Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions
Gazetted date:
04 Jul 2008
Profile last updated:
07 Sep 2017
Description
Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest typically has a canopy of 15-25m high with 40-80% cover. The most common canopy trees include Elaeocarpus obovatus (Hard Quandong), Baloghia inophylla (Brush Bloodwood), Streblus brunonianus (Whalebone Tree), Mallotus philippensis (Red Kamala), Capparis arborea (Brush Caper Berry), Olea paniculata (Native Olive) and Dendrocnide excelsa (Giant Stinging Tree).
Emergent trees 20 to 30m tall such as Brachychiton populneus subsp. populneus (Kurrajong), Corymbia maculata (Spotted Gum), Brachychiton discolor (Lacebark) and Ficus rubiginosa (Port Jackson Fig) are often present. Other tree and tall shrub species that are often present include Guioa semiglauca (Guioa), Alectryon tomentosus (Hairy Alectryon), Alectryon subcinereus (Wild Quince), Melia azedarach (White Cedar), Melicope micrococca (Hairy-leaved Doughwood), Scolopia braunii (Flintwood), Claoxylon australe (Brittlewood), Elaeodendron australe var. australe (Red Olive Plum), Diospyros australis (Black Plum) and Pararchidendron pruinosum var. pruinosum (Snow Wood).
The shrub layer is dense with common species including Notelaea longifolia (Large Mock Olive), Breynia oblongifolia (Coffee Bush), Clerodendrum tomentosum (Hairy Clerodendrum) and Pittosporum revolutum (Hairy Pittosporum). Vines are abundant and include Pandorea pandorana subsp. pandorana (Wonga Vine), Geitonoplesium cymosum (Scrambling Lily), Cayratia clematidea (Native Grape), Jasminum volubile (Stiff Jasmine) and Maclura cochinchinensis (Cockspur Thorn).
The ground cover is variable and is comprised of forbs, grasses and ferns. The common species include Commelina cyanea (Scurvy Weed), Dichondra repens (Kidney Weed), Oplismenus aemulus (Basket Grass) and Adiantum aethiopicum (Common Maidenhair).
Distribution
Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest mainly occurs on the Barrington footslopes along the northern rim of the Hunter Valley Floor, where it occupies gullies and steep hillslopes with south facing aspects. It is also known from south of the Hunter River at Mt Bright and Mt View.
Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest has been recorded from the local government areas of Cessnock, Maitland and Port Stephens, and is also likely to occur or have occurred in Muswellbrook, Singleton, Upper Hunter and Dungog LGAs.
Habitat and ecology
- Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest typically occurs on Carboniferous sediments in gullies and on steep hillslopes with south facing aspects. It is generally found at elevations less than 300 m ASL with a mean annual rainfall less than 900 mm
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing for urban and rural development.
- Fragmentation and small size of remnants.
- Mixed weeds - including invasion by species such as Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (African Olive) and Lantana camara (Lantana) threatens this community.
- Inappropriate fire regime - Fire is likely to adversely affect the community because of the number of fire-sensitive species in the community.
- Inappropriate land use/land management.
- Grazing by by domestic stock, feral and native herbivores.
- Grazing by feral deer.
- Absence of a forest or woodland buffer around remnants exacerbates other threats.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Exclude fire from remnants where possible.
- Exclude grazing by domestic stock in remnants of this community by appropriate fencing.
- Prevent further clearing and fragmentation of remnants.
- Restore degraded remnants using bush regeneration techniques such as weed control and supplementary planting.
- Control invasion and spread of weeds
Information sources
- Floyd, A.G. (1989) Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
- Floyd, Alexander (1990) Australian rainforests in New South Wales. Volume 2. Surrey Beaty and Sons 180 pgs
- Peake, T.C. (2006) The Vegetation of the Central Hunter Valley, New South Wales. A report on the findings of the Hunter Remnant Vegetation Project. Hunter - Central Rivers Catchment Authority, Paterson.
- Turner JC, Vernon SL (1994) Rainforest stands between Barrington Tops and the Hunter River, New South Wales. Cunninghamia 3, 465-514.
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