Tussock grassland communities in the Mackenzie Country, South Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

Summary There are three major tussock grassland communities in the Mackenzie Country: ( i ) fescue‐tussock grassland where Festuca novae‐zeladiae is abundant, ( ii ) red‐ tussock grassland where Chionochloa rubra is the physiognomic dominant, and ( iii ) snow‐tussock grassland where Chionochloa rigida is the physiognomic dominant. Socioligical analyses of these communities in which severa phases are recognised are given in tables. The history of the grasslands is traced from the destruction of the forests through tall‐tussock stages to the current extensive short‐tussock grassland of recent origin.