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.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
Gazetted date:
03 Dec 2010
Profile last updated:
20 Dec 2022
Description
Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion is dominated by Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. parramattensis, Angophora bakeri and E. sclerophylla. A small tree stratum of Melaleuca decora is sometimes present, generally in areas with poorer drainage. It has a well-developed shrub stratum consisting of sclerophyllous species such as Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa, Melaleuca nodosa, Hakea sericea and H. dactyloides (multi-stemmed form). The ground stratum consists of a diverse range of forbs including Themeda australis, Entolasia stricta, Cyathochaeta diandra, Dianella revoluta subsp. revoluta, Stylidium graminifolium, Platysace ericoides, Laxmannia gracilis and Aristida warburgii (Tozer 2003).
Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion occurs almost exclusively on soils derived from Tertiary alluvium, or on sites located on adjoining shale or Holocene alluvium (Tozer 2003). It is most often found on sandy soils and tends to occur on slightly higher ground than Castlereagh Ironbark Forest or Shale Gravel Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (Tozer 2003). The boundary between Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland and Castlereagh Ironbark Forest or Shale Gravel Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion appears to be a function of the interaction of localised drainage conditions and the thickness of the Tertiary alluvium mantle (Tozer 2003).
Distribution
Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion is to occur within the local government areas of Bankstown, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Liverpool and Penrith (James 1997), but may occur elsewhere within the Sydney Basin Bioregion.
The main occurrence of Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion is in the Castlereagh area of the Cumberland Plain, with small patches occurring at Kemps Creek and Longneck Lagoon. It is also present around Holsworthy, however the floristic composition in this area shows stronger similarities to Castlereagh Ironbark Forest than at other localities (Tozer 2003).
Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion corresponds to the community of the same name described by Benson (1992) (Map Unit 14a), NSW NPWS (1997, 2002) and Tozer (2003) (Map Unit 6). It is similar to the Scribbly Gum woodlands found on perched sands in the Mellong Swamp area in Yengo and Wollemi National Parks, however there are distinct geological and floristic differences (James 1997).
Habitat and ecology
- Occurs almost exclusively on soils derived from Tertiary alluvium, or on sites located on adjoining shale or Holocene alluvium.
- Often adjacent to and on slightly higher ground than Castlereagh Ironbark Forest or Shale Gravel Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion. The boundary with these units appears to be a function of the localised drainage conditions and the thickness of the tertiary alluvium mantle.
- The shrub understorey includes a number of listed threatened species including Acacia bynoeana, Allocasuarina glareicola, Dillwynia tenuifolia, Grevillea juniperina subsp. juniperina, Micromyrtus minutiflora, Persoonia nutans and Pultenaea parviflora, and may also possibly contain Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora.
- There are periodic fires in Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland and most species are able to regenerate from lignotubers and buds beneath the bark, as well as seed stored in the soil.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Isolation and fragmentation of the community
- Clearing for urban development.
- Frequent fires caused by arson and hazard reduction burns for property protection except in the Kemp's Creek area where fire is too infrequent.
- Damage caused by human disturbance including rubbish dumping, arson, trail & other motorbikes, 4WDs, bicycles, trampling
- Clearing and under scrubbing from urban development and agricultural activities
- Invasive grasses, particularly African Love Grass, outcompeting native grasses and groundcovers as well as the spread of exotic species from dumped garden waste.
- Soil erosion and degradation, harm to water courses and impacts on vegetation as a result of recreational vehicle use.
- Infestation by the soil pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi.
- Fencing, including chain mail barbed fencing, that prevents wildlife movement as well as injures and/or kills wildlife
- Impacts of climate change
- Removal of fallen timber for firewood.
- Invasion by exotic plants.
Recovery strategies
A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click
here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click
here
Activities to assist this species
- Identify remnants and protect from development
- Sites should be burned in a mosaic pattern, with no more than 40% of the community present in the management area burnt within any 10 year period. No more than 10% of the community within any management area should be burnt in one planned event. Any area to be subject to a planned burn should be assessed by suitably qualified persons to ensure species present in the area will not be adversely affected by the planned burning event.
- Work with landholders to ensure that threats are managed appropriately and actions (both beneficial and detrimental) are done in a way that is mindful of the vegetation community.
- Areas of the community should be identified within biobanking sites and reserves to ensure appropriate management is undertaken.
- Ensure weed species are managed and outbreaks of weeds that may seriously compromise composition are managed or eradicated.
- Ensure sites are not able to be accessed by recreational vehicles to reduce opportunities to damage soil structure, dump rubbish or introduce and spread pathogens.
Information sources
- Benson, D.H. (1992) The natural vegetation of the Penrith 1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2(4): 541-596
- James, T. (1997) Native flora of western Sydney. Urban bushland biodiversity survey, technical report. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (1997) Native flora in western Sydney. Urban Bushland Biodiversity Survey Stage 1: western Sydney. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Native Vegetation of the Cumberland Plain - Final Edition. (NSW NPWS, Sydney)
- NSW Scientific Committee (2010) Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion - Vulnerable ecological community determination - final.
- Tozer, M.G. (2003) The native vegetation of the Cumberland Plain, Western Sydney: systematic classification and field identification of communities. Cunninghamia 8(1): 1-75
- Tozer, M.G., Turner, K., Keith, D.A., Tindall, D., Pennay, C., Simpson, C., MacKenzie, B., Beukers, P. and Cox, S. (2010) Native vegetation of southeast NSW: a revised classification and map for the coast and eastern tablelands. Cunninghamia 11(3): 359-406
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