stunted forest, Nina Valley, Lewis Pass National Reserve

This strange forest has no undergrowth apart from a few hardy dracophylum, some mosses and lichens. The trees are about half normal height and many are distorted. This is apparently caused by some sort of hard pan of minerals in this area that has stunted growth and prevents new tree seedlings from establishing. The whole effect is one of some sort of weird goblin forest and you half expect to see orcs and goblins scampering among the trees,

Done