Included here is the Chatham archipelago situated in the South Pacific some 450 miles east of New Zealand. The largest is Chatham Island measuring about 30 miles in length while the next largest, Pitt Island, barely measures 8 miles.

Chathamian Peatland Vegetation

A dense mat of Mesembryanthemum australe often covers open areas of peat, but this is frequently interrupted, especially in the wetter areas by patches of species such as Cotula muelleri, Pratia arenaria and Selliera radicans. In the dryer areas the endemic Cotula featherstonii (Asteraceae) can be found especially in areas that have been manured by mutton-birds.

Chathamian Heath

In areas too exposed to wind for tree growth a type of heath develops. In the dryer areas Isolepis nodosa, Leucopogon richei, Libertia ixioides, Pimelea arenaria and the endemic Cyathodes robusta (Ericaceae) are the characteristic species. Libertia ixioides, imparticular, can form very large patches, and occasionally intermixed with this species are stunted plants of the endemic Dracophyllum paludosum (Epacridaceae). In other places, the bracken Pteris esculenta forms extensive stands, but where the bracken is not too tall species such as Dichelachne crinita, Lagenophora forsteri, Microtis porrifolia, Oreomyrrhis colensoi and Thelymitra longifolia can found growing among the fronds.

Chathamian Bog Formations

On some of the marshy land adjacent to lakes can be found the endemic Aciphylla traversii (Apiaceae), but in general the bog formations can be roughly divided into Sphagnum bogs, Lepyrodia-Olearia bogs, Phormium bogs and Dracophyllum bogs. The remaining Sphagnum bogs are considered to be very primitive and thought to have been much more extensive in the past. In the wettest areas the only associated taxa are usually Carex and Isolepis, but in the dryer areas scattered plants of Hierchloe redulens and the endemic Poa chathamica (Poaceae) occur. Hollows between the Sphagnum are the haunt of insectivorous plants such as Drosera binata and Utricularia monanthos and in places the unusual fern Schizaea fistulosa can be found. The Lepyrodia-Olearia formation seems to be the natural succession from Sphagnum bog as the ground becomes dryer. The two main species are Lepyrodia traversii and the endemic Olearia semidentata (Asteraceae). The former species was also thought to be endemic but has since been found in New Zealand. Other associated plants include Gleichenia circinata and the endemic Gentiana chathamica (Gentianaceae). In areas too dry for Olearia semidentata, its close relative the endemic Olearia chathamica (Asteraceae) may become the main species. This species can form dense thickets devoid of other plants, but where it is less dense species such as Lomaria procera and Pteris esculenta grow in the undergrowth. The remaining Phormium bogs are mainly confined to the banks of the tableland streams. The dominant Phormium tenax is often associated with species such as Cotula asiatica and Juncus planifolius. The Dracophyllum formation is transitional vegetation between bog and forest. It is characterised by the endemic Dracophyllum paludosa (Epacridaceae), but small trees of the related endemic Dracophyllum arboreum may also be present. The endemic Olearia semidentata (Asteraceae) may also be well represented and in places becomes the dominant species. The ground flora includes species such as Pratia arenaria and the endemic Poa chathamica (Poaceae).

References

Cockayne, L. 1958. The Vegetation of New Zealand. H. R. Engelmann (J. Cramer).

Cockayne, L. 1902. A short account of the plant-covering of Chatham Island. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, 34: 243-325.

Molloy, L. 1994. Wild New Zealand. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Northcroft, E. F. 1975. Adventive flora of the Chatham Islands. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 13: 123-129.