Floral biodiversity Biodiversity of New Zealand
the kauri of north island largest trees in new zealand, extensively logged , less common today.
the history, climate , geology of new zealand have created great deal of diversity in new zealand s vegetation types. main 2 types of forest have been dominated podocarps , southern beech. podocarps (podocarpaceae), ancient evergreen gymnosperm family of trees, have changed little in last 190 million years. forests dominated podocarps form closed canopy understory of hardwoods , shrubs. forests of southern beeches, genus nothofagus, comprise less diverse habitat, beeches of 4 species dominating canopy , allowing single understory. in north of new zealand podocarp forests dominated ancient giant kauri. these trees amongst largest in world, holding record greatest timber volume of tree. value of not lost on european settlers, , of these trees felled.
the remaining vegetation types in new zealand grassland of grass , tussock, associated subalpine areas, , low shrublands between grasslands , forests. these shrublands dominated daisies, can become woody , 3 m high.
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