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CHaPTeR 4 Results
include the orchids Diuris venosa and Prasophyllum fuscum, and the forb Euphrasia ciliolata.
All of these species are relatively common in this community and as well the rare shrubs
mentioned above are only uncommonly recorded outside this community.
MU 154 — Black Sallee grass / forb woodland on Barrington Tops
Woodlands to low woodlands characteristically dominated by Eucalyptus stellulata and
commonly including E. pauciflora. An open shrub layer is generally present and commonly
includes Epacris breviflora, Hakea microcarpa, Pimelea glauca and Acrothamnus hookeri. The
ground layer is characterised by a diverse range of forbs, including Oreomyrrhis eriopoda,
Acaena novae-zelandiae, Wahlenbergia ceracea, Viola betonicifolia, Hydrocotyle peduncularis and
Helichrysum scorpioides. Various ferns, such as Lycopodium fastigiatum, and graminoids,
including Empodisma minus and Carex declinata, may also be common though less abundant.
The only naturalised species commonly recorded in this community was Trifolium repens
(White Clover, 50%).
Within the study area, this community is restricted to the Barrington Tops area at
high elevations and mainly on basalts. This community may be of particular regional
conservation significance as it relates to the Endangered Ecological Community ‘Ribbon
Gum, Mountain Gum, Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland
Bioregion’ (DECC 2009). In addition, within this study the rare forb Asperula asthenes is
only recorded at sites included in this community.
MU 155 — Silvertop Stringybark / White Box grassy open forest of the slopes of the Liverpool
Range
Open forests to woodlands with a canopy characterised by Eucalyptus laevopinea and E.
albens. An open shrub layer is commonly present and includes Cassinia quinquefaria, Olearia
elliptica and Solanum nigrum. The ground layer is typically grassy with the main grass
species including Aristida ramosa, Poa sieberiana, Bothriochloa macra, Elymus scaber, Microlaena
stipoides and Cymbopogon refractus. A diverse range of forbs is typically also present in the
ground layer, including Dichondra repens, Desmodium varians, D. brachypodum, Acaena novaezelandiae,
Geranium solanderi and Plantago debilis. In addition various graminoids, including
Carex inversa and Cyperus gracilis, and ferns, including Cheilanthes sieberi and C. distans, may
also be common. Naturalised species recorded at more than 25% of sites in this community
include Trifolium repens (White Clover, 33%), Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle, 63%), Sonchus
oleraceus (Common Sowthistle, 29%), Opuntia stricta var. stricta (Common Prickly Pear,
63%), Bidens pilosa (Cobbler’s Pegs, 46%), Solanum nigrum (Black-berry Nightshade, 38%),
Medicago lupulina (Black Medic, 33%) and Petrorhagia nanteuilii (50%).
This community is distributed within the study area on ranges of the Upper Hunter and
foothills of the Liverpool Range at mid elevations on lower slopes and mainly on basalts
and cherts.
MU 156 — Narrow-leaved Ironbark / Grey Box grassy woodland
Woodlands with an overstorey characterised by Eucalyptus crebra and E. moluccana, and
an open mid storey typically including Brachychiton populneus. The understorey generally
consists of an open shrub layer commonly including Notelaea microcarpa, Eremophila debilis,
Cassinia quinquefaria and Maireana microphylla. The ground layer is typically grassy with the
common grass species including Aristida ramosa, Cymbopogon refractus, Chloris ventricosa,