Tussock grasslands in the Middle Rakaia Valley, Canterbury, New Zealand

Summary Phytosociological analyses are presented of the three major tussock grassland communities found today in the middle Rakaia valley: (1) snow‐tussock grassland dominated by either the tall tussock Chionochloaoa flavencens or the tall tussock C. rigida. (2) red‐tussock grassland where the taU tussock C. rubra is abundant and (3) fescue‐tussock grassland where Festuca novae‐zelandiae is characteristic. Floristic data are also presented for Bome severely degraded grassland communities. The zonation and history of these grasslands arc discussed, in particular the recent origin of fescue‐tussock grassland from former tall‐tussock communities.