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HClNC Vegetation Classification & mapping Project: Volume 1: Vegetation Classification Technical Report
Dry rainforests
MU 15 — Brown Myrtle / Lilly Pilly dry rainforest
Low open forests to low closed forests with a canopy strongly dominated by Choricarpia
leptopetala, with other common canopy species including Acmena smithii, Acacia maidenii,
Stenocarpus salignus, Notelaea longifolia, Clerodendrum tomentosum, Diospyros australis,
Pittosporum undulatum and Drypetes deplanchei. Eucalyptus microcorys is also commonly
present as a canopy emergent. The mid storey consists of various shrubs, including
Pittosporum revolutum and Breynia oblongifolia. Various climbers are also typically present in
the mid and overstorey, including Smilax australis, Parsonsia straminea, Morinda jasminoides,
Geitonoplesium cymosum, Embelia australiana, Dioscorea transversa and Cayratia clematidea.
The ground layer is typically sparse, with few species being frequently present, although
various graminoids (particularly Gymnostachys anceps), forbs, ferns and grasses may
occasionally be present. The only naturalised species recorded in more than 25% of sites in
this community was Lantana camara (Lantana, 38%).
This community is distributed within the study area on coastal ranges of the Lower North
Coast and Central Coast on sandstone and volcanic breccia substrates.
MU 16 — Grey Myrtle dry rainforest of sheltered sandstone gullies in northern
Wollemi National Park
Low open forests to low closed forests characterised by a canopy strongly dominated by
Backhousia myrtifolia, often in association with Acacia prominens and with Syncarpia glomulifera
and Angophora floribunda. The understorey typically consists of a range of shrubs, including
Breynia oblongifolia, Pittosporum revolutum, Persoonia linearis, Maytenus silvestris, Bursaria
spinosa, Polyscias sambucifolia and Solanum stelligerum. A relatively diverse range of climbers
is also typically present in the overstorey and shrub layer, including Pandorea pandorana,
Eustrephus latifolius, Morinda jasminoides, Clematis aristata, Cissus hypoglauca, Smilax australis,
Billardiera scandens and Sarcopetalum harveyanum. The ground layer is typically ferny, with
the main fern species including Doodia aspera, Adiantum aethiopicum, A. hispidulum and
Asplenium flabellifolium. Also common in the ground layer are various grasses, including
Poa affinis and Oplismenus imbecillis; graminoids, such as Lepidosperma laterale and Dianella
caerulea; and forbs, including Pratia purpurascens and Plectranthus parviflorus. No naturalised
species were recorded in more than 25% of sites in this community.
Within the study area, this community occurs in sandstone gullies on the Central Coast
hinterland and western Blue Mountains at mid to low elevations. MU 15 may have
particular regional conservation significance as the only records in this study of the rare
shrub Acacia matthewii are from sites in this community.
MU 17 — Grey Myrtle / Large-fruited Grey Gum gully rainforest of northern Wollemi National Park
and Upper Hunter Valley
Low open forests to low closed forests characterised by a canopy strongly dominated by
Backhousia myrtifolia, often in association with Stenocarpus salignus, and with Eucalyptus
punctata and Angophora floribunda commonly present as canopy emergents. Common
understorey shrubs include Bursaria spinosa and Persoonia linearis. The ground layer is
generally sparse and consists of a mix of grasses, graminoids and ferns. The main grass
species is Poa affinis, and common graminoids include Gahnia aspera and Lepidosperma
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