The propagation and establishment of Coriaria pteridoides, W.R.B. Oliver and Helichrysum bellidiodes (Forst.f.) Willd on Mount Egmont: A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the National Diploma in Horticulture (N.Z.)

Abstract

Mount Egmont, the predominant feature of Egmont National Park, rises to an altitude of 2518 metres as a dormant volcanic cone on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Its vegetation is unique, in that it is composed of podocarp broadleaf forest, changing with altitude to montane scrubland, and to alpine herbfields (Druce 1970). By contrast, beech forest (Nothafagus spp. ) which covers much of New Zealand's forested mountain regions, is absent from Egmont. Egmont displays remarkable altitudinal vegetation zones (Fig. 1). It was within these zones and the soils that support them, that this study relating to plant establishment was undertaken.