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CHaPTeR 4 Results
Scrambling climbers such as Hardenbergia violacea and Billardiera scandens may also be
common in the understorey. The ground layer is characteristically grassy and dominated
by Poa sieberiana along with Lomandra longifolia and Pteridium esculentum. A range of herbs,
including Helichrysum scorpioides, Gonocarpus teucrioides and Poranthera microphylla, are also
typically present in the understorey. No weeds were recorded in more than 25% of sites
within this community.
This community is restricted within the study area to mainly basalt areas on the escarpment
of the Northern Tablelands at higher elevations.
MU 30 — Messmate / Silvertop Stringybark / Tussock Grass shrub / grass open forest of western
Barrington area
Tall open forests to open forests with a canopy dominated by Eucalyptus obliqua and E.
laevopinea and a small tree layer dominated by Acacia melanoxylon. An open shrub layer
may be present and includes Leucopogon lanceolatus and climbers such as Clematis aristata.
The understorey is made up predominately of tussock grasses and is dominated by
Poa sieberiana with areas of Pteridium esculentum and various scattered forbs including
Poranthera microphylla. The only common naturalised species found within this community
was Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle, 33%).
This community is restricted within the study area to basalt sites at high elevations in the
Barrington Tops area.
MU 31 — Mountain Gum / Forest Ribbon Gum grassy open forest in Ben Halls Gap
Open forests dominated by Eucalyptus dalrympleana and E. obliqua and a sparse small
tree layer dominated by Acacia melanoxylon. A sparse shrub layer may be present and
is characterised by members of the Epacridaceae family (e.g. Acrothamnus hookeri and
Leucopogon lanceolatus). The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses, usually
including Poa sieberiana, with graminoid species such as Lomandra longifolia and ferns
including Polystichum proliferum also commonly present.
Within the study area this community is confined to basalt areas at high elevations around
Ben Halls Gap NP and isolated occurrences along the escarpment of the Lower North
Coast. 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).
MU 32 — Tallowwood / Smooth-barked Apple / Forest Oak shrub / grass open forest
Open forests with a canopy dominated by Eucalyptus microcorys, E. pilularis and Angophora
costata and a small tree layer dominated by Allocasuarina torulosa. An open shrub layer
consisting of mesophyllous and sclerophyllous species, including Polyscias sambucifolia
and Persoonia linearis is often present and the ground layer typically consists of grasses
including Themeda australis and Entolasia stricta and graminoid species such as Dianella
caerulea and Lomandra longifolia. No weed species were recorded in more then 25% of sites
within the community.
This community occurs on ranges of the Lower North Coast at mid to lower elevations on
a range of substrates.