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A floristic survey of 40 x 0.1 ha plots within the Demon Nature Reserve, 30 km east-south-east (lat. 29°05'S, long 152°15'E) of Tenterfield, was conducted in March, 1997. The Reserve (887 hectares in area) is on a western facing escarpment ranging from 500–1000 m above sea level. The survey data were analysed and seven vegetation communities defined. This paper describes the seven communities and discusses their significance and distribution within the reserve. A vegetation map and plant species list are provided.
The first collections of Eucalyptus cannonii were made by R.T. Baker in 1892, during collecting trips to the Rylstone and Goulburn River areas. Although Baker (1896) made numerous notes on many of the plants collected at that time, he made no remarks on the variation in Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (which then included Eucalyptus cannonii) despite claiming so in his later description of the taxon (Baker 1919).
Recognition of the variation shown in what was to become Eucalyptus cannonii was given by Maiden (1907) in his "Critical revision of the genus Eucalyptus" (as Eucalyptus macrorhyncha "grandiflora" form). Maiden highlighted the collections made by Baker from Rylstone and Mt Vincent as being coarser in form with a very prominent rim.
Baker (1919) described this taxon as Eucalyptus cannonii, named after Herbarium assistant Mr D. Cannon. Despite Maiden's comments, Baker (1919) indicated that data presented to him by Mr G. Harris (collector of the material cited by Baker) convinced him of the distinctiveness of the taxon. Eucalyptus cannonii was separated from Eucalyptus macrorhyncha on the shape of the fruit, buds, inflorescence and features of the timber and bark.
Penfold and Willis (1961) considered Eucalyptus cannonii to be distinctive local race of E. macrorhyncha and Johnson and Blaxell (1973) reduced E. cannonii to a subspecies of E. macrorhyncha, based on the intergradation where their ranges overlap. Hill (1991) retained specific status for Eucalyptus cannonii.
The vegetation of Kwiambal National Park and surrounds, 30 km north-west of Ashford (29°07'S, 150°58'E) in the Inverell Shire on the North Western Slopes, is described. Eight plant communities are defined based on flexible UPGMA analysis of relative abundance scores of vascular plant taxa. These communities are mapped based on ground truthing, air photo interpretation and geological substrate. All communities are of woodland structure and most are dominated by Callitris glaucophylla, Eucalyptus melanophloia and Eucalyptus dealbata. Communities are: 1) Mixed Stand Woodland (Dry Rainforest), 2) Granite Woodland, 3) Metasediment Woodland, 4) Riverine, 5) Metabasalt Woodland, 6) Granite Open Woodland, 7) Limestone Woodland, and 8) Alluvial Woodland.
Many of the taxa (407 species were recorded) show phytogeographic affinities with western south-east Queensland flora. This is also true of the communities defined. Five ROTAP listed species have been found in the Park: Acacia williamsiana, Astrotricha roddii, Euphorbia sarcostemmoides, Olearia gravis and Thesium australe, three of these are listed on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995). Another ten taxa are considered to be at their geographic limit or disjunct in their distribution. 17% are exotic in origin.
During recent surveys within north-eastern New South Wales new records of range extensions for some significant plant taxa were recorded. The implications for the conservation status of each taxon in terms of their ROTAP status (Briggs & Leigh 1996) are discussed. It is important that management decisions concerning rare taxa are made using the most up-to-date information possible, hence the need to report new distributions and suggest changes in conservation status. Vouchers of all taxa discussed have been lodged at the NCW Beadle Herbarium at the Division of Botany, University of New England and/or at the Herbarium of the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, Coffs Harbour. In the following notes National Park is abbreviated to NP and Nature Reserve to NR.