90 
Cunninghamia 
Vol. 1 (1): 1981 
Monocotyledons; Entolasia stricta, Lepidosperma spp., Lepyrodia scariosa, 
Lomandra spp., Schoenus spp., Xanthorrhoea media. 
Comments: On rocky ridges with shallower soils, tree height decreases. The 
understorey varies with topography, drainage and fire history. On well-drained 
slopes the understorey is sparse, while on some backward sloping sandstone benches, 
where drainage is impeded, a wetter understorey is developed. As with Community 
4, a mosiac of low open-woodland and closed to open-scrub is common. Like 
Communities 4, 4P and 13, the diversity and floristic composition may depend 
considerably on fire frequency and intensity. Small patches of the multistemmed 
“mallees” Eucalyptus luehmamiana and E. multicaulis are found within this com¬ 
munity. They are usually on the cool, southerly aspects of the higher peaks, on 
sandstone rock shelves with shallow soils and poor drainage. Their distribution is 
very restricted. They are found in small isolated patches not more than a few hundred 
meters wide. Eucalyptus luehmanniana is on Mt Kariong and just north of Warrah 
Trig. Eucalyptus multicaulis is on the southern slopes of Leochares and Scopas 
Peaks. 
Community 1 TALL OPEN-SCRUB — Mangroves. 
Structure: Composed of tall shrubs of two distinct heights (8 m and 4 m), 
reflecting the two species present (Figure 7). 
Habitat: Along tidal or on alluvial flats and islands subject to regular tidal 
inundation. Absent from areas exposed to wave action. 
Distribution: Confined to the southern half of the study area: Mooney Mooney 
Creek, particularly downstream from the Pacific Highway bridge, Mullet Creek, 
Patonga Creek and other estuarine areas e.g. Woy Woy. Since the Park Boundary 
is defined in most areas as above the high tide mark, few, if any mangroves are 
actually located within the National Park. 
Main species present: 
Shrubs: Avicennia marina var. australasica forms open-scrub up to 8 m high 
with Aegiceras corniculatum as an understorey shrub about 4 m high, usually land¬ 
ward of Avicennia. 
Comments: Differences of abundance and distribution between the two species 
depend on salinity, frequency of tidal inundation, wave action and sediment accumu¬ 
lation. The alluvial flats and islands have dense stands of Avicennia along the water’s 
edge, but grade landward into scattered Aegiceras stands surrounded by reedland/ 
rushland and Casuarina glauca woodland. Saltmarsh of Sarcocornia quinqueflora is 
only located at two sites on Patonga Creek. One of these has been severely damaged 
by trail bikes. In some areas increased sediment deposition has caused death of 
mangroves. 
Community 8 CLOSED to OPEN-SCRUB 
Structure: Shrubs 2-5 m high, dense to mid-dense, with a ground cover of 
monocotyledons (Figure 8). 
Habitat: Associated with shallow, sandy, poorly-drained soils on a wide range 
of topography, including flat ridge tops and along drainage lines; often surrounding 
sedgeland. Frequently found as understorey in open-forest and low open-forest 
(Community 4). 
Distribution: Widespread throughout the area. 
Main species present: 
Trees: Eucalyptus haemastoma, E. umbra subsp. carnea, E. gummifera. 
