RYDE FLORA and FAUNA STUDY 2007 - City of Ryde - NSW ...

Biosphere Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd
Ryde Flora and Fauna Survey 2007 28
Tallowwood occur, while on the road edge there are plantings of Sydney Blue Gums
and Banksia integrifolia, which is a species that naturally only grows on closer to the
coast. On the southeastern side, there is a small core area that contains native plants
and much dead wood. Areas where piles had been burnt show regeneration of natives
such as Polyscias, Grevillea, Lomandra, Microlaena, Ozothamnus and Acacia
longifolia. Forty-nine (49) native species (including plantings) were observed in the
reserve. Weeds in this reserve are typical garden escapes and Class 4 Noxious Weeds.
A quadrat was not erected in this reserve due to lack of species diversity and the large
number of plantings that have modified the vegetation community.
Pembroke Park, Marsfield
This bushland reserve borders the east side of Terrys Creek from Epping Road to
Abuklea Road. One hundred fifty-two (152) native species were observed in the park.
Three quadrats were erected: the Pembroke Park Quadrat on the ridge behind houses
in Menzies Road, which contains Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland, and two quadrats
representing Western Sydney Gully Forest (see Acacia binervia Quadrat and
Coachwood/Christmas Bush Quadrat) abutting the floodplain of Terrys Creek. The
Acacia binervia Quadrat contains Acacia binervia and Lasiopetalum parviflorum,
both of which are considered rare in the Ryde district (Kubiak, 2005). Lasiopetalum
parviflorum is also considered vulnerable in Western Sydney (James et al. 1999). All
three quadrats contain Acrotriche divaricata, also rare in the Ryde area (Kubiak,
2005). Acrotriche can be killed by high intensity fire (Benson & McDougall, 1995).
Other uncommon plants are Livistona australis and the fern Psilotum nudum. Both
are found in the area immediately above the number 11 interpretive sign along the
creek. The rock that contains the Psilotum is covered by Asparagus asparagoides,
which will threaten the survival of this rare fern in the long term.
There is a sandstone-capped area behind the CSIRO, which was dominated by
Rhizomatous Bamboo and bulldozed in the mid 2000s then capped with crushed
sandstone (Gith Strid-Nwulaekwe, pers. comm., November 2007). There are still a
few bamboo shoots resprouting on the edge of the capped area and the silt fence
requires maintenance. The bush just to the south of the capped area may be an
extension of a community on Pembroke Road mapped as Shale Sandstone Transition
Forest by Oculus (2002). The area contains shale-loving plants such as Acacia
brownii, Leucopogon juniperinus, Red Mahogany and Turpentines. Epacris
purpurascens (listed as vulnerable in the TSC Act 1995) may also be in this area;
plants will need to be inspected when in flower in the spring 2008. There may have
been a fire here around 7-8 years ago.
The soils of Pembroke Park are shallow and sandy on the ridge. Soils become
increasingly deeper with increased clay content, water holding capacity and nutrients
in the weedy and shady environment of Terrys Creek as indicated by the presence of
Turpentines, Coachwoods and NSW Christmas Bush and sporadic occurrences of
Podocarpus spinulosus. Thick forests of Large and Small-leaf Privet, Camphor
Laurel, Balloon Vine with a Trad understorey and other exotic garden escapes
interspersed by small areas containing an excellent diversity of native plants dominate
the vegetation along Terrys Creek.