Coastal Swamp Sclerophyll Forest of New South Wales and South East Queensland - profile

The Coastal Swamp Sclerophyll Forest typically features acanopy and/or sub-canopy dominated by Melaleuca spp. and/or Eucalyptus robusta.Other eucalypts, which are also tolerant of regular inundation and are adaptedto sandy soils, may emerge from the canopy with the mix of species presentvarying depending on the location. Eucalypt trees other than E. robusta thatoccur scattered through the canopy, often emergent, in some areas but do notdominate the canopy of a patch, include Corymbia intermedia (Pink Bloodwood),E. tereticornis, (Forest Red Gum/Queensland Blue Gum), E. longifolia(Woollybutt), E. botryoides (Southern Mahogany/Bangalay) and E. ovata (SwampGum). Lophostemon suaveolens (Swamp Box/Swamp Turpentine) can be an associate(typically minor) in the canopy north from the Hastings River (Griffith &Wilson 2007a, b). In the northern extent of the ecological community (northernSYB to the SEQ bioregion) the canopy is typically dominated or co-dominated byMelaleuca quinquenervia (Broad-leaved Paperbark) and/or Eucalyptus robusta(Swamp Mahogany). In some other areas (e.g., when more saline) in the northern(e.g. Central Coast) and the southern SYB (near Jervis Bay) and SEC bioregions,Swamp Mahogany and/or M. ericifolia (Swamp Paperbark) typically dominate orcodominate. Where Swamp Paperbark occurs, it can form a dense scrub-forestwhich can outcompete other canopy species. Regional variants of the ecologicalcommunity with canopies dominated by other melaleuca and other species canoccur. For example, M. biconvexa (Biconvex Paperbark) in the southern extentand in northern extent, M. dealbata (Swamp Teatree/Blueleaved Paperbark), Glochidionferdinandi (Cheese Tree) and G. sumatranum. In some other (e.g. slightlysaline) areas, Acmena smithii (Lilly Pilly) and M. linariifolia (Narrow-leavedPaperbark/Flax-leaved Paperbark) may also be common. In many areas, Casuarinaglauca (Swamp Oak) occurs as a subdominant in patches of the ecologicalcommunity but where it dominates over a large area this is indicative of aseparate ecological community that is nationally listed, the Coastal Swamp Oak(Casuarina glauca) Forest of New South Wales and South East Queensland. In someareas adjacent to lowland or littoral rainforest, rainforest species such asCupaniopsis anacardioides (Tuckeroo), Endiandra sieberi (Hard Corkwood),Homalanthus populifolius (Bleeding Heart/Native Poplar) and Melicope elleryana(Pink-flowered Doughwood) may become locally abundant (NSW Scientific Committee2011; Queensland Government 2019a). In some areas, other melaleuca species suchas M. linariifolia (Flax-leaved Paperbark), M. styphelioides (Prickly Paperbarkor Prickly-leaved Tea-tree); or other tea-tree species (i.e. Leptospermumpolygalifolium subsp. polygalifolium) are likely to be present and may belocally common in stands, but they do not dominate across a patch (NSWScientific Committee 2011). Other canopy or sub-canopy species can also includethe following shrubs and trees: Acacia leiocalyx (Black wattle), A. melanoxylon(Blackwood), Alphitona excelsa (Red Ash, Soapbush, Soap Tree), Callistemonsalignus (White/Willow Bottlebrush), Cupaniopsis anacardioides (Tuckeroo),Elaeocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash), Glochidion ferdinandi (Cheese Tree)and G. sumatranum, Melicope elleryana (Pink-flowered Doughwood), andPittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum). Other characteristic species in someareas include Livistona australis (Cabbage Tree Palm) and Lophostemon suavolens(NSW Scientific Committee 2011; Tozer et al. in prep.). Vines are frequentlyfound on the trunks and climbing into the crown of melaleucas and eucalyptswithin the ecological community, notably the woody vine Parsonsia straminea(Common silk-pod), Gynochthodes jasminoides (Climbing Scrub-orange) andStephania japonica Coastal Swamp Sclerophyll Forest of New South Wales andSouth East Queensland ecological community Conservation Advice Threatened SpeciesScientific Committee Page 7 of 94 var. discolour (Snake-vine) (NSW EPA 2016a,b; OEH 2016; Queensland Government 2019a; Tozer et al. in prep.). Epiphyticplants, such as Cymbidium suave (Snake Orchid), can also be found on thebranches of larger trees (Keith et al. 2007).

The understorey has a diverse range of hydrophytic plantsincluding some species tolerant of brackish water in proximity to estuarineareas. Ground layer composition is variable depending mostly on latitude,canopy cover, inundation regime and disturbance. A mid-dense to dense cover offreshwater sedges, ferns and grasses is common, with some brackish speciesevident in sites closer to estuarine areas. Typically occurring species includeBlechnum spp. (syn. Telmatoblechnum spp.), Calochlaena dubia (False Bracken),Gahnia spp., particularly Gahnia clarkei (Tall Saw-sedge), Hypolepsis spp.,Imperata cylindrica (Blady Grass), Baumea spp. (syn. Machaerina spp.)(Twig-rushes) and Pteridium esculentum (Bracken). Other grasses, sedges, reeds,and herbs that commonly occur, depending on local conditions, include Baloskionspp. (plume rushes), Carex appressa (Tall sedge), Centella asiatica (IndianPennywort), Dianella caerulea (Blue Flax Lily), Entolasia marginata (BorderedPanic), E. stricta (Wiry Panic Grass), Hemarthria uncinate (Mat Grass), Isachneglobose (Swamp Millet), Ischaemum austral (Large Bluegrass), Juncus spp.,Lobelia ssp., Lomandra longifolia (Spiny-headed Mat-rush), Oplismenus spp.,Persecaria spp. (Knotweeds), and Viola hederacea (Ivy-leaved Violet) (Tozer etal. in prep.). Orchids, including the nationally listed Phaius australis(Common Swamp-orchid) and scramblers such as Glycine clandestina (TwiningGlycine) and G. tabacina (Glycine Pea, Variable Glycine) also occur in some patches.Halophytic species may occur more commonly in the ground layer at lowerelevations closer to estuarine sites or where groundwater is influenced bybrackish inflows, for example, twigrushes. If the canopy cover is dense,limiting light penetration results in a ground layer that is almost devoid ofherbs and fosters cryptogams such as mosses (including sphagnum), lichens andliverworts. Sphagnum moss may also be regularly present in waterlogged patches.At wetter sites or during periods of inundation, the ecological communitysupports wetland specialist plants, such as Cycnogeton procerum (WaterRibbons). During drier periods, there are a range of grasses that are likely tobe more dominant (Griffith & Wilson 2007a, 2008; NSW EPA 2016a, b; OEH2016; Queensland Government 2019a). There is also often a dense leaf-litter andlogs from fallen trees in the ground layer.