Appendix Two 10 Kaituna Papauma, Kamahi, Karearea, Inland Eastern Moist to Wet, Strongly Schistose Ecosystem Immense, broad, steep to moderately steep mountainous schist slabs with even contours and regular, minimally dissected structure are a dominant feature of this system. The grain of the land is moderately to strongly schistose with material being transported downwards as colluvium and alluvium, in some areas building up an ever-coalescing series of fans between the spurs. Elevation is high with an associated high rainfall. As the landmass only just touches the sea, the moderating effect of the sea on climate is minor. Snow is often found on these ranges and there are inhospitable frosts in the main valleys during winter. At the point where the land briefly merges with the warm waters, tidal flats and deltas provide a tentative interface and further up the valleys series of terraces remain as a legacy from the meandering rivers. Forests clothing upper slopes and ridges. Table 11 Indigenous Vegetation and Landforms - Kaituna Ecosystem Landform Components Geology Remnant Native Past and Potential Vegetation Native Vegetation 1. Steep to very steep upper Siliceous, strongly Alpine Grasslands Alpine Grasslands hill and mountain slopes developed Carpet grass turfland (Mt Carpet grass turfland (Mt [includes some large scale Marlborough Schist Fishtail). Fishtail). slab failures] Mid-ribbed snow tussock (Mt Mid-ribbed snow 700-1641 m elevation Fishtail). tussockland (Mt Fishtail). Alpine herb-rockland (Mt Alpine herb-rockland (Mt Fishtail). Fishtail). Forest Forest Silver beech forest with Silver beech forest with Olearia lacunosa, Olearia lacunosa, Chionochloa cheesemanii Chionochloa cheesemanii (forest snow tussock). (forest snow tussock). Red beech forest with Red beech forest with putaputaweta, silver beech, putaputaweta, silver beech, southern rata, Halls totara. southern rata, Halls totara. Silver beech-red beech forest Silver beech-red beech with Halls totara. forest with Halls totara. App Two - 53