The vegetation and flora of bird island, foveaux strait

Abstract

The flora and vegetation of Bird Island are described. Plants collccted in March 196) include: four fungi, 37 lichens, 18 bryophytes, and 62 spccies of vascular plants, 12 of which are adventives. Most cf the island is covered by tall scrub dominated by Senecio reinoldii and plants of the Myrsine chathamica complex. Surrounding this is low scrub containing Hebe elliptica and Coprosma repens with small pockets of grassland on the west. Petrels burrow in the peat round the periphery of the island and modify the vegetation there through trampling and burrowing.