The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Gumlands

The shrub covered gumlands of New Zealand are found north of Auckland and occur on strongly leached soils that are derived from weathered sands, sandstones and claystones. They are a source of kauri gum - the fossil resin resin from Agathis australis - hence their name. 
Dracophyllum lessonianum (left, by Peter de Lange) and Schoenus brevifolius (right, by John Smith-Dodsworth).

This ecosystem type is infertile and acidic and is dominated by several common species:

• Leptospermum scoparium var. scoparium(manuka)
• Dracophyllum lessonianum(gumland grass tree)
• Gleichenia dicarpa(tangle fern)
• Schoenus brevifolius (bog schoenus)

It also supports a wide range of rare or threatened plant species including:

• Todea barbara
• Thelymitra malvina 
• Thelymitra tholiformis

For more information see*:

• Gumland vegetation at Kaikohe, Northland, New Zealand - A. Esler and P. Rumball 1975 - NZ Journal of Botany
• Heathland vegetation of the Spirits Bay Area, far northern New Zealand - N. Enright 1989 - NZ Journal of Ecology
• Gumlands(Landcare Research)
• Heathlands (Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand)

*The Network is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

This page last updated on 26 Sep 2012