Benson & Fallding , Brisbane Water National Park 
89 
Main species present: 
Trees: Angophora costata, Eucalyptus gummifera, E. punctata, E. globoidea, 
E. umbra subsp. umbra, Syncarpia glomulifera. 
Shrubs: Dominated by members of the Fabaceae, Bossiaea stephensonii, 
Gompholobium spp., Pultenaea ferruginea var. deanei with Acacia linifolia, Acacia 
myrtifolia, Banksia spinulosa, Boronia pirnata, Ceratopetalum gummiferum. 
Monocotyledons: Poa affinis, Entolasia stricta, Imperata cylindrica, Lomandra 
spp. 
Comments: Variation is mainly due to fire history and soil depth. On deeper 
soils the trees are taller yet the understorey little changed. Fire alters the structure 
of the understorey but does not appear to affect greatly the floristic composition. 
This plant community is floristically distinct from other communities in the area. 
Eucalyptus globoidea, which appears to be restricted to it, is found on Wianamatta 
Shale near Sydney in areas with a similar rainfall. 
Community 5 LOW OPEN-FOREST — coastal. 
Structure: Trees stunted, usually about 5 m high; mid-dense canopy cover. 
Understorey mid-dense, varies with both “wet” and “dry” species of shrubs, mono¬ 
cotyledons and herbs. 
Habitat: Narrabeen Group: coastal situations subject to onshore winds and 
salt spray; cooler aspects, on sloping well-drained ground. 
Distribution: Restricted to the southern end of the Park near Pearl Beach. 
Common in nearby Bouddi National Park. 
Main species present: 
Trees: Banksia integrifolia, Angophora cost at a, Eucalyptus botryoides, E. umbra 
subsp. umbra. 
Shrubs: Lasiopetalum spp., Pultenaea daphnoides, Pultenaea flexilis, Westringia 
fruticosa. 
Monocotyledons: Themeda australis, Lomandra longifolia, Imperata cylindrica. 
Climbers: Cissus hypoglauca. Clematis aristata, Hardenbergia violacea. 
Comments: Tree height varies with exposure to wind and soil depth. Creeks 
running through this community are fringed by “wetter” species such as Livistona 
australis and Cissus hypoglauca. 
Community 6 LOW WOODLAND TO LOW OPEN-WOODLAND 
Structure: Trees 5-15 m (occasionally to 15 m) high with sparse canopy cover. 
Understorey varies from sparse and dry, to mid-dense and wet, with shrubs, dwarf 
shrubs, monocotyledons and herbs. Species richness is high (Figure 6). 
Habitat: Ridges, spurs and slopes with dry aspects. 
Distribution: Widespread in the south, less common in the forested north. 
Main species present: 
Trees: Angophora costata, Eucalyptus gummifera, E. eximia, E. umbra subsp. 
umbra, E. haemastoma, E. punctata. 
Shrubs and Dwarf shrubs: Floristically rich, similar to Community 4 including 
Banksia spp., Acacia spp., Hakea spp., Leptospermum spp., Boronia spp., Angophora. 
hispida', Fabaceae and Epacridaceae common. 
