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Botanical
Overview
The
following information has been prepared by Anton Ingarfield, Forest
Ecologist and one of the teachers at Mt Hyland Wilderness Retreat.
Mt Hyland Nature Reserve contains two forest formations consisting
of
Open Forest
Communities & Rain Forest Communities
. . .
Open
Forests Communities of Mt. Hyland Nature Reserve
A. Mid-altitudes at
800 to 1100m ASL - Tall Wet Sclerophyll Forest
-
Forest Type #46; Sydney
Blue Gum
On the highest fertility sites at around 950m ASL to the south
of the Lodge, on soils derived from a basalt capping a tall,
moist eucalypt forest of almost pure Sydney Blue Gum with
occasional Brush Box occurs. The trees are mostly regrowth
from sapling to spar size with a few mature trees. There are
also a few rainforest trees such as Crabapple, Soft Corkwood
and Hoop Pine and a well-developed mesophytic understorey
of rainforest shrubs, small trees and vines. There may have
been a small semi-natural grassland plain similar to Chapmans
Plain and other Dorrigo grassland plains on top of the wide
knoll associated with the basalt capping. Severe cold and
periodic burning may have perpetuated this grassland plain
in the past. The Sydney Blue Gum represents a cold hardy pioneer
for the regenerating rainforest. In the absence of fire and
other disturbance over a long period (>200 years) this
forest may develop into a Cool Subtropical Rainforest of Sub-alliance
#12 with mature Sydney Blue Gum and Brush Box emergents.
-
Forest Type #47; Tallowwood-Sydney
Blue Gum
In sheltered and moderately fertile (may be due to basalt
enrichment) sites that have been free of fire for many years,
a tall (up to 55m), moist eucalypt forest (Wet Sclerophyll
Forest) dominated by Tallowwood and Sydney Blue Gum occurs.
Associated trees include Brush Box, Turpentine, Silvertop
Stringybark and New England Blackbutt. As above there is a
well-developed small tree and shrub layer of rainforest species.
In the absence of fire and other disturbance over a long period
(>200 years) this forest may develop into a Cool Subtropical
Rainforest of Sub-alliance #12 or possibly an Intermediate
Cool Subtropical / Warm Temperate Rainforest of Sub-alliance
#33 with mature Tallowwood, Sydney Blue Gum and Brush Box
emergents.
-
Forest Type #163; New
England Blackbutt-Tallowwood
In somewhat less fertile but still relatively moist sites
with infrequent fire a tall (up to 55m) wet sclerophyll forest
occurs but with a change in dominant species. Sydney Blue
Gum, although present, becomes less frequent to be replaced
by New England Blackbutt as the main associate of Tallowwood.
Other associates are Messmate and Silvertop Stringybarks,
Brown Barrel and Manna Gum. This forest type has a more or
less mesophytic (rainforest) understorey depending on fire
frequency. In the absence of fire and other disturbance over
a long period these forests may develop into a Warm Temperate
Rainforest of Sub-alliance #36 with Tallowwood and New England
Blackbutt emergents.
-
Forest Type #160; New
England Blackbutt-Diehard Stringybark
On sites of low to moderate fertility, but moist aspect with
infrequent fire, Tallowwood is replaced by Diehard Stringybark
in a tall Wet Sclerophyll Forest. The understorey is more
or less mesophytic depending on fire frequency. In the absence
of fire and other disturbance over a long period these forests
may develop into a Warm Temperate Rainforest of Sub-alliance
#36 with New England Blackbutt and Diehard Stringybark emergents.
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A. Mid-altitudes
at 800 to 1100m ASL - Medium/Tall Dry Sclerophyll Forest
-
Forest
Type #163; New England Blackbutt-Tallowwood
On drier sites with a more northerly or westerly aspects fire
becomes more frequent. On sites of moderate to high fertility
the same forest type as above may occur but as a medium (less
than 25m) to tall (up to 35m) Dry Sclerophyll Forest. The understorey
may consist of xerophytic (dry/heath) shrubs or may be grassy
depending on the frequency of fire.
-
Forest
Type #160; New England Blackbutt-Diehard Stringybark
On similarly dry aspects but on sites of only low to moderate
fertility Tallowwood becomes less frequent to be replaced by
Diehard Stringybark as the main associate of New England Blackbutt.
Other associates may be Brown Gum, Messmate Stringybark and
Manna Gum. This open forest may be either medium (less than
25m) in height or tall (up to 35m). As above, the understorey
may consist of xerophytic (dry/heath) shrubs or may be grassy
depending on the frequency of fire.
Aspect/Fire
Frequency |
Fertility |
Low
to Moderate |
Moderate |
Moderate
to High |
Moist/Low
to moderate fire frequency |
Wet Sclerophyll
Forest;NE Blackbutt-Diehard Stringybark+/- mesophytic understorey |
Wet Sclerophyll
Forest;NE Blackbutt-Tallowwood+/- mesophytic understorey |
Wet Sclerophyll
Forest;Sydney Blue Gum orTallowwood-Sydney Blue Gum+/- mesophytic
understorey |
Dry/Moderate
to high fire frequency |
Dry Sclerophyll
Forest;NE Blackbutt-Diehard Stringybark+/- xerophytic understorey |
Dry Sclerophyll
Forest;NE Blackbutt-Tallowwood+/- xerophytic understorey |
Dry Sclerophyll
Forest;NE Blackbutt-Tallowwood+/- xerophytic understorey |
Forest
types on moist to wet sites in relation to fire frequency. Fire
free period to climax rainforest, and the type of climax rainforest
occurring, is dependent on altitude, aspect, soil depth and fertility
and wind exposure.
Fire
Frequency |
High |
Moderate |
Low |
Very low |
Fire
free |
<10
years |
10 to
20 years |
20 to
50 years |
50 to
200 years |
200 to
600-1000 years |
>600-1000
years |
WSF with
Rough Tree Fern, Ground Fern or Grass understorey |
WSF with
mesophytic understoreyof fire tolerant species only |
WSF with
mesophytic understorey of both fire tolerant and intolerant
species |
WSF with
well developed rainforest sub-canopy of both fire tolerant
and intolerant species |
Rainforest
with mature and/or senescent sclerophyll emergents |
Pure Rainforest |
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B.
High altitudes at 1100-1400m ASL - Tall
Wet Sclerophyll Forest
-
Forest
Type #152; Messmate-Gum
On moist sites with low fire frequency at altitudes over 1100m
a tall (up to 30m), moist eucalypt forest occurs which is dominated
by Messmate in association with New England Blackbutt, Brown
Barrel, Giant White Gum and Snow Gum at the highest altitudes.
The understorey is more or less mesophytic depending on fire
frequency and includes White Banksia. In the absence of fire
and other disturbance over long periods this forest may develop
into a Warm Temperate Rainforest of Sub-alliance #36 or an Intermediate
Cool/Warm Temperate Rainforest of Sub-alliance #40.
B.
High altitudes at 1100-1400m ASL -
Medium Dry Sclerophyll
Forest
-
Forest
Type #152; Messmate-Gum
On drier aspects sites at similar altitude the above Forest
Type occurs as a medium (less than 25m), dry eucalypt forest
again dominated by Messmate but in association with Diehard
and Youman’s Stringybark, Narow-leaved and New England
Peppermints, Brown Barrel and Mountain Gum. The understorey
may consist of xerophytic shrubs or grass depending on the frequency
of fire.
Aspect/Fire
Frequency |
High
Altitude Open Forest
|
Moist/Low
fire frequency |
Wet Sclerophyll
Forest;Messmate Stringybark-Gum+/- mesophytic understorey |
Dry/Moderate
to high fire frequency |
Dry Sclerophyll
Forest;Messmate Stringybark-Peppermint-Gum+/- xerophytic
understory |
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Rainforest
Communities of Mt Hyland Nature Reserve
A. Mid-altitudes at 850 to 1200m - Cool Subtropical Rainforest
- Soft Corkwood
Alliance, Suballiance #12 At
altitudes from 950m to 1100m ASL on argyllite (metamorphic sedimentary)
and leuco-adamellite (igneous) in very sheltered sites a Cool
Subtropical Rainforest occurs. There may be some localized enrichment
from basalt cappings. This rainforest type is "limited
to mid-slopes because of exposure to desiccating winds and wildfires
up-slope and cold air pockets in the major valley bottoms"
(Floyd). The canopy is dominated by Yellow Carabeen, Black Booyong
and Giant Stinging Tree. There are occasional Rosewood, Soft
Corkwood, Sassafras, Bolly Gum, Red Carabeen and Crabapple.
The sub-canopy consists of mostly Brown Beech and Socketwood
with the occasional Grey Possumwood, Prickly Ash, Brush Bloodwood
and Turnipwood. This is a rich forest with 38 tree species present.
A. Mid-altitudes
at 850 to 1200m - Intermediate
Cool Subtropical / Warm Temperate Rainforest
-
Coachwood
Alliance, Suballiance #33
At altitudes of 850m to 1000m ASL in moderately sheltered sites
sub-optimal for the development of pure Cool Subtropical Rainforest
an Intermediate Cool Subtropical / Warm Temperate Rainforest
occurs. The dominant canopy trees are Yellow Carabeen, Black
Booyong and Sassafras with the occasional Mountain Walnut, Crabapple,
Rosewood and Purple Cherry. The sub-canopy consists of Coachwood,
Prickly Ash and Brown Beech.
A.
Mid-altitudes at 850 to 1200m - Warm
Temperate Rainforest
-
Coachwood
Alliance, Suballiance #36
At altitudes of 950m to 1200m ASL in somewhat more exposed sites
there is a Warm Temperate Rainforest dominated by Coachwood,
Sassafras, Rough Possumwood and with only occasional Yellow
Carabeen, Prickly Ash, Soft Corkwood and Crabapple. Here the
cold intolerant Coachwood can only survive to higher altitudes
where sheltered by the taller Sassafras.
B.
High altitudes at 1200 to 1400m - Intermediate Warm Temperate
/ Cool Temperate Rainforest
-
Sassafras
Alliance, Suballiance #40
At even higher altitudes of 1200m to 1400m on argyllite in relatively
sheltered gully heads of Mt. Hyland there occurs an Intermediate
Warm Temperate / Cool Temperate Rainforest. The canopy is up
to 30 metres high and dominated by Sassafras and Mountain Walnut
with the occasional Rough Possumwood and Crabapple. In the sub-canopy
Prickly Ash and Mountain Laurel are common with the occasional
Mountain Olive-berry, Mountain Marara and Mountain Tree Heath.
This is a very interesting rainforest type as a number of the
tree species present, as well as some species of fern, are commonly
associated with Antarctic Beech elsewhere. Floyd considers that
Antarctic Beech probably once occurred here but has died out
in past arid periods.
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B.
High altitudes at 1200 to 1400m -
Intermediate Warm Temperate / Cool Temperate Rainforest (Depauperate
Form)
-
Sassafras
Alliance, Suballiance #40
On the more exposed ridge spurs and slopes the above rainforest
type occurs in a depauperate form type with a low, dense canopy
consisting of the wind tolerant small-leaved tree species Sassafras,
Mountain Walnut and Mountain Olive-berry. Also common is Mountain
Tree Heath and there are few emergent White Banksias, some of
which have attained huge proportions.
B.
High altitudes at 1200 to 1400m - Warm
Temperate Closed Scrub
- Sassafras Alliance, Suballiance
#46
Warm Temperate Closed Scrub occurs on the steep, very exposed
and rocky sites with skeletal soils in the headwaters of Obeloe
and Blicks Creeks at altitudes of 1000 to 1400m. Dominating these
"scrubs" are Yellow Tea-tree, Veined Mock-olive and
Mountain Tree Heath. Other common shrubs are White Banksia, Blackwood
and New England Tea-tree. Due to the fact that these "rocky
islands" are surrounded by rainforest, and have only a sparse
ground layer due to the skeletal soil, they have enjoyed a considerable
period of freedom from wildfire. These sites may have been fire
free for several hundred years as indicated by the relatively
large sized specimens (more than 10 metres) of the normally small
tree and shrub species.
Altitude
(metres ASL) |
Wind
Exposure / Fertility |
Very
sheltered /Moderate to High |
Sheltered
/Moderate |
Exposed
/ Low to Moderate |
Very
exposed / Low |
850 to1200 |
Cool Subtropical
Rainforest Soft Corkwood Alliance Sub-alliance #12 |
Intermediate
Cool Subtropical/Warm Temperate Rainforest Coachwood Alliance
Sub-alliance #33 |
Warm Temperate
Rainforest Coachwood AllianceSub-alliance #36 |
Warm Temperate
Closed Scrub Sassafras Alliance Sub-alliance #46 |
1200 to1400 |
None |
Intermediate
Warm Temperate/ Cool Temperate Rainforest Sassafras Alliance
Sub-alliance #40 |
Depauperate
Intermediate Warm/Cool Temperate RainforestSub-alliance #40 |
Warm Temperate
Closed Scrub Sassafras Alliance Sub-alliance #46 |
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