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:
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)
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