An open forest or woodland with a canopy dominated by several species of eucalypts, an open small tree and shrub layer and a grassy ground cover, with climbers present in the lower layers. It has elements of dry rainforest or rainforest fringes/wet sclerophyll forest.
Characteristic canopy species include various proportions of Eucalyptus globulus subsp. maidenii (Maiden’s blue gum), E. melliodora (yellowbox), E. tereticornis (forest redgum), and Angophora floribunda (rough-barked apple), with other Eucalyptus species such as the EPBC vulnerable listed E. kartzoffiana (Araluen gum) in more sheltered sites. Rainforest species such as Ficus rubiginosa (Port Jackson fig) may be frequent in a discontinuous subcanopy layer.
The typically sparse mid-stratum includes small trees and shrubs such as Acacia mearnsii (black wattle), Melicytus dentatus (tree violet), Pittosporum undulatum (sweet pittosporum), with occasionally Port Jackson fig and Bursaria spinosa (blackthorn). Characteristic climbing species include Pandorea pandorana (wonga wonga vine),Geitonoplesium cymosum (scrambling lily) and Clematis glycinoides (headache vine).
Depending on the season, the ground layer vegetation may vary from sparse to almost complete cover, and rock outcrops are sometimes present. Species include a variety of forbs, such as Desmodium varians (syn. Grona varians)(slender tick-trefoil), Dichondra spp., Oxalis perennans (grassland wood-sorrel) and Sigesbeckia orientalis with grasses such as Microlaena stipoides (weeping grass), Oplismenus imbecillis (creeping beard grass), and ferns such as Pellaea falcata (sickle fern),Cheilanthes sieberi (poison rock fern) are usually present.
Distribution
Restricted to escarpment slopes and ridges of the Araluen and surrounding valleys in south-eastern New South Wales, mostly in the South East Corner, and secondarily the South Eastern Highlands Bioregions. Araluen Scarp Grassy Forest occurs primarily within the Moruya River catchment.
Habitat and ecology
- Often occurs on steep slopes with a variety of aspects, however typically not on north-westerly aspects.
- Occurs on sandy loam soils derived from granitoid substrates, at elevations of 180–330 metres, however may extend up to approximately 900 metres above sea level.
- Occurs mostly in a rain shadow with mean annual rainfall between approximately 890 mm to 1050 mm per annum, however may exceed this in patches closer the coast. The ecological community falls within a mean annual temperature range of approximately 11.5°C to 15°C.
Regional distribution and habitat
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