Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

latifolia occasionally reaches the canopy (PQ63). Sub-canopy is variable although a general
assemblage of species includes Melaleuca stenostachya, Neofabricia myrtifolia, Alphitonia
excelsa, Xylomelum scottianum, Acacia polystachya, Livistona muelleri and Capparis arborea.
Shrub layers are typically composed of Melaleuca viridiflora, Melaleuca stenostachya,
Xylomelum scottianum, Acacia simsii, Persoonia falcata, Jacksonia thesioides, Acacia simsii,
Acacia platycarpa, Banksia dentata, Melaleuca nervosa, Planchonia careya and Acacia
leptocarpa. The ground cover generally comprises a range of grasses including Heteropogon
triticeus, Panicum trichoides, Themeda triandra, Imperata cylindrica, Eriachne pallescens and
Eragrostis spartinoides.
Photograph 81. A typical example
of open forest type 5k on alluvium
represented at Site PW15. The
canopy in this community is
dominated by Corymbia nesophila.
Vegetation Community 5q: Vegetation community 5q forms a lower open forest variant of this
RE. The community is restricted to the Inner Island Group with best development occurring on
Muralug, Wednesday and Horn Islands. The general canopy ranges in height from 15 to 21m and
is dominated by Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis with Corymbia nesophila and Corymbia
clarksoniana commonly associated canopy species. The shrub layer is variable although in open
forest communities on sandier substrates, the shrub layer tends to be dominated by Acacia spp.
and Jacksonia thesioides.
Vegetation Community 5m: On siltier soils, the open forest structure is replaced by woodland
and occasionally open woodland with a sub-canopy layer dominated by a range of myrtaceous
shrubs including Melaleuca stenostachya, Melaleuca viridiflora and Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa.
In these locations, the community is mapped as VC5m, being prominent on Wednesday, Friday,
and Horn Islands. It merges with VC 13d (RE3.3.48) in some areas where Melaleuca saligna
forms a prominent sub-canopy component, particularly on Horn Island where VC5m and VC13d
tend to mosaic. As a general rule applied, VC5m was classified where Corymbia stockeri subsp.
peninsularis forms a clear canopy layer above sub-canopy strata. Where Corymbia stockeri is a
component of the canopy that is subdominant to Melaleuca saligna (or associated Melaleuca
spp.), or forms an emergent layer, the community is classified with VC13d.
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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