Vegetation class map
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Key:
<1%
1-10%
10-50%
>50%
Estimated percentage landcover for vegetation class
Structure
Open heath with emergent mallee eucalypts and an open groundcover of sclerophyllous sedges and herbs.
Trees
In wetter eastern areas Eucalyptus approximans (Barren Mountain mallee), E. caliginosa (broad-leaved stringybark) or E. codonocarpa (bell-fruited mallee) are found as emergent mallees, while in the drier west stunted trees of E. andrewsii (gum-topped peppermint), E. prava (orange gum) and Callitris endlicheri (black cypress pine) occur.
Shrubs
Brachyloma saxicola, Dillwynia phylicoides (egg and bacon pea), Hibbertia linearis, Hovea beckeri, Kunzea obovata, Leptospermum novae-angliae, Leucopogon neo-anglicus, Mirbelia confertiflora, Platysace lanceolata. In drier areas Acacia granitica, Calytrix tetragona (fringe myrtle) and Cryptandra amara are found. Restricted communities on igneous substrates include Acacia cheelii (motherumbah), A. viscidula, Allocasuarina rigida subsp. rigida, Calytrix tetragona (fringe myrtle), Cryptandra lanosiflora, Epacris longiflora (fuchsia heath), Hakea laevipes subsp. graniticola, Homoranthus flavescens, Kunzea opposita, K. sp. Mt Kaputar (Jackson 2246), Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. montanum, Leucopogon cicatricatus, Micromyrtus sessilis, Monotoca scoparia (prickly broom-heath), Ozothamnus obcordatus and Pultenaea polifolia.
Forbs
Brachyscome stuartii, Dampiera stricta, Gonocarpus tetragynus, Goodenia bellidifolia, Isotoma axillaris (showy isotome), Patersonia glabrata (leafy purple-flag), P. sericea (silky purple-flag), Trachymene incisa. Cheilanthes distans (bristly cloak fern) and C. sieberi subsp. sieberi (poison rock fern) may be common on drier outcrops. In the east Entolasia stricta (wiry panic), Lepidosperma gunnii, Lomandra longifolia (spiny-headed mat-rush) and Schoenus apogon (common bog-rush) are abundant, while in the west Aristida jerichoensis (Jericho wiregrass), A. vagans (threeawn speargrass) and Tripogon loliiformis (fiveminute grass) occur. Restricted variant communities on basaltic soils may also include Lepidosperma viscidum, Lomandra glauca (pale mat-rush) and Schoenus villosus (hairy bog-rush).
Habitat
Skeletal sandy soils on elevated rocky outcrops on ridges 400-1500 m above sea level. The outcrops are principally found on four types of granitic geology: leucoadamellite, adamellite, granite and granadiorite. Small areas of these heathlands are also found on some fine-grained igneous and sedimentary substrates.
Distribution
Scattered across the New England tableland and adjacent mountainous areas. Examples on granite include Gibraltar Range, Bald Rock and Warrah areas, while small patches occur on trachyte at Werrikimbee, the New England escarpment, the Border Ranges and well to the west on the isolated peak of Mount Kaputar . Virtually restricted to New South Wales, except for two small occurrences just over the Queensland border at Girraween and the Lamington Plateau.
Notes
A distinctive, variable and restricted group of highly localised assemblages sharing a number of species with Northern Escarpment Dry Sclerophyll Forests.
Sources
Hunter & Clarke (1998); Benson & Ashby (2000); DLWC (2002a)
See all threatened species associated with this vegetation class
See a
list of species, populations and ecological communities
associated with the Northern Montane Heaths vegetation class.