Benson & Fallding, Brisbane Water National Park 
85 
Herbs: Pomax umbellata, Dampiera stricta in coastal areas. 
Others: Kennedia rubicunda, Cassytha spp., Glycine clandestine/ (climbers), 
Pteridium esculentum (fern). 
Comments: Variation is the result of fire history and differences in aspect; 
sheltered aspects have taller trees and moister understoreys. Callitris muelleri 
occurs in the south near Warrah but not to the north. Areas that have been 
frequently or recently burnt have ground cover dominated by Imperata cylindrica 
and Pteridium esculentum. 
Community 2 B OPEN-FOREST with moist understorey on Narrabeen Group. 
Structure: Trees 10-30 m high with mid-dense canopy cover and moist under¬ 
storey of varying density, comprising small trees, shrubs, herbs and monocotyledons. 
Habitat: Valleys or on lower valley slopes, on clayey soils, often around pockets 
of closed-forest (Community 1). 
Distribution: Widespread, but most common north of the Pacific Highway, in 
the Mooney Mooney Creek Catchment and Strickland State Forest. Also along 
Mullet Creek on cool, southeastern aspects. 
Main species present: 
Trees: Eucalyptus deanei, E. acmenoides, Angophora floribunda, Casuarina 
torulosa, Syncarpia glomulifera. 
Shrubs: Acmena smithii, Backhousia myrtifolia, Acacia prominens, Ficus 
rubiginosa, Rapanea variabilis. 
Ferns: Doodia aspera, Culcita dubia, Pteridium esculentum. 
Monocotyledons: Imperata cylindrica, Themeda australis, Lomandra spp. 
Herbs: Hydrocotyle spp., Pomax umbellata, Schelhammera undulata. 
Others: Climbers such as Hibbertia scandens, H. dentata, Cissus bypoglattca , 
Smilax spp. 
Comments: Variation is due to aspect, topographic situation, proximity to 
estuaries and fire history. There is a dense shrub cover where it surrounds pockets 
of closed-forest (Community 1) and also in the more constricted valleys north of the 
Pacific Highway. In these areas the incidence of fire is lower. In areas that have 
been frequently burned, e.g. along Mooney Mooney Creek near the Pacific Highway 
crossing, the understorey tends to be more open and dominated by Pteridium 
esculentum and Imperata cylindrica. Structure and composition change from north 
to south. In the upper Mooney Mooney Catchment the community tends to be 
taller and Eucalyptus acmenoides is common. Further south, tree height decreases 
and E. acmenoides disappears. 
Community 3 OPEN-FOREST—coastal alluvial flats. 
Structure: Trees up to 25 m high, mid-dense canopy cover. Understorey 
moist to dry with shrubs, monocotyledons and herbs. 
Habitat: Coastal alluvial flats, cool aspects sheltered from strong winds by 
beachfront and foredunes. Soil sandy, deep, sometimes poorly-drained. 
Distribution: Very restricted, being found behind Pearl Beach but nowhere 
within the Park; it may have been more widespread before urban development. 
Main species present: 
Trees: Angophora floribunda. Eucalyptus maculata, E. botryoides, E. punctata, 
Li vis ton a australis. 
