VOLUME 2: Vegetation Community Profiles - Coffs Harbour City ...

CH_FrW07RIVER OAK RIPARIAN FOREST OF THE ORARA RIVER VALLEYSCIENTIFIC NAME River Oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana) RiparianForest of the Orara ValleySTATEWIDE CLASS Forested Wetlands – Eastern Riverine Forests (Keith2006)CH_FrW07PLANT COMMUNITY TYPE Riparian rainforest with River Oakemergents on lowland creek flats, NSW North Coast Bioregion (NSW700-533)DescriptionA tall open forest with River Oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana subsp. cunninghamiana) dominates sometimesforming an emergent layer with Red Cedar (Toona ciliata) and Willow Bottlebrush (Callistemon salignus). Themiddle layer of small trees often consists of riparian rainforest species such as Rough-leaved Elm (Aphananthephilippinensis), Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) and Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata). CamphorLaurel (Cinnamomum camphora) may be abundant in the canopy at many locations. This community includesextensive areas of weed an invasion and exotics such as Small-leaved Privet (Ligustrum sinense) and Large-leavedPrivet (Ligustrum lucidum), Lantana (Lantana camara) in the mid layer. The ground layer consists commonly ofMat-rushes (Lomandra spp.), Rose-leaf Bramble (Rubus rosifolius), Native Violet (Viola banksii) and Basket Grass(Oplismenus aemulus). The community is located along the Orara and Urumbilum Rivers, Nana and ColdwaterCreeks north from Coramba to the north of Nana Glen.Vegetation Mapping of the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area Page 361