Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

prominent as a secondary shrub layer, occasionally reaching the upper strata. Additional
characteristic species are Psydrax reticulata, Alyxia spicata, Acacia brassii, Jacksonia thesioides,
Acacia leptocarpa, Acacia simsii, Cochlospermum gillivraei, Parinari nonda, Pogonolobus
reticulatus, Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa, Exocarpos latifolius, and Melaleuca stenostachya.
Groundcover is dominated by stunted shrubs with a minor contribution to cover from Dianella
sp., Themeda triandra, Cassytha filiformis, Aristida sp., Schoenus sp., Thaumastochloa sp.,
Phyllanthus sp., Alloteropsis semialata and the Gompholobium pinnatum. The community is
restricted to rhyolite headlands on infertile skeletal soils.
Photograph 153. Vegetation
Community 14a on Mabuiag Island
Site MA2.
Photograph 154. Dwarf
shrubland/grassland complexes with
prostrate Melaleuca viridiflora
shrubs have also been included in
VC14a. Site MO69 on Moa Island.
Vegetation Community 14f: Vegetation Community 14f is represented only on the southern
footslopes of Thursday Island. This is a slightly more developed community, forming a
shrubland at 1.5 to 3m tall composed of a mixed range of species including Melaleuca viridiflora,
Welchiodendron longivalve, Cochlospermum gillivraei, Grevillea parallela and Melaleuca
stenostachya. Corymbia spp. may be present as emergents. The community grades upslope into
woodland community 5e.
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
148