New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Phenology and productivity of Olearia ilicifolia (Compositae) at Arthur's Pass, South Island, New Zealand

PETER HAASE*

Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract Stands of the small composite tree Olearia ilicifolia were investigated at Pegleg Flat, Arthur's Pass National Park. Olearia ilicifolia is the dominant canopy tree in subalpine low forest and high scrub on sites with high soil fertility such as young river terraces, talus, and slip scars. During the mild winter of 1984, a stand of young adults revealed continuous wood increment until August. Average annual shoot extension growth ranged from 21 mm in mature trees to 100 mm in large seed- lings. Mean annual leaf area production was esti- mated to be 30.8 cm2 for apical shoots and 18.7 cm2 for lateral shoots. Intensity of leaf shedding appeared to be related to the amount of new leaf area growth; litterfall normally ceased during win- ter and spring. Most individuals flowered each year but there was marked variation in the extent of flowering. The achenes are easily dispersed by wind and seed germination does not involve any dor- mancy mechanisms; successful establishment of seedlings, however, was only occasionally noted and seedling mortality seemed to be high.

Keywords Olearia ilicifolia; subalpine scrub; growth habit; wood increment; shoot extension growth; leaf area production; periodic flowering; seed production; seed germination; New Zealand flora

Received 29 October 1985; accepted 22 January 1986
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1986, Vol. 24: 369-379
0028-825X/86/2403-0369$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1986

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (741K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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