Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Flooded Gum (fG)
(Sites BH3, H3, BU1, BH9, H27)
Flooded Gum generally occurred on lower, sheltered slopes with an increase in soil fertility and was recorded
mainly on rhyolitic and basaltic-derived soils and on metasediments. Smaller areas were mapped on sediments,
alluvium and aeolian substrates.
At site H27 Flooded Gum was located on a ridgeline at Wilsons Creek, Goonengerry on rhyolitic soils with
Brush Box, Thin-leaved Stringybark Eucalyptus eugenioides, Cudgerie and Tallowwood. The midstratum was
dominated by Stringybark Pine Callitris macleayana, Brush Box, and Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera. Camphor
Laurel and Sweet Pittosporum were also present. The ground stratum included Sandfly Zieria, Manyflowered
Mat-rush, Spiny-headed Mat-rush, Blue Flax Lily and Bracken Fern.
On Pleistocene sands at Tyagarah Creek, Flooded Gum dominated the upper stratum with Red Mahogany
Eucalyptus resinifera and Wallum Banksia also present (Site BH9). The mid and lower strata included Wallum
Banksia, Hard Corkwood and Blue Lilly Pilly. The ground stratum comprised Spiny-headed Mat-rush,
Midgen Berry, Bracken Fern and rainforest seedlings.
Flooded Gum was recorded with Pink Bloodwood on alluvial soils on the Brunswick River. The dense
rainforest midstratum was dominated by Cabbage Palm and Hoop Pine (Site BH3). Cabbage Palm and
Hoop Pine seedlings were present in the sparse ground stratum.
Site H3 was located on metasediments. Flooded Gum was the only species present in the upper stratum.
The midstratum was dominated by Camphor Laurel and Brush Box. The Rare Black Walnut and Veiny
Lace-flower were present in the lower stratum. Rough Maidenhair Adiantum hispidulum and Mistweed
dominated the ground stratum.
At Main Arm, Flooded Gum was recorded on basalt soils with Brush Box and rainforest species dominating
the midstratum (Site BU1). Camphor Laurel and Lantana dominated the lower and ground strata.
Tallowwood (TW)
(Sites P7, LE756, H21)
The area mapped does not reflect the true extent of this association in Byron Shire. An accurate assessment
would require further survey work and substantial ground-truthing. Tallowwood was commonly recorded
as a sub-dominant in other Eucalyptus associations, e.g. Flooded Gum, Blackbutt, Mixed eucalypt and Pink
Bloodwood. Tallowwood was recorded mainly on metasediments with smaller areas recorded on alluvium,
sediments and basalt. This species is also found on rhyolitic soils although Tallowwood-dominated forest on
rhyolite was not mapped during the survey.
At Yelgun (Site P7), Tallowwood occurred on metasediments with Brush Box and Flooded Gum sub-dominant
in the upper stratum and Brush Box and rainforest species dominating the midstratum. The ground stratum
was dominated by Gristle Fern. Approximately 17 ha of Tallowwood forest was also mapped on metasediments
in the Broken Head area
At Wilsons Creek, Goonengerry (Site H21), Tallowwood was recorded on rhyolite with Pink Bloodwood
present in the canopy and a midstratum dominated by Brush Box, Turpentine, Forest Oak and Pink
Bloodwood. The sparse ground stratum was dominated by Spiny-headed Mat-rush.
At Byrangery Travelling Stock Reserve (Site LE756), Tallowwood was recorded on basalt soils, on a ridge
with Pink Bloodwood and Brush Box sub-dominant in the upper stratum. The midstratum was dominated
by Brush Box and Forest Oak. The ground stratum was dominated by Kangaroo Grass. This area, less than
1 ha, was not included in the mapping.
4.7.6 Moist to dry sclerophyll forest
Blackbutt (BB)
Blackbutt +/- other Eucalyptus spp.
(Sites BH6, BU2, PS18, PS19, BB14, BB18, BB25, P10, H17)
Blackbutt was recorded mainly on metasediments during the survey. Large areas of Blackbutt also occurred
on rhyolite and basalt although most of the rhyolite area is within National Parks and Nature Reserves in
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