MU 44 SANDSTONE PLATEAUX TEA TREE – DWARF SHEOAK – ROCKY HEATH ‰ CORRESPONDING CLASSIFICATIONS Regional: HL124 Blue Mountains Heath State: Sydney Montane Heath Number of Sites: 6 Average number of identified native species per plot: 27.2

‰ DESCRIPTION The Newnes Plateau and adjoining sandstone escarpments support a low heath community that grows on rock plates and rock terraces amongst rock pagodas and cliff edges. This patchy though widespread community is characterised by three consistently occurring species; dwarf she oak (Allocasuarina nana), , and tea tree ( arachnoides). The groundcover is rarely more than localised in nature, with sedges (particularly Lepidosperma) being the dominant cover, and the small shrub Platysace linearifolia also common. The dwarf triggerplant (Stylidium lineare) is a ubiquitous member of the community. The unit is found in areas of shallow to skeletal soils over the iron-banded sandstones of the Triassic era Narrabeen series. The soils are loamy sands or earthy sands, freely draining and often dry, although groundwater seepage may sustain the community in many places. The altitude range occupied by the community extends from 760 to 1160 metres above sea level (most commonly over 950 metres), and precipitation values are between 700 millimetres and 1080 millimetres per annum. The community is part of the Blue Mountains Heath of Tindall et al. (2004), and as such is part of the Sydney Montane Heath of Keith (2004). Extensive areas are included within the Blue Mountains reserve system.

‰ STRUCTURAL SUMMARY Stratum Count AvLowHt AvHt maxHt AvCover SDcover minCover maxCover E 2 1.75 4.50 6 2 1.41 1 3 T 4 4.15 6.75 20 27.50 16.58 15 50 M1 2 4.05 6.25 12 22.50 3.54 20 25 M2 1 2 4 4 10 10 10 L1 4 0.10 0.63 1 25 23.09 5 45 Note that not all sites in the mapping unit have structural data.

‰ FLORISTIC SUMMARY

Emergents (mostly low trees) Banksia ericifolia, Eucalyptus piperita Low Trees and Shrubs Allocasuarina nana, Baeckea brevifolia, dactyloides (includes H. laevipes), , anemonifolius, Leptospermum arachnoides, Leptospermum grandifolium, , Leucopogon

136 The Vegetation of the Western Blue Mountains lanceolatus, silaifolia, Micromyrtus ciliata, Monotoca scoparia, pulchella, Philotheca obovalis, Platysace lanceolata Ground Covers Dampiera stricta, Gonocarpus teucrioides, Goodenia bellidifolia, Laxmannia gracilis, Lepidosperma laterale, Lepidosperma tortuosum, Lomandra confertifolia, Lomandra glauca, Lomandra longifolia, Patersonia longifolia, Platysace linearifolia, Poa sieberiana, Pteridium esculentum, Stylidium lineare Vines & Climbers Billardiera scandens, Cassytha racemosa ‰ KEY IDENTIFYING FEATURES

Easily recognisable features to assist in identifying this map unit are: • Plentiful areas of exposed (usually Narrabeen sandstone) bare rock, with shallow to skeletal soils and pockets of vegetation. • Vegetation predominantly low shrubs with Allocasuarina nana, leptospermums and other ‘heath’ species. Often has a large number of the dwarf Stylidium lineare in shallow sandy-soil pockets.

‰ EXAMPLE LOCATIONS Newnes Plateau, mainly around the edges of the sandstone escarpments. Also found in Ben Bullen – Gardens of Stone and Mount Airly – Genowlan, with some small areas on headlands and promontories on the eastern side of the Capertee Valley.

The Vegetation of the Western Blue Mountains 137 ‰ CONDITION ASSESSMENT Disturbance Class Area (ha) Proportion Extant (%) A Low 797.56 75.67 B Medium 88.25 8.37 C High 168.13 15.95 Total 1053.94 100

‰ THREATENED SPECIES

Possible: Acacia flocktoniae, Darwinia peduncularis, Euphrasia bowdeniae, evansiana, Leionema sympetalum, Leucopogon fletcheri, Prostanthera stricta, Prostanthera cryptandroides ‰ DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES Species Name Group Score Group Freq Non Group Non Group Freq Fidelity Class (%) Score (%) Allocasuarina nana 4 100.00 2 3.20 positive Banksia ericifolia 3 90.91 1 2.08 positive Dillwynia rudis 2 18.18 0 0.00 positive Epacris microphylla 2 72.72 2 3.77 positive Gonocarpus teucrioides 2 54.55 2 17.01 positive Goodenia bellidifolia 2 54.55 2 10.51 positive Goodenia stelligera 1 18.18 0 0.00 positive 2 63.64 2 10.67 positive Hibbertia serpyllifolia 2 36.36 2 2.72 positive 2 72.72 2 7.06 positive Lepidosperma laterale 2 63.64 2 12.44 positive Leptospermum arachnoides 2 81.82 2 3.05 positive Leptospermum blakelyi 1 9.09 0 0.00 positive Leptospermum trinervium 2 63.64 2 8.10 positive Lomandra glauca 2 45.45 2 25.12 positive 2 45.45 2 5.69 positive Platysace linearifolia 2 90.91 2 7.70 positive Ptilothrix deusta 3 36.36 2 0.72 positive Schoenoplectus validus 1 9.09 0 0.00 positive Stylidium lineare 2 45.45 1 1.92 positive Lomandra filiformis 0 0.00 2 36.52 negative Lomandra longifolia 0 0.00 2 39.88 negative Poa sieberiana 2 9.09 2 40.21 negative

138 The Vegetation of the Western Blue Mountains