Appendix 1 Photographs of Study Sites

Plate A1.1 Dry heathland site at Challenger Track, West Head Ku- ring-gai Chase National Park

Plate A1.2 Wet sclerophyll – temperate rainforest at dyke, West Head in Ku- ring-gai Chase National Park

204

Plate A1.3 Dry sclerophyll heathland site along Bundeena Road in Royal National Park

Plate A1.4 Temperate rainforest site located along Bola Creek in Royal National Park (adjacent to Lady Carrington Drive walking track)

205 Appendix 2 species used in trait studies

Table A2.1 Dry sclerophyll plant species found at Challenger track, West Head Ku- ring-gai Chase National Park

# Plant species Family

Herbs and less than 0.5m tall

1 Patersonia glabrata Iridaceae

Herbs and shrubs 0.5m – 2m tall

2 Platysace linearifolia Apiaceae 3 monogyna 4 Leucopogon microphyllus Epacridaceae 5 elliptica 6 lanceolata 7 buxifolia Proteaceae 8 anethifolius Proteaceae 9 Hemigenia purpurea Lamiaceae 10 Acacia suaveolens Mimosaceae

Shrubs growing to more than 2m tall and trees

11 haemastoma Myrtaceae 12 Myrtaceae 13 Angophora hispida Myrtaceae 14 Myrtaceae 15 serrata Proteaceae 16 teretifolia Proteaceae

Table A2.2 Dry sclerophyll plant species found along Bundeena Road, Royal NP

# Plant species Family

Herbs and shrubs 0.5m – 2m tall

1 Platysace linearifolia Apiaceae 2 Caustis recurvata Cyperaceae 3 Leucopogon microphyllus Epacridaceae 4 Pultenaea elliptica Fabaceae 5 Proteaceae 6 Proteaceae 7 Proteaceae 8 Hemigenia purpurea Lamiaceae 9 Acacia suaveolens Mimosaceae

Shrubs growing to more than 2m tall and trees

10 Casuarinaceae 11 Myrtaceae 12 Corymbia gummifera Myrtaceae 13 Angophora hispida Myrtaceae 14 Leptospermum trinervium Myrtaceae 15 Proteaceae 16 Proteaceae

206 Table A2.3 Wet sclerophyll plant species found at the dyke, West Head Ku-ring gai Chase National Park

# Plant species Family

Herbs and shrubs less than 0.5m tall

1 Lepidosperma laterale Cyperaceae 2 Pteridium esculentum Dennstaedtiaceae

Herbs and shrubs 0.5m – 2m tall

3 Breynia oblongifolia Euphorbiaceae 4 Pultenaea daphnoides Fabaceae 5 Citriobatus pauciflorus Pittosporaceae 6 Pomaderris ferruginea Rhamnaceae 7 Macrozamia communis Zamiaceae

Shrubs growing to more than 2m tall and trees

8 Livistona australis Arecaceae 9 Allocasuarina torulosa Casuarinaceae 10 Pultenaea flexilis Fabaceae 11 Synoum glandulosum Meliaceae 12 Acacia floribunda Mimosaceae 13 Myrtaceae

Twiners and Vines

14 Hibbertia dentata Dilleniaceae 15 Cissus hypoglauca Vitaceae

Table A2.4 Temperate rainforest plant species found along Bola Creek, Royal NP

# Plant species Family

Herbs and shrubs less than 0.5m tall

1 Blechnum cartilagineum Blechnaceae 2 Gymnostachys anceps Araceae

Herbs and shrubs 0.5m – 2m tall

3 Wilkiea huegelianna Monimiaceae 4 Citriobatus pauciflorus Pittosporaceae 5 Tasmannia insipida Winteraceae

Shrubs growing to more than 2m tall and trees

6 Livistona australis Arecaceae 7 Doryphora sassafras Atherospermataceae 8 Ceratopetalum apetalum Cunoniaceae 9 Diospyros australis Ebenaceae 10 Trochocarpa laurina Epacridaceae 11 Syncarpia glomulifera Myrtaceae 12 Acmena smithii Myrtaceae 13 Citriobatus pauciflorus Pittosporaceae

Vines and climbers

14 Palmeria scandens Monimiaceae 15 Ripogonum album Smilacaceae

207 Plate A2.1 Dry sclerophyll plant species used in study (1)

Species: Platysace linearifolia Family: Apiaceae Desciption: Very common small , growing to 1.5 m tall. Hairless branches which may be erect or somewhat spreading. narrow to linear, up to 25 mm long. Flowers white. Compound umbels 5-7mm across Habitat: Open forest, on sandy soils Distribution: Common from coast to mountains. Flowering: November-February

www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Leucopogon microphyllus Family: Epacridaceae Description: Small, flat, firm, ovate to narrow lance shaped and obtuse leaves, usually 2-4 mm long. Plant may be erect or straggling, 30-80 cm tall. Numerous small side branches. Woolly white flowers clustered at ends of side branches. Habitat: Heath and open forest, on sandy soils Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains Flowering: May – November

www.capricornica.com; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Hemigenia purpurea Family: Lamiaceae Description: Common slender undershrub on sandy heaths around . Leaves terete, crowded, up to 15 mm long. Flowers lilac and borne singly in upper leaf axils. Habitat: Heath, on sandy soils. Distribution: Restricted to the central coast and Blue Mountains. Flowering: June - January

www.kjbeath.com.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Pultenaea elliptica Family: Fabaceae Description: Erect shrub; upright elliptical leaves crowded along stems. Leaves slightly concave, 7- 12 mm long; obtuse or pointed apex; have clear midrib. Juvenile leaves covered with long weak hairs; older mostly without hairs. Flowers reddish orange to yellow; mostly stalkless; clusters at end of leafy branchlets. Habitat: Open forest, on sandy soils Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains Flowering: September – December. www.capricornica.com; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

208 Plate A2.2 Dry sclerophyll plant species used in study (2)

Species: Hibbertia monogyna Family: Dilleniaceae Description: Erect shrub up to 50cm tall. Leaves broad up to tip and narrowed at base, up to 12mm long and wedge shaped. Broad tip often notched. Flowers have all around carpels. Carpels glabrous. Habitat: Open forest, on sandy soils. Distribution: Mainly Blue Mountains, but extending to coast. Flowering: August – October.

www.capricornica.com; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Acacia suaveolens Family: Mimosaceae Description: prostrate to erect shrub, 0.3-2.5 m high. Phyllodes narrow, slightly curved, rather erect (5-15cm long, 2-10mm wide). Distinct gland near base of phyllodes. Seed pods ± straight, ± flat, 2-5 cm long, 8-17 mm wide. Habitat: Open forest, woodland and heath, on sandy soils. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: April - September.

www.capricornica.com; (Harden, 1993) Species: spp. buxifolia Family: Proteaceae Description: Erect to spread shrub 0.5-2m high. Leaves lanceolate-ovate, under 2cm long. subumbellate to loosely subglobose. Flower heads grey as a result of dense hairs covering tube and style. Young branchlets covered in brown hairs. Habitat: Open forest and heath, on sandy soils. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains Flowering: spring to autumn.

www.anbg.gov.au; (Harden, 1993) Species: Isopogon anethifolius Family: Proteaceae Description: Erect shrub, 1-3m tall. Leaves 4- 15cm long, divided into narrow terete (needle- like) segments. Leaf segments point upwards. Stems often reddish. Flowers yellow, in dense terminal stalkless globular cones. Habitat: Shallow sandy soils, in dry eucalypt forest and heath. Distribution: Common, coast to mountains Flowering: September - December

www.anbg.gov.au; (Harden, 1993)

209 Plate A2.3 Dry sclerophyll plant species used in study (3)

Species: Hakea teretifolia Family: Proteaceae Description: spreading shrub 1-3 m high with rigid divaricate branches; Leaves often crowded, terete, 1.5-7cm long. Flowers white, with softly hairy perianth; borne in great profusion along branchlets. Fruits 30 mm long, narrow with long dagger-like point. Habitat: Scrubland and heath, in both dry and wet soils. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: late spring to early summer.

www.yallaroo.com.au; (Harden, 2002) Species: Banksia serrata Family: Proteaceae Description: shrub or tree, to 16 m high; bark warty, ± friable. Leaves alternate, ±crowded, oblong to narrow-obovate, 5-10 cm long, 15-40 mm wide, bluntly toothed. Flower spikes large, up to 16 cm long and 10 cm wide. Plant may be dwarfed on exposed coastal heaths to less than 1 m tall. Habitat: Dry open forest, heath and coastal hind dunes, on sandy soils. Distribution: Coast to mountains. Flowering: January-June . www.mpiz-koeln.mpg; (Harden, 2002) Species: Persoonia lanceolata Family: Proteaceae Description: erect to spreading shrub. Leaves oblanceolate to obovate or narrow-spathulate, 3- 10cm long, 1-2 cm wide, with a distinct tip. They are without veins, except midvein. Young branches and flower stalks often covered with soft white hairs. Fruit borne in leaf axils on very short stalks. Habitat: Open forest and heath, on sandy soils. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: Most of the year. (Harden, 2002) Species: Leptospermum trinervium Family: Myrtaceae Description: shrub to small tree, usually 2-5 m high, bark in thin flaking layers. Leaves are 10-20 mm long, oblong-elliptic and blunt. Flowers solitary or 2 together, 7-15mm diam., white. The floral tube and fruit are covered with long weak grey hairs. Habitat: Dry open forest and scrubland, on sandy soil. Distribution: Widespread and common, coast to mountains. Flowering: August – December. www.anbg.gov.au; (Harden, 2002)

210 Plate A2.4 Dry sclerophyll plant species used in study (4)

Species: Angophora hispida Family: Myrtaceae Description: malle or tree to 7m high. Loose, flaky rough bark and stiff, broad stalkless leaves in opposite pairs. Leaves dull yellowish green above and greyish beneath; obtuse at tip, usually heart shaped at base. Young branches, leaves and covered with reddish hairs. Habitat: Common on dry sandstone sites. Distribution: Confined to central coast of NSW. Flowering: October – December.

www.anbg.gov.au; (Harden, 2002) Species: Eucalyptus haemastoma Family: Myrtaceae Description: tree to 15 m with bare white and grey mottled bark showing distinctive scribbles (tunnels of moth larvae). Leaves are leathery, up to about 15 cm long and 4 cm wide. Buds are club shaped with a short rounded or broadly conical operculum; fruit conical or pyriform, 6- 9mm long. Habitat: Open forest and scrubland, on sandy soils. Distribution: Eastern NSW central coast. Flowering: Usually November – March. www.anbg.gov.au; (Harden, 2002) Species: Corymbia gummifera Family: Myrtaceae Description: Up to 15m high, but varies from mallee to tree form. Short-fibred, friable rough bark; large woody urn-shaped fruits with descending disc and deeply enclosed valves. Leaves paler on undersurface, close parallel veins at a large angle to midrib. Inflorescences large. Habitat: Low to tall open forest, on poor soils. Distribution: Coastal districts to central tablelands below 900m. Flowering: February – March.

(Fairley and Moore, 1989, p196) Species: Allocasuarina distyla Family: Casuarinaceae Description: 3m tall spreading shrub. Abundant male flower spikes give plant tan appearance. Male and female flowers on separate bushes. Leaf-teeth whorls, 6-8 around stem of each joint. Small ridges run along stems. Male spikes 7cm long; cones cylindrical with pointed ends, 20- 30mm long, rounded valves only protrude slightly. Habitat: Sandy heath and shrubland. Distribution: Common in coastal zone. Flowering: September –November www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

211 Plate A2.5 Dry sclerophyll plant species used in study (5)

Species: Patersonia glabrata Family: Iridaceae Description: Perennial herb. Leaves cauline, linear, 10-60 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, flat, finely veined, glabrous, margins minutely tomentose near base. Flowers violet. Habitat: Heath and woodland, in sandy soils. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Extending from Wilsons Promotory, Vic. to south- eastern Qld. Flowering: August – November.

montereybaynsy.com; (Harden, 1993)

Species: Caustis recurvata Family: Cyperaceae Description: Male and female spikelets are on separate stems. Male spikelets are in narrow panicles with erect branches on stems 30-60 cm high. Female spikelets have numerous crowded curved or flexuose branchlets. Habitat: Heath and dry open forest, on sandy soils. Distribution: Royal National Park. Flowering: September – October.

www.totalexports.com.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

212 Plate A2.6 Wet sclerophyll plant species used in study (1)

Species: Acacia floribunda Family: Mimosaceae Description: Small tree with pendulous branches. Phyllodes variable, 5-15 cm long, 2-10 mm wide. Flowers abundant; pale yellow, borne in loose pendulous spikes up to 6cm long. Habitat: Forested slopes, sheltered gullies, and along creek banks Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: June – September

www.wezelenburg.nl; (Harden, 2002) Species: Synoum glandulosum Family: Meliaceae Description: Common shrub or small tree. Fruit are red, 2-3cm across, 3 lobed and contain a number of cells each with 2 seeds on either side of a fleshy red aril. Leaves are compound, with 2- 4 pairs of leaflets along a common stalk and a terminal leaflet. Leaflets are elliptic-oblanceolate, tapering to a blunt point, 3-10cm long. Habitat: In and near rainforest and sheltered gullies. Distribution: Coastal zone. Flowering: March – July. www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Pultenaea daphnoides Family: Fabaceae Description: Shrub up to 3m tall. Leaves narrow at base, broad/ rounded at apex, 12-30 mm long, with short soft point. Short branchlets terminate in a dense head of yellow flowers, 2-3 cm across. Calyx, ovary and lower part of style silky-hairy. Habitat: Sheltered forests and gullies, occasionally scrubland and protected heath sites. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains Flowering: August - November

www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Pultenaea flexilis Family: Fabaceae Description: Erect shrub, up to 3m tall. Leaves alternate, flat, hairless, narrow - oblong, 1-3 cm long, 2 mm wide, small distinct point. Flowers have a short stalk, borne along stem. Calyx and ovary without hairs. Habitat: Open and sheltered forests, often in gullies. Distribution: Widespread and common from coast to mountains. Flowering: August - October

users.bigpond.net.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

213 Plate A2.7 Wet sclerophyll plant species used in study (2)

Species: Pomaderris ferruginea Family: Rhamnaceae Description: Tall shrub, to 2.5 m. Young branches and the undersurface of leaves covered with velvety loose rusty-silky hairs. Upper leaf surface hairless. Leaves are lanceolate, up to 10cm long. Floral tube is densely hairy. Flowers are with and are whitish, borne in large terminal panicles up to 10cm across. Habitat: Open forest, usually in sandstone soils. Distribution: Coast to mountains. Extending along the coastal zone from Qld to Vic. Flowering: September – October.

(Fairley and Moore, 1989, p266) Species: Syncarpia glomulifera Family: Myrtaceae Description: Common tall tree with greyish fibrous bark. Leaves opposite, thick, elliptic to lanceolate, up to 12cm long and greyish on the undersurface. Flowers are a mass of stamens in globular clusters on long stalks. Habitat: Chiefly on moist soils on forested slopes or rainforest margins, also on drier shallow soils. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: October – December.

www.anbg.gov.au; (Harden, 2002) Species: Allocasuarina torulosa Family: Casuarinaceae Description: 12-20 m tall, hard deeply furrowed bark, corky appearance. Main branches spreading-erect; smaller branchlets slender, drooping. Male and female flowers on separate trees. Leaf-teeth, whorls of 4 around stem at each joint. Cones nearly globular, 18-25 mm across, 20-30 mm long, with rough protruberances. Habitat: Forest, usually sheltered slopes or valley floors in comparatively fertile soils Flowering: May – June www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Breynia oblongifolia Family: Euphorbiaceae Description: 2m tall shrub with spreading branchlets almost parallel to ground. Leaves broadly lanceolate, alternate, up to 4 cm long, paler underneath and arranged in 2 distinct rows along thin stalks from the leaf axils. Fruit is a pendulous round berry about 6mm across. Habitat: Shady eucalypt forest; near rainforest. Distribution: Widespread and common, coast to mountains. Flowering: October – December. www.organicmatters.com.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

214 Plate A2.8 Wet sclerophyll plant species used in study (3)

Species: Macrozamia communis Family: Zamiaceae Description: Caudex or trunk usually partly buried. have from 20-100 fronds, each 70- 150 cm long with numerous dull green rigid sharp-pointed pinnae along the rhachis. Pinnae become progressively shorter and eventually spine-like towards the base. Plants develop 1-6 large male or female cones 20-50 cm long rising from centre on short stalks. Male cones are reddish; female cones are bright orange-red. Habitat: On well drained sandy soils of medium fertility in open eucalypt forest. Distribution: NSW, coast to mountains. www.palmasur.com; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Cissus hypoglauca Family: Vitaceae Description: Climber identified by its clusters of blue-black berries and its 5 digitate leaflets. Leaflets 5-10cm long, entire or toothed towards apex, pale grey-ash grey below; they are rounded at base and borne on stalks about 25 mm long. Tendrils or inflorescences are produced in short dense clusters. Fruit is 10-20 mm across. Habitat: Rainforest and sheltered gullies. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: November – December. www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Hibbertia dentata Family: Dilleniaceae Description: Leaf margins of twiner distinctly toothed. Leaves stalked, hairy and sometimes purple when young. Stems often seen trailing over lower shrubs or hanging over shaded rocks. Flowers about 3 cm across, with numerous stamens. Sepals, buds and flower-stalks hairy. Fruit is a follicle which splits to reveal orange-red seeds. Habitat: Sheltered forests and rainforest margins Flowering: August - November

montereybaynsy.com; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Pteridium esculentum Family: Dennstaedtiaceae Description: Fronds leathery, glossy or slightly dull; medium-dark green above, whitish with fine appressed hairs beneath. Lamina tripinnate- bipinnate, usually with a small lobe where each pinna joins the main rhachis. Habitat: Common in dry open forest, grassy clearings, creek banks. Distribution: All states.

www.southsister.org; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

215

Plate A2.9 Wet sclerophyll plant species used in study (4)

Species: Lepidosperma laterale Family: Cyperaceae Description: Stems are 50-100cm high, 3-5 mm wide, thin and shiny, more or less flate or slightly convex on one side or concave/convex. Leaves are thinner and shorter than stems. Both leaves and stems are sharp, minutely scabrous cutting edges. The panicle is erect, open and 6-25cm long, the lowest bract up to 18cm long, but usually about 6cm. Habitat: Widespread and common on moist sandy soils. Distribution: Coast, tablelands and western slopes. Flowering: September – March.

(Fairley and Moore, 1989, p343)

216 Plate A2.10 Temperate rainforest plant species used in study (1)

Species: Citriobatus pauciflorus Family: Pittosporaceae Description: Rigid, wiry shrub, seldom more than 1 m tall and often straggling. Small orange berries, 4-8mm across. Numerous fine thorns along branches. Leaves small, 8-12mm long, 4- 6mm wide, stalkless, and usually have prickly teeth. White bell-shaped flowers are fairly inconspicuous, solitary, axillary, petals less than 4mm long. Habitat: in or near rainforest or in tall wet forest especially on shales and richer soils. Flowering: September – December. danny.oz.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Doryphora sassafras Family: Atherospermataceae Description: Common, medium-tall tree. Aromatic leaves; opposite, 6-10cm long, broad- lanceolate, coarsely serrated and dark glossy green. Flowers on short stalks in clusters at leaf axils. Buds enclosed by 2 bracts which fall to reveal delicate white flowers. Habitat: Coastal rainforest and deep sheltered gullies. Distribution: Extending along coast and tablelands from to southern Qld. Flowering: Irregular, mainly August – Sept.

www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Diospyros australis Family: Ebenaceae Description: Up to 20m. Leaves are alternate, not toothed, hairless, 4-8cm long, elliptic and with a blunt or rounded tip. Upper surface is dark green and glossy, lower pale yellowish green. Flowers creamy green, with 4 petals about 5mm long. Fruit conspicuous, up to 20mm diameter, purple at maturity. Habitat: Rainforest. Distribution: Coastal zone. Bola Ck Royal NP. Flowering: October – December. (Fairley and Moore, 1989, p97) Species: Acmena smithii Family: Myrtaceae Description: Common small tree. Glossy leaves, opposite, broadly lanceolate, 4-8cm long, blunt point. Flowers creamy white or pinkish, small but numerous in branched clusters. Fruits round, 10- 20 mm across, crowned by circular rim of the calyx. Habitat: Coastal rainforest and sheltered places. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: November – February.

www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

217 Plate A2.11 Temperate rainforest plant species used in study (2) Species: Ceratopetalum apetalum Family: Cunoniaceae Description: Tall tree, up to 25m with smooth, whitish-grey, blotched bark. Leaves opposite, elliptic, 8-16cm long, finely toothed and a prominent swelling or joint at base of leaf-blade. Flowers lack petals, but have 5 -like sepals. Flowers white, small, form dense clusters. Sepals enlarge when fruiting. Habitat: Sheltered gullies, rainforest on talus slopes or poorer sedimentary soils. Distribution: Widespread and common, coast to mountains. Flowering: November – December. www.grevilleapark.org; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Trochocarpa laurina Family: Epacridaceae Description: Common tree or shrub. Broad, dark green, glossy leaves; light tan new growth. Leaves entire, elliptic-ovate, pointed, about 5cm long; 5-7 clear parallel veins. Flowers small, white and tubular, borne on spikes 2-3 cm long. Mature fruit dull blue-black berry. Habitat: In and near rainforest and damp sheltered eucalypt forests Distribution: Coastal eg Bola Ck, Royal NP Flowering: Chiefly January – April. www.anbg.gov.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Tasmannia insipida Family: Winteraceae Description: Up to 5 m tall, but shrubs of 1 to 2m most common. Stems often distinctive reddish colour. Leaves oblanceolate, 8-16 cm long, blunt at base and almost stalkless. Oil dots visible under lens. White flowers borne in umbels. Male and female flowers on one plant, some flowers bisexual. Fruit oval berry, red-purple as matures. Habitat: Shaded gullies and rainforest. Distribution: Extending south coast to Qld. Flowering: September – December.

www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Wilkiea huegeliana Family: Monimiaceae Description: Shrub to small tree. Leathery, dark green leaves, 7-15 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, usually serrated, very strong pattern of veins. Flowers small, unisexual, insignificant. Mature fruits consist of black ovoid berries about 12 mm long. Habitat: Rainforests or sheltered forested slopes, especially on volcanic soils. Distribution: Coastal species extending from NSW to Qld. Flowering: December – February.

(Fairley and Moore, 1989, p54)

218 Plate A2.12 Temperate rainforest plant species used in study (3) Species: Livistona australis Family: Arecaceae Description: Medium to tall tree with palmately divided leaves on long stalks which often have stout prickles along their margins. Flowers are small, yellowish and numerous, borne on a much- branched hanging panicle about 1m long. Fruits are black, hard, globular, 12-20 mm wide. Habitat: Rainforest and sheltered eucalypt forests. Distribution: Coastal zone, from south coast to northern Qld. Flowering: August – October. www.fremontica.com; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: myricoides Family: Protecaceae Description: Grows to a tall shrub or small tree to 4m tall. Leaves up to 20cm long, 2cm wide; margins are usually coarsely toothed. Flowers greenish yellow and borne from the leaf axils in loose clusters shorter than the leaves. Habitat: Gullies, creek margins and sheltered forest. Distribution: Widespread, coast to mountains. Flowering: December – January.

www.csu.edu.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989) Species: Gymnostachys anceps Family: Araceae Description: Tough upright perennial with rigid, linear, fibrous leaves, 1-2m long and up to 25 mm wide, rising from base of stem. Flowering stem flattened with sharp sandpapery margins, about as long as the leaves. Flowers stalkless, very small, with 4 scale-like perianth segments. They are borne in narrow spikes up to 15cm long. Fruit blue-black berry, globular to egg shaped, 5-10mm long, with thin white flesh enclosing a large brown seed. Habitat: Rainforest and sheltered gullies. Distribution: Chiefly coastal; south coast to Qld. Flowering: October – December. (Fairley and Moore, 1989, p324) Species: Blechnum cartilagineum Family: Blechnaceae Description: Lamina is triangular in shape with the upper pinnae alternate, confluent at their bases and directed towards the apex. Lower pinnae are the longest, often exceeding 15 cm in length and 15 mm in width. All pinnae taper to an acute apex and have fine, sharply serrated margins. Fertile pinnae are long and narrow with linear sori close and parallel to the midvein. Habitat: In open forest and rainforest in a wide variety of situations. Distribution: Qld, NSW, Vic and Tas.

www.heatonsferns.com.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

219

Plate A2.13 Temperate rainforest plant species used in study (4)

Species: Palmeria scandens Family: Monimiaceae Description: Vine. When young resembles a scrambling shrub. Leaves opposite, broadly elliptic, 5 to 13cm long, with entire margins, dark green above and rough to touch. Male and female flowers separate on same plant. Male flowers yellowish, 8-9mm across, like a flattened star. Female flowers smaller and globular. Fruit bright red globular berries. Habitat: Coastal rainforests. Distribution: Extending south coast to Qld. Flowering: Irregular, but mainly June-August. www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au; (Fairley et al., 1989) Species: Ripogonum album Family: Smilacaceae Description: Climber with leathery ovate, 8-12cm long opposite leaves that taper at both ends. Branches hairless; large branches bear prickles. Leaf stalks are short, stout and often twisted. Flowers greenish white and arranged in or spikes from the leaf axils. Habitat: Rainforest. Distribution: Coastal zone eg. Royal NP. Flowering: September – October.

www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au; (Fairley and Moore, 1989)

220