjunction with Dr. Cockayne's previous report on Kapiti Island, and his subsequent exploration of the Tongariro National Park, the botanical history of New Zealand has received a gratifying and valuable recognition through the investigations that have been carried out by your direction. I have, &c , William C. Kensington, The Hon. Robert McNab, Minister of Lands. Under Secretary of Lands.

CONTENTS. I'aßo Pace Part I.—lntroduction, — ft Associations of wet ground and swamps,A. General remarks .. .. .. ..2 (a.) General remarks .. '.. ]6 B. Topographical and physical features .. .. 2 (b.) The kahikatea association .. 16 C. The northern floristic province .. ..3 (c.) Gahnia swamp .. .. ..17 D. Effect of man and introduced animals on the (d.) River-flats, &c. .. .. 17 reserve .. .. .. .. .. 4 6. The transition forest .. '.'. 17 E. Climate .. .. .. .. ..4 C. The northern heath .. .. ..1(1 Part ll.—The plant formations,— Part lll.—Ecology of the forest and its members,— A. Introduction .. .. .. .. 6 A. General ecology of the forest .21 B. Forest formations, — B. Special ecology,— 1. General remarks .. .. ..6 1. Trees and shrubs .. .. ..22 2. Leading physiognomic plants and their life- 2. Lianes .. .. . .. 24 forms .. .. .. .. 6 3. Epiphytes .. .. . .. 26 3. The kauri-tarairi association,— 4. Filmy ferns and tree-ferns 27 (a.) General remarks .. ..8 5. Persistent juvenile forms .. ..28 lb.) The kauri sub-association, — Part IV.—History of the vegetation,— (1.) Its distribution .. ..9 A. Floristic details .. .. .. ..29 (2.) Its members .. ..9 B. Reasons for present distribution of the kauri.. 29 (3.) Its physiognomy ... ..9 C. Life-history of a kauri forest .. .. 30 (c) The tarairi sub-association .'. 10 P. Some general considerations rewarding the i. The rimu-towai-tawa association, — W'aipoua Forest .. .. .. 31 (a.) General .. .. .. 13 Part V.—List of the spermaphytes and pteridophytes, (b.) The rimu suh-association.. .. 13 their distribution and life-forms .. ..32 (c.) The tawa-towai sub-association .. 14 | Part Vl.—Bibliography.. .. .. ..44

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