Benson, Vegetation of Upper Mangrove Creek 
13 
Figure 6. Eucalyptus eximia-E. gummifera-E. punctata woodland showing E. racemosa and E. 
gummifera with Xanthorrhoea media. 
The main tree species are Angophora costata (Smooth-barked Apple) and 
Eucalyptus piperita subsp. piperita (Sydney Peppermint), though in moist gullies 
Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine) is frequent. Small trees of Casuarina torulosa 
and Acacia elata are often present. The characteristic understorey is a mid-dense 
to open layer of shrubs less than 1 m high together with ferns, predominantly 
Pteridium esculentum. Common shrub species are Acacia ulicifolia, Platysace 
linearifolia, Oxylobium ilicifolium, Pultenaea flexilis and Persoonia linearis. 
Doryanthes excelsa (Gymea Lily) may be locally abundant. 
Boundaries are generally abrupt with Eucalyptus tereticornis-E. eugenioides 
open-forest and transitional or abrupt with Eucalyptus eximia-E. gummifera-E. 
punctata woodland. 
The Angophora costata-E. piperita open-forest is essentially undisturbed though 
there has been some localized logging of larger trees, particularly Syncarpia 
glomulifera. The community is widespread on sandstone country around Sydney. 
Examples are preserved in Dharug National Park. 
Eucalyptus eximia-Eucalyptus gummifera-Eucalyptus punctata WOODLAND 
This community ranges in height from about 8 to 16 m and in density from 
woodland to open-forest, varying with exposure. It is confined to Hawkesbury 
Sandstone ridges and plateaux, on exposed, principally northerly and westerly, 
aspects. 
Tree species vary with changes in aspect, slope and soil depth. Common species 
are Eucalyptus gummifera (Red Bloodwood), E. eximia (Yellow Bloodwood), E. 
oblonga (Narrow-leaved Stringybark), E. punctata (Grey Gum), E. racemosa (Scribbly 
Gum) and Angophora bakeri (Narrow-leaved Apple). The understorey is mid-dense 
to open with sclerophyllous shrubs up to 1 m high. Typical species are Banksia 
aspleniifolia, Leptospermum attenuatum, Phyllota phylicoides, Lambertia formosa 
and Acacia ulicifolia. 
Boundaries with the adjacent Angophora costata-E. piperita open-forest are 
transitional or abrupt. 
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