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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.
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.
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.
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 vegetation of Mount Canobolas State Recreation Area (1673 ha), 14 km southwest of Orange (33°21’S, 154°59’E) in the Shire of Cabonne on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales is described. A floristic survey of 50x0.04 ha plots was conducted in November 1999. Seven communities are defined based on flexible UPGMA analysis of abundance scores of vascular plant taxa. Mapping of these communities is based on ground truthing, air photo interpretation and substrate. A total of 309 taxa was recorded including two species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995: Eucalyptus canobolensis and Eucalyptus saxicola. Additionally the reserve contains the Mount Canobolas Xanthoparmelia lichen community recently listed on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. This paper describes the seven communities and discusses their significance and distribution within the Recreation Area. A vegetation map and species list are provided.
The vegetation of Burnt Down Scrub Nature Reserve, 15 km south west of Baryugil in the Parish of Carnham on the North Coast of New South Wales is described. A floristic survey of 28x0.04 ha plots was conducted in December of 1999. Five communities are defined based on flexible UPGMA analysis of abundance scores of vascular plant taxa. These communities are mapped based on ground truthing, air photo interpretation and substrate.
A total of 355 vascular plant taxa was recorded including four species listed as rare or threatened: Marsdenia liisae, Olearia heterocarpa, Sarcochilus weinthalii and Tinospora smilacina. This paper describes the communities and discusses their significance and distribution within the Nature Reserve. A vegetation map and species list are provided.
A brief assessment is made of the adequacy of the formal conservation reserve network within the Inverell and Yallaroi Shires, around Inverell and Warialda, northern New South Wales. The current reserve network consists of two National Parks (Kings Plains & Kwiambal) and three Nature Reserves (Arakoola, Planchonella & Severn River), sampling 2% of the area of the two shires. 62% of the known vascular plant taxa (746 native, 144 exotic) have been recorded within the five reserves, including 27 of the 48 taxa listed as rare or threatened within the shires. Of 30 vegetation communities found within the five reserves, only 13 were considered adequate in terms of extent or condition. Of 18 communities found on basalt, limestone or alluvial soils, only 12% of their area was considered to be good quality stands. 26 communities were only represented in one reserve. Nine Endangered Ecological Communities are listed for the two shires, only four of which are within the formal reserves. The capture and status of assemblages and flora within the five reserves in the Inverell and Yallaroi Shires is inadequate and many of the species and communities contained warrant additional conservation within the formal conservation network.
The vegetation of Ironbark Nature Reserve (1603 ha) and Bornhardtia Voluntary Conservation Agreement (704 ha), 75 km north west of Armidale, 30 km north east of Barraba (30°19’S, 150°53’E) in the Barraba Shire, in the Northern Tablelands Bioregion NSW, is described. Eleven communities are defined based on flexible UPGMA analysis of coverabundance scores of all vascular plant taxa. These communities are mapped based on ground truthing, air photo interpretation and substrate. All communities are simple in structure being primarily of woodlands or shrublands.
Communities described are: (1) Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark) – Eucalyptus blakelyi (Red Gum) Woodlands, (2) Eucalyptus caleyi (Caley’s Ironbark) – Eucalyptus andrewsii (Western New England Blackbutt) Woodlands, (3) Eucalyptus prava (Orange Gum) – Eucalyptus andrewsii (Western New England Blackbutt) Woodlands, (4) Eucalyptus dealbata (Tumbledown Gum) – Eucalyptus caleyi (Caley’s Ironbark) Woodlands, (5) Eucalyptus prava (Orange Gum) – Eucalyptus blakelyi (Red Gum) Woodlands, (6) Eucalyptus quinniorum (Quinn’s Gum) – Eucalyptus prava (Orange Gum) Forests, (7) Angophora floribunda (Rough-barked Apple) – Eucalyptus blakelyi (Red Gum) Woodlands, (8) Casuarina cunninghamiana (River Oak) – Eucalyptus blakelyi (Red Gum) – Angophora floribunda (Apple) Forests, (9) Calytrix tetragona (Fringe Myrtle) – Ozothamnus obcordatus (Daisy Bush) Open Shrublands, (10) Homoranthus bornhardtiensis Open Shrublands and (11) Leptospermum polygalifolium (Tea-tree) Wetland.
All communities described here are inadequately represented in the conservation network with one (White-Box – Yellow-Box – Blakely's Red Gum Woodland) listed as endangered on the NSW TSC Act. Both conservation areas and neighbouring parcels of land contain extensive areas of little disturbed high quality "old growth". 38 species are of conservation significance of which one is listed as Vulnerable and one Endangered on the NSW TSC Act. The broader remnant is under increasing pressure for clearing for grazing production and the combined area of both reserves is considered to be inadequate to protect the significant features of the local region.
The vegetation of Arakoola Nature Reserve (3189 ha), 29°17’S, 150°48’E, 100 km north-west of Inverell, in north western New South Wales is described. Seven vegetation communities are defined based on flexible UPGMA analysis of cover-abundance scores of all vascular plant taxa. These communities are mapped based on ground-truthing, air photo interpretation and geological substrate. They are: Community 1: Eucalyptus albens (White Box) – Eucalyptus melanophloia (Silver-leaved Ironbark) Basalt Woodland, Community 2: Angophora leiocarpa (Smooth-barked Apple) – Corymbia dolichocarpa (Long-fruited Bloodwood) Sandstone Woodland, Community 3: Angophora leiocarpa (Smoothbarked Apple) – Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark) Woodland, Community 4: Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass) Grassland, Community 5: Herbfield/Sedgeland, Community 6: Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red Gum) – Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) Riparian Woodland, Community 7: Angophora floribunda (Rough-barked Apple) – Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush) Riparian Woodland.
There are 23 taxa considered significant within Arakoola Nature Reserve including the twining herb Desmodium campylocaulon and the shrub Pomaderris queenslandica (listed as Endangered under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act), and the grasses Dichantheum setosum and Bothriochloa biloba, and the perennial herbs Goodenia macbarroni and Thesium australe (all listed as Vulnerable under the TSC Act). A comprehensive species list of about 450 plant species is given for the Nature Reserve.
The vegetation of Basket Swamp National Park (2820 ha), 30 km north east of Tenterfield (28°54’S, 152°09’E) in the Tenterfield Shire, in the Northern Tablelands Bioregion NSW, is described. Seven vegetation communities are mapped based on survey of plots, subsequent ground-truthing, air photo interpretation and substrate.
Communities described are: (1) Eucalyptus campanulata (Blackbutt) – Eucalyptus cameronii (Diehard Stringybark) Open Forests, (2) Eucalyptus campanulata (Blackbutt) – Eucalyptus cameronii (Diehard Stringybark) Grassy Open Forests, (3) Leptospermum trinervium (Tea-tree) – Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. transmontanum (Creek Tea-tree) Riparian Scrub, (4) Leptospermum trinervium (Tea-tree) – Kunzea obovata (Pink Kunzea) – Leptospermum novae-angliae (New England Tea-tree) Heaths & Shrublands, (5) Ceratopetalum apetalum (Coachwood) – Lophostemon confertus (Brush Box) Closed Forest, (6) Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate) – Eucalyptus campanulata (Blackbutt) Tall Open Forests, and (7) Baeckea omissa (Baeckea) – Baloskion stenocoleum (Sedge) Heathy Sedgelands.
All but two communities (3 & 7) were considered adequately reserved locally, no listed endangered or vulnerable communities were found. Thirty-six taxa were considered to be of conservation significance of which two are listed as vulnerable on Schedule 2 of the NSW TSC Act.A further nine have been reported under the RoTAP criteria.