Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Subtropical rainforest on basalt soils
(Sites H1, BB6, BU3, H8; PS4, H12, H13, H14, BB17, BB26, Z2, Z4, Z3,
Z16, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z15, Z9, Z14, Z17, BB27, BH13)
Subtropical rainforest on basalt soils commonly included Red Cedar Toona ciliata, figs Ficus spp., White
Booyong Heritiera trifoliolata, Native Tamarind Diploglottis australis, White Beech Gmelina leichhardtii, Maiden’s
Blush Sloanea australis, Bangalow Palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana and Silver Quandong Elaeocarpus kirtonii.
Along creek-lines on basaltic alluvium (e.g. Upper Coopers Creek in the Wanganui Gorge) Blue Quandong
Elaeocarpus grandis, Water Gum Tristaniopsis laurina, Red Cedar and Maiden’s Blush were common species in
the overstorey. The Rare Stream Lily Helmholtzia glaberrima was a common groundcover species in this area.
On deeper soils but in proximity to the creek, species such as Black Bean Castanospermum australe, Pepperberry
Cryptocarya obovata and Red Bean Dysoxylum mollissimum were often present.
Raine and Golding (1994) found that most sites in the Brunswick catchment on quaternary alluvium with
basaltic influence were dominated by Weeping Lilly Pilly but on the Triassic Chillingham volcanics, Blue
Quandong dominated. Blue Quandong was also found on quaternary alluvium. They found that along
‘streams with small catchments, large-sized bed-material and relatively steep channel slopes’ Blue Quandong
tended to be dominant or at least common whilst on the lower sections Water Gum and Weeping Lilly Pilly
tended to dominate. Raine and Golding (1994) suggested that Blue Quandong (with its extensive root
system) was better able to cope with the torrential floodwaters upstream.
Site H1 on Mt Chincogan was dominated by Red Kamala. The upper stratum also included Twin-leaved
Coogera Arytera distylis and Bauerella Sarcomelicope simplicifolia. The midstratum included Red Ash, Green
Bolly Gum Neolitsea australiensis, Whalebone Tree Streblus brunonianus, Stinking Cryptocarya Cryptocarya foetida,
Oliver’s Sassafras Cinnamomum oliveri and Staghorn Platycerium superbum.
Site BH13 was located north of Quarry Lane adjacent to an area of swamp sclerophyll forest. Moreton Bay
Fig Ficus macrophylla was emergent. The upper stratum included Native Tamarind, Bangalow Palm, Red
Bean, Brush Box and Ribbonwood Euroschinus falcata var. falcata. Hairy Walnut Endiandra pubens, Bangalow
Palm, Black Walnut, Native Tamarind, Maiden’s Blush, Whip Vine Flagellaria indica, Native Wisteria Millettia
megasperma and Red Kamala were present in the mid and lower strata. The ground stratum included Giant
Maidenhair Adiantum formosum, Gristle Fern and rainforest seedlings.
Black Walnut, a Rare rainforest species (Briggs and Leigh 1996) is usually found on metasediments although
it has been recorded on rhyolite in the Koonyum Range. This record, on basalt soil is probably the southern
extremity of its range.
Subtropical rainforest on alluvial soils
(Sites H9, Z1)
90% of the original floodplain subtropical rainforest has been cleared for agriculture with remnant areas
being largely confined to the edges of watercourses.
A relatively large (13 ha) remnant is conserved in the Booyong Flora and Fauna Reserve. Its diversity is
highlighted by the recording of 90 tree species (Floyd 1990b) with White Booyong dominant. Threatened
species present include one of the largest known populations of the herb Isoglossa.
Other tiny patches include one at Azalea Ave, Mullumbimby, where the Threatened species Fragrant Myrtle
Austromyrtus fragrantissima and Ball Nut Floydia praealta (Photo 11) are recorded.
Site H9 was situated on the creek flat at Wanganui. The upper stratum was dominated by Bangalow Palm.
Red Carabeen Geissois benthamii and Black Bean were also present. The midstratum included Black Bean,
Bangalow Palm, Sandpaper Fig Ficus coronata, Giant Pepper Vine Piper novaehollandiae and Climbing Fishbone
Fern Arthropteris tenella. The introduced Wandering Dew Tradescantia albiflora dominated the ground stratum.
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