New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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ECOLOGY OF LEPTOSPERMUM IN OTAGO

Juliet Burrell*

Botany Department, University of Otago, Dunedin

Abstract A study has been made of Leptospermum scopariumf and L. ericoides in the Clutha, Taieri, Waikouaiti, and Shag catchments. Vegetatively the species are similar, but they differ markedly in flower and fruit. L. scoparium tolerates boggy ground and retains seed for several years in woody capsules that open after fire or drought, whereas L. ericoides requires good drainage and sheds all its seed each autumn. L. ericoides is the longer lived species and its seedlings are probably more tolerant of shade and root competition. Both species have an upper altitudinal limit below that of Nothofagus, and as they approach this limit they become restricted to sunny faces. Existence of scattered bushes beyond the stands and the survival of bushes transplanted beyond stand margins suggest that altitude and aspect limits depend on seedling reactions. Mixed stands of the two species commonly begin with a high proportion of L. scoparium, but L. ericoides in time predominates. Where rainfall exceeds 75 cm the community is serai to beech, broad-leaved hardwoods, or conifers, but where the rainfall is below 65 cm it is stable. These climax stands are shrubby and open with a low turf of Raoulia australis, small herbs, lichens, and mosses between the bushes In the 65-75 cm rainfall belt Leptospermum stands resemble serai stands, but are probably subclimax in the absence of seed of Podocarpus hallii or Nothofagus. Originally, in a moisture gradient, Leptospermum shrubland would have intervened, between Festuca novae zealandiae grassland and an open woodland of Podocarpus hallii, but as a result of widespread fires lit by Maoris and early settlers these communities have largely been replaced by tussock grassland. Between these periods of burning there was some regeneration.

(Received for publication, 22 October 1964) N.Z. J. Bot. 3 : 3-16

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (3076K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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