Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

BYRON FLORA AND FAUNA STUDY, 1999
Privet >51% (P)
Privet +/- Camphor Laurel +/- subtropical rainforest spp.
(Site H6)
A dense forest of Large-leaved Privet was recorded on basalt soils on western Mt Chincogan. Camphor
Laurel was sub-dominant and a few rainforest species, ie Red Kamala and Sweet Pittosporum were recorded
in the mid and lower strata. There were no species present in the ground stratum at the site.
4.7.4 Brush Box forest
Brush Box (Bb)
(Sites BH1, P1, H4, H2, H11, P4, BB9, LE758, H15, P9, H24, H19, BB43)
Brush Box occurred on well-drained, medium to high fertility soils in sheltered, less fire-prone areas (Photo
2). On moist soils, rainforest species were often present in the canopy and in these situations if the forest
remains undisturbed, rainforest may eventually replace the Brush Box forest. Eucalyptus species were often
emergent in the canopy suggesting a transition stage from eucalypt forest to rainforest with Brush Box
providing the intermediate stage in the transition. This transition was probably taking place due to changes
in land practices, ie burning less frequently.
Brush Box was recorded mainly on metasediments in Byron Shire, with smaller areas mapped on rhyolite,
basalt, sediments, alluvium and sand.
Site P4 was located on metasediments at Marshalls Ridges. Brush Box dominated the upper stratum but
Small-fruited Grey Gum Eucalyptus propinqua, Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis and Broad-leaved White
Mahogany Eucalyptus carnea were also present. Brush Box and Sweet Pittosporum comprised the sparse
midstratum. The lower stratum was dominated by Lantana with Brush Ironbark Wattle Acacia aulacocarpa,
Tuckeroo, Large-leaved Privet and Guioa also present. Blady Grass Imperata cylindrica and Kangaroo Grass
Themeda australis were present in the ground stratum.
Site H2 was located on Mt Chincogan on rhyolitic soils. Brush Box, Forest Oak Allocasuarina torulosa and
Tree Bitter Pea Daviesia arborea dominated the upper stratum. The midstratum included a grass tree Xanthorrhoea
sp., Sweet Pittosporum and Lantana. The ground stratum included Kangaroo Grass, an orchid Dendrobium
kingianum and a mat-rush Lomandra sp.
Site H15 was located on basaltic soils near Wilsons Creek, Goonengerry. Brush Box dominated the higher
stratum and rainforest species such as Bennett’s Ash, Rose Walnut Endiandra discolor, Yellow Pear-fruit
Mischocarpus pyriformis, Guioa, Blunt-leaved Steelwood Toechima dasyrrache and Brown Bolly Gum were present
in the midstratum. Scaly Myrtle Austromyrtus hillii dominated the lower stratum with Blue Lilly Pilly Syzygium
oleosum and Quassia Quassia sp. A also present. The sparse ground stratum included Blue Flax Lily and
Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana.
On sand substrates at Cosy Corner and on the hind-dunes along Byron Bay beach Brush Box was recorded
with Coast Banksia, Pink Bloodwood and Tuckeroo.
4.7.5 Wet to moist sclerophyll forest
Eucalyptus spp. (not specified) (El)
These areas were identified as eucalypt forest during aerial photo interpretation but were not ground-truthed.
Eucalyptus spp. and/or Brush Box + Camphor Laurel (EBc)
(Site BB41)
Eucalyptus spp./Brush Box/Camphor Laurel was mapped mainly on metasediments with small areas also
recorded on basalt, rhyolite, sediments and alluvium.
Grey Ironbark, Wattle spp., Camphor Laurel and Brush Box were co-dominant canopy species in tall open
forest at Site BB41 on metasediments at Hilan’s Corner, north-east of Mt Chincogan. The midstratum was
comprised of rainforest species, the lower stratum was dominated by Lantana and the ground stratum was
dominated by Mistweed.
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