Regional ecosystem details for 3.11.1
| Regional ecosystem | 3.11.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 1, (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 16000 ha; Remnant 2021 16000 ha |
| Short description | Evergreen to semi-deciduous mesophyll / notophyll vine forest on metamorphic slopes and plateaus on Iron and McIlwraith Ranges |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Evergreen to semi-deciduous mesophyll / notophyll vine forest composed of a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees. Aleurites moluccanus (candlenut), Argyrodendron polyandrum (brown tulip oak), Diospyros hebecarpa, Donella lanceolata, Dysoxylum oppositifolium (pink mahogany), Elaeocarpus arnhemicus are frequent evergreen trees Stem densities may be high in some areas. Frequent deciduous canopy trees include Berrya javanica, Canarium australianum (scrub turpentine) and Brachychiton velutinosus (brush kurrajong). These trees may occur as emergents up to 45 metres tall in places. The mid-dense sub-canopy tree layers composed of a variety of species with Cryptocarya cunninghamii, Rinorea bengalensis forma bengalensis and Strychnos minor occurring often. The palm Ptychosperma elegans (solitaire palm) is sometimes present in the sub-canopy. A very sparse shrub/low tree layer is usually present and Tritaxis australiensis (Shipton's glory), Aglaia euryanthera, C. hypospodia, Glycosmis trifoliata, Atractocarpus sessilis (native gardenia), Cleistanthus hylandii, Ixora timorensis (black berry tree) and Rinorea bengalensis forma bengalensis occur frequently. Climbing palms, such as Calamus caryotoides (fish-tail lawyer cane) and C. australis (hairy mary) and vines such as Flagellaria indica (supplejack) and Austrosteenisia blackii (bloodvine), are commonly encountered. Epiphytes are sparse. Asplenium australasicum (bird's nest fern) is the most commonly encountered species. The ground layer is very sparse and composed mainly of seedlings. Occurs on coastal ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.11.1x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 3.11.1. Evergreen to semi-deciduous mesophyll / notophyll vine forest composed of a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees. Aleurites moluccanus (candlenut), Argyrodendron polyandrum (brown tulip oak), Diospyros hebecarpa, Donella lanceolata, Dysoxylum oppositifolium (pink mahogany), Elaeocarpus arnhemicus are frequent evergreen trees Stem densities may be high in some areas. Frequent deciduous canopy trees include Berrya javanica, Canarium australianum (scrub turpentine) and Brachychiton velutinosus (brush kurrajong). These trees may occur as emergents up to 45 metres tall in places. The mid-dense sub-canopy tree layers composed of a variety of species with Cryptocarya cunninghamii, Rinorea bengalensis forma bengalensis and Strychnos minor occurring often. The palm Ptychosperma elegans (solitaire palm) is sometimes present in the sub-canopy. A very sparse shrub/low tree layer is usually present and Tritaxis australiensis (Shipton's glory), Aglaia euryanthera, C. hypospodia, Glycosmis trifoliata, Atractocarpus sessilis (native gardenia), Cleistanthus hylandii, Ixora timorensis (black berry tree) and Rinorea bengalensis forma bengalensis occur frequently. Climbing palms, such as Calamus caryotoides (fish-tail lawyer cane) and C. australis (hairy mary) and vines such as Flagellaria indica (supplejack) and Austrosteenisia blackii (bloodvine), are commonly encountered. Epiphytes are sparse. Asplenium australasicum (bird's nest fern) is the most commonly encountered species. The ground layer is very sparse and composed mainly of seedlings. Occurs on metamorphic slopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 3.11.1x1a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.1. The dense, even canopy (15-35m tall) is composed of a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees. Acacia midgleyi (brown salwood) A. polystachya (a wattle), Buchanania arborescens (native mango), Aleurites moluccanus (candlenut), Argyrodendron polyandrum (brown tulip oak), Diospyros hebecarpa, Dysoxylum oppositifolium (pink mahogany), Endiandra longipedicellata (buff walnut) and Grevillea baileyana (Findlay's silky oak) are frequent evergreen trees. Stem densities may be high in some areas. Frequent deciduous canopy trees include Berrya javanica, Canarium australianum (scrub turpentine) and Brachychiton velutinosus (brush kurrajong). These trees may occur as emergents up to 45 metres tall in places. The mid-dense sub-canopy tree layer (5-20m tall) is composed of a variety of species with Chionanthus ramiflorus (native olive), Endiandra glauca (coach walnut), Rinorea bengalensis forma bengalensis and Strychnos minor occurring often. The palm Ptychosperma elegans (solitaire palm) is sometimes present in the sub-canopy. A very sparse shrub/low tree layer (0.5-8m tall) is usually present. Tritaxis australiensis (Shipton's glory), Tabernaemontana orientalis, Wilkiea rigidifolia, Micromelum minutum (cluster berry), Atractocarpus sessilis (native gardenia), Cleistanthus hylandii, Glycosmis trifoliata, Ixora timorensis (black berry tree) and Rinorea bengalensis forma bengalensis occur frequently. Climbing palms, such as Calamus caryotoides (fish-tail lawyer cane) and C. australis (hairy mary) and vines such as Flagellaria indica (supplejack) and Austrosteenisia blackii (bloodvine), are commonly encountered. Epiphytes are sparse. Asplenium australasicum (bird's nest fern) is the most commonly encountered species. The ground layer is very sparse and composed mainly of seedlings. Occurs on metamorphic slopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 3.11.1x1b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.11.1. Deciduous and evergreen trees form a dense, more or less even canopy (20-35m tall). The deciduous trees with prominent buttressed trunks Ficus albipila var. albipila (fig) and Tetrameles nudiflora are common as emergents and can reach 45m tall. Frequent deciduous canopy trees include Nauclea orientalis (Leichhardt tree), Bombax ceiba (kapok), Semecarpus australiensis (tar tree), Terminalia sericocarpa (sovereignwood) and Wrightia laevis (white cheesewood). Castanospermum australe (black bean) is a very common component of the canopy occurring at high stem densities in some areas. Other commonly encountered, evergreen, canopy trees include Aleurites moluccanus (candlenut), Alstonia scholaris (milky pine), Argyrodendron polyandrum (brown tulip oak), Beilschmiedia obtusifolia (black walnut), Buchanania arborescens (native mango), Cryptocarya hypospodia (northern laurel), C. triplinervis var. riparia (brown laurel), Syzygium bamagense (Bamaga satinash), Ganophyllum falcatum (scaly ash), Calophyllum australianum (calophyllum) and Endiandra longipedicellata (buff walnut). The sparse to mid-dense sub-canopy tree layer (15-25m tall) is composed of a variety of species including Myristica globosa subsp. muelleri, Pisonia umbellifera (cabbage wood), Toechima daemelianum (Cape tamarind), Mallotus spp. and Garcinia spp. The palms Caryota albertii, Ptychosperma elegans (solitaire palm) and Archontophoenix tuckeri are often present. A very sparse shrub/low tree layer (1-12m tall) is usually present with Cleistanthus apodus (weeping cleistanthus), Glycosmis trifoliata, Atractocarpus sessilis (false gardenia), Leea novoguineensis (bandicoot berry), Lunasia amara var. amara, Diospyros laurina and Ixora timorensis (black berry tree) occurring frequently. Thin wiry vines such as Flagellaria indica (supplejack) are common. Climbing palms such as Calamus australis (hairy mary), C. caryotoides (fish-tail lawyer cane) and C. warburgii (wait a while) may be present. Epiphytes are sparse. The ground layer is very sparse and composed mainly of seedlings. Occurs on metamorphic slopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2d). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner and Clarkson (in prep), 6; Tracey (1982), 4 |
| Protected areas | Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP (CYPAL), KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 3.11.1: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Cadetia wariana, Donella lanceolata, Eulophia pelorica, Hydriastele costata, Phlegmariurus phlegmarioides, Planchonella xylocarpa, Syzygium aqueum. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: No deliberate fire management required within this unit. Undertake fuel reduction burns in surrounding vegetation utilising multiple small fires throughout the appropriate season to manage biodiversity values and to limit the extent and reduce risks of wildfire. ISSUES: Fire sensitive vegetation type. |
| Comments | 3.11.1: Was formerly mapped as 3.11.1x1. Cape Weymouth to McIlwraith Range. 3.11.1x1: Cape Weymouth to McIlwraith Range. 3.11.1x1a: Cape Weymouth to McIlwraith Range. 3.11.1x1b: Lockhart River. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13.1 pre-clearing and 2021 remnant regional ecosystem mapping. Figures are rounded for simplicity. For more precise estimates, including breakdowns by tenure and other themes see remnant vegetation in Queensland.
2 Superseded: Revision of the regional ecosystem classification removed this regional ecosystem code from use. It is included in the regional ecosystem description database because the RE code may appear in older versions of RE mapping and the Vegetation Management regulation.
