Short Chionochloa Grasslands
There are five species of Chionochloa which have either small tussocks or turf habit. These are C. australis, C. oreophila, C. crassiuscula, C. ovata, and C. pungens. The last two species are confined to Fiordland and Stewart island respectively, and are not considered in detail here.
High altitude Environments
Short Chionochloa grasslands naturally occur at high altitudes. They tend to be associated with the wetter ranges, and often occur at higher altitudes than the tall tussock grasslands, where snow may lie for longer periods of the year. Short Chionochloa grasslands are genreally confined to areas above the natural tree line, except where environmental conditions are unsuited to tree growth e.g. C. australis is found in frosty hollows to altitudes of 1100m in the mountains of western Nelson.
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