Regional ecosystem details for 3.12.3
| Regional ecosystem | 3.12.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 1, (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 136000 ha; Remnant 2021 136000 ha |
| Short description | Notophyll vine forest on granitic slopes and plateaus |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Evergreen to semi-deciduous notophyll vine forest which includes Acacia spp. (wattle), Blepharocarya involucrigera (rose butternut), Buchanania arborescens (native mango), Argyrodendron polyandrum (brown tulip oak) and Grevillea baileyana (Findlay's silky oak). There is a sparse to mid-dense sub-canopy layer and a very sparse shrub or low tree layer is usually present. Also sometimes occurs as a semi-deciduous mesophyll vine forest with the Acacia spp. absent. Occurs on granitic slopes and plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.12.3a: 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 ridges and upper slopes of the predominantly granite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 3.12.3b: A fairly even, closed canopy (12-35m tall) dominated mainly by Acacia polystachya (a wattle), A. midgleyi (brown salwood) or Blepharocarya involucrigera (rose butternut). Canarium australianum (scrub turpentine), Grevillea baileyana (Findlay's silky oak) Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany), Argyrodendron polyandrum (brown tulip oak) and Buchanania arborescens (native mango) are often present and subdominant in the canopy. Eucalyptus spp. form a sparse emergent layer (20-40m tall) in places. The sub-canopy layer (10-25 metres tall) consists of a variety of evergreen species with Cryptocarya cunninghamii (coconut laurel), C. vulgaris (northern laurel), Dysoxylum acutangulum, Endiandra glauca (coach walnut) and Chionanthus ramiflorus (native olive) the most frequent trees. A sparse, low tree layer (0.5-10m tall) is usually present. Atractocarpus sessilis (native gardenia), Diploglottis macrantha, Tabernaemontana orientalis, Cryptocarya claudiana, Wilkiea rigidifolia and Cupaniopsis flagelliformis (brown tuckeroo) are frequently present in this layer. Scattered slender vines such as Flagellaria indica (supplejack) and Tetracera nordtiana var. nordtiana, are frequent. The climbing palms, Calamus caryotoides (fish-tail lawyer vine) and C. australis (hairy mary) are often present, and form dense thickets in disturbed areas. Epiphytes such as Drynaria quercifolia are relatively scarce. A very sparse ground layer is composed of seedling trees, graminoids and ferns. Occurs on ridges and upper slopes of granite ranges. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). 3.12.3c: 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 var. leiocarpum (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 granite slopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 2b). |
| Protected areas | KULLA (McIlwraith Range) NP (CYPAL), Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP (CYPAL), Oyala Thumotang NP (CYPAL) |
| Special values | 3.12.3: Habitat for the endangered plant species Phlegmariurus carinatus, vulnerable plant species Aglaia argentea, Acriopsis emarginata, Amomum queenslandicum, Arenga australasica, Croton caudatus, Croton choristadenius, Dansiea grandiflora, Dendrobium malbrownii, Eulophia pelorica, Freycinetia marginata, Freycinetia percostata, Habenaria macraithii, Hydnophytum ferrugineum, Hypserpa polyandra var. polyandra, Lasianthus hirsutus, Paramapania parvibractea, , Phlegmariurus phlegmarioides, Phyllanthera grayi, Syzygium macilwraithianum, Torenia polygonoides and Lasjia claudiensis, and near threatened plant species Acmena mackinnoniana, Donella lanceolata, Croton brachypus, Harpullia ramiflora, Litsea macrophylla, Margaritaria indica, Pandanus zea, Planchonella xylocarpa, Syzygium aqueum. High numbers of endemic plant species. Large numbers of near threatened and uncommon butterfly species. Many fauna reach southern limits or are restricted to this unit, e.g. Eclectus parrot, butterfly species. |
| 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 | 3.12.3: Iron and McIlwraith Ranges. 3.12.3a: Iron and McIlwraith Ranges. 3.12.3b: Proposed RE 3.5.4x5 was amalgamated in to this vegetation community. Lockhart River and on Iron and McIlwraith Ranges. 3.12.3c: This unit occurs in patches too small to map. Iron and McIlwraith Ranges. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13 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.
