Vegetation Benchmarks Rainforest and related scrub Eucryphia lucida Vegetation Condition Benchmarks version 1 Rainforest and Related Scrub RPW Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland: Sphagnum peatland facies Community Description: Athrotaxis cupressoides (5–8 m) forms small woodland patches or appears as copses and scattered small trees. On the Central Plateau (and other dolerite areas such as Mount Field), broad poorly– drained valleys and small glacial depressions may contain scattered A. cupressoides trees and copses over Sphagnum cristatum bogs. In the treeless gaps, Sphagnum cristatum is usually overgrown by a combination of any of Richea scoparia, R. gunnii, Baloskion australe, Epacris gunnii and Gleichenia alpina. This is one of three benchmarks available for assessing the condition of RPW. This is the appropriate benchmark to use in assessing the condition of the Sphagnum facies of the listed Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland community (Schedule 3A, Nature Conservation Act 2002). Benchmarks: Length Component Cover % Height (m) DBH (cm) #/ha (m)/0.1 ha Canopy 10% - - - Large Trees - 6 20 5 Organic Litter 10% - Logs ≥ 10 - 2 Large Logs ≥ 10 Recruitment Continuous Understorey Life Forms LF code # Spp Cover % Immature tree IT 1 1 Medium shrub/small shrub S 3 30 Medium sedge/rush/sagg/lily MSR 2 10 Ground fern GF 1 1 Mosses and Lichens ML 1 70 Total 5 8 Last reviewed – 2 November 2016 Tasmanian Vegetation Monitoring and Mapping Program Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/tasveg RPW Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland: Sphagnum facies Species lists: Canopy Tree Species Common Name Notes Athrotaxis cupressoides pencil pine Present as a sparse canopy Typical Understorey Species * Common Name LF Code Epacris gunnii coral heath S Richea scoparia scoparia S Richea gunnii bog candleheath S Astelia alpina pineapple grass MSR Baloskion australe southern cordrush MSR Gleichenia alpina dwarf coralfern GF Sphagnum cristatum sphagnum ML *This list is provided as a guide only. The species listed are typical of this plant community type but may not necessarily be present. Vegetation Condition Benchmarks version 1 Rainforest and Related Scrub RPW Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland: coniferous heathland facies Community Description: Athrotaxis cupressoides (5–8 m) forms small woodland patches or appears as copses and scattered small trees. In the west A. cupressoides is scattered over a diverse understorey of coniferous heath, with Microcachrys tetragona and sometimes Pherosphaera hookeriana, and sparse Nothofagus gunnii present. This is one of three benchmarks available for assessing the condition of RPW. This is the appropriate benchmark to use in assessing the condition of the coniferous heathland facies of the listed Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland community (Schedule 3A, Nature Conservation Act 2002). Benchmarks: Length Component Cover % Height (m) DBH (cm) #/ha (m)/0.1 ha Canopy 10% - - - Large Trees - 6 20 5 Organic Litter 10% - Logs ≥ 10 - 2 Large Logs ≥ 10 Recruitment Continuous Understorey Life Forms LF code # Spp Cover % Immature tree IT 1 5 Medium shrub/small shrub S 12 20 Prostrate shrub PS 2 20 Herbs and orchids H 4 5 Grasses G 1 5 Medium sedge/rush/sagg/lily MSR 2 10 Ground fern GF 1 5 Mosses and Lichens ML 1 5 Total 8 24 Last reviewed – 2 November 2016 Tasmanian Vegetation Monitoring and Mapping Program Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/tasveg RPW Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland: coniferous heath facies Species lists: Canopy Tree Species Common Name Notes Athrotaxis cupressoides pencil pine Present as a sparse canopy Emergent Tree Species Common Name Notes Eucalyptus coccifera tasmanian snow gum Scattered trees only, when present Eucalyptus gunnii cider gum Scattered trees only, when present Eucalyptus subcrenulata alpine yellow gum Scattered trees only, when present Eucalyptus subcrenulata alpine yellow gum Scattered trees only, when present Typical Understorey Species * Common Name LF Code Nothofagus gunnii deciduous beech T Coprosma nitida mountain currant S Diselma archeri dwarf pine S Grevillea australis var. montana alpine grevillia S Microcachrys tetragona creeping pine S Microstrobos niphophilus mount mawson pine S Nothofagus gunnii deciduous beech S Orites revolutus revolute orites S Orites acicularis yellow bush S Planocarpa petiolaris alpine cheeseberry S Richea scoparia scoparia S Richea sprengelioides rigid candleheath S Tasmannia lanceolata mountain pepper S Abrotanella forsteroides tasmanian cushionplant PS Donatia novae-zelandiae snow cushionplan PS Dracophyllum minimum heath cushionplant PS Leptospermum rupestre mountain teatree PS Pentachondra pumila carpet frillyheath PS Podocarpus lawrencei mountain plum pine PS Bellendena montana mountain rocket H Boronia rhomboidea broadleaf boronia H Euphrasia striata shiny striped eyebright H Poa gunnii gunns snowgrass G Empodisma minus spreading roperush MRS Eurychorda complanata flat cord-rush MSR Gleichenia alpina alpine coralfern GF *This list is provided as a guide only. The species listed are typical of this plant community type but may not necessarily be present. Vegetation Condition Benchmarks version 1 Rainforest and Related Scrub RPW Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland: blockfield and riparian facies Community Description: Athrotaxis cupressoides (5–8 m) forms small open woodland patches or appears as copses or scattered small trees. The canopy does not exceed 20%. This is the major expression of RPW, and most commonly occurs on the eastern half and northern edge of the Central Plateau. A. cupressoides occurs as a sparse canopy of trees or as copses on blockfields and along creek lines and lakeshores often with Podocarpus lawrencei and occasionally Diselma archeri and a diverse shrubby understorey. This is one of three benchmarks available for assessing the condition of RPW, and is the appropriate benchmark to use in assessing the condition of the blockfield and riparian facies of the listed Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland community (Schedule 3A, Nature Conservation Act 2002). Benchmarks: Length Component Cover % Height (m) DBH (cm) #/ha (m)/0.1 ha Canopy 10% - - - Large Trees - 6 20 5 Organic Litter 10% - Logs ≥ 10 - 10 Large Logs ≥ 10 Recruitment Continuous Understorey Life Forms LF code # Spp Cover % Immature tree IT 1 1 Tree (sub-canopy) or large shrub T 1 5 Medium shrub/small shrub S 10 40 Prostrate shrub PS 1 10 Herbs and orchids H 2 5 Medium sedge/rush/sagg/lily MSR 1 5 Mosses and Lichens ML 1 5 Total 7 17 Last reviewed – 2 November 2016 Tasmanian Vegetation Monitoring and Mapping Program Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/tasveg RPW Athrotaxis cupressoides open woodland: blockfield and riparian facies Species lists: Canopy Tree Species Common Name Notes Athrotaxis cupressoides pencil pine A. cupressoides present as a sparse canopy Emergent Tree Species Common Name Notes Eucalyptus coccifera tasmanian snow gum Scattered trees only, when present Typical Understorey Species * Common Name LF Code Eucalyptus coccifera tasmanian snow gum T Eucalyptus subcrenulata alpine yellow gum T Coprosma nitida mountain currant S Grevillea australis southern grevillea S Leptospermum rupestre mountain teatree S Olearia pinifolia prickly daisybush S Orites revolutus revolute orites S Diselma archeri dwarf pine S Orites acicularis yellow bush S Planocarpa petiolaris alpine cheeseberry S Tasmannia lanceolata mountain pepper S Podocarpus lawrencei mountain plum pine PS Bellendena montana mountain rocket H Richea sprengelioides rigid candleheath H Lepidosperma filiforme common rapiersedge MSR *This list is provided as a guide only. The species listed are typical of this plant community type but may not necessarily be present. Vegetation Condition Benchmarks version 1 Rainforest and Related Scrub RPP Athrotaxis cupressoides rainforest: Sphagnum peatland facies Community Description: Athrotaxis cupressoides rainforest (RPP) is open or closed montane forest vegetation dominated by Athrotaxis cupressoides, where Nothofagus gunnii is absent or sparse. The Sphagnum peatland variant generally occurs as an open forest over Sphagnum. The understorey may include shrubs such as Richea species and the sedge Empodisma minus. This is one of three benchmarks available to assess the condition of RPP. It is the appropriate benchmark to use in assessing the condition of the Sphagnum peatland facies of the listed Athrotaxis cupressoides rainforest community (Schedule 3A, Nature Conservation Act 2002. Benchmarks: Length Component Cover % Height (m) DBH (cm) #/ha (m)/0.1 ha Canopy 40% - - - Large Trees - 12 60 200 Organic Litter 40% - Logs ≥ 10 - 20 Large Logs ≥ 30 Recruitment Continuous Understorey Life Forms LF code # Spp Cover % Immature tree IT 1 5 Tree (sub-canopy) or large shrub T 2 5 Medium shrub/small shrub S 2 5 Herbs and orchids H 2 5 Large sedge/rush/sagg/lily LSR 2 1 Medium sedge/rush/sagg/lily MSR 1 5 Ground fern GF 1 5 Mosses and Lichens ML 1 70 Total 8 12 Last reviewed – 2 November 2016 Tasmanian Vegetation Monitoring and Mapping Program Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/tasveg RPP Athrotaxis cupressoides rainforest: Sphagnum peatland facies Species lists: Canopy Tree Species Common Name Notes Athrotaxis cupressoides pencil pine Eucalyptus coccifera snow gum Sub-dominant Phyllocladus aspleniifolius celery top pine Sub-dominant