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Regional ecosystem details for 3.5.7

Regional ecosystem 3.5.7
Vegetation Management Act class Least concern
Wetlands Not a Wetland
Biodiversity status No concern at present
Extent in reserves This regional ecosystem is now mapped as part of either 3.5.37 or 3.5.39.
Short description Eucalyptus tetrodonta +/- Corymbia clarksoniana woodland on sand plains
Structure code Woodland
Description [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as part of either 3.5.37 or 3.5.39. Woodland of Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) and/or Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood). Both the very sparse to sparse sub-canopy and shrub layers can contain a range of species. There are a range of communities contributing to this regional ecosystem. Occurs extensively on low rises and erosional plains both east and west of the Great Dividing Range in southern and eastern Cape York Peninsula. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).

Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include:
3.5.7a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.5.37a (part), 3.5.39 (part). Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) predominates forming a sparse canopy (12-28m tall). Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) is often present and sometimes codominant in the canopy. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) is also frequently present in both the canopy and the very sparse to sparse sub-canopy tree layer (3-14m tall). Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), Erythroxylum ellipticum (matchwood), Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapwood), Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Melaleuca nervosa (woodland paperbark) are other common sub-canopy trees. A very sparse to sparse shrub layer (0.3-2.5m tall) is composed of a variety of young trees and shrubby regrowth. The ground layer is usually very sparse to mid-dense and dominated by grasses, usually Schizachyrium spp. (firegrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Panicum spp. (native panic), Aristida spp. (three-awn speargrass), Alloteropsis semialata (cockatoo grass) and Thaumastochloa spp. Occurs extensively on low rises and erosional plains both east and west of the Great Dividing Range in southern Cape York Peninsula. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
3.5.7b: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is not mapped. Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) or Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) usually dominate the canopy (14-20m tall) and Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) and Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis (gum-topped bloodwood) occur frequently as subdominant canopy species. The shrub and ground layers are similar to 3.5.7a. Mainly occurring on sandy depositional plains on the Edward/Coleman Fan. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
3.5.7c: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is not mapped. This vegetation community is a woodland (14-16m tall) dominated by Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) with scattered C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) and Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree) in the canopy. M. nervosa (woodland paperbark), Petalostigma pubescens (quinine tree) and Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg) are frequent sub-canopy trees (7-10m tall). Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grasstree) dominates the very sparse shrub layer (1.0-2.5m). Acacia humifusa (a wattle), Alphitonia pomaderroides, Croton arnhemicus (hard cascarilla) and Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) also commonly encountered in this layer. This unit is restricted to sandy depositional plains overlying granitic and metamorphic bedrock in the central Peninsula. Restricted to sandy depositional plains overlying granitic and metamorphic bedrock in the central Peninsula. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
3.5.7d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.5.39. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) predominates forming a sparse to mid-dense canopy. Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) is often present and sometimes codominant in the canopy. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood), C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash) and Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp mahogany) may be frequently present in the canopy. The very sparse to sparse sub-canopy tree layer includes Acacia flavescens (powderpuff wattle), Parinari nonda (nonda plum), Grevillea parallela (silver oak), E. chlorostachys ,Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), Erythroxylum ellipticum (matchwood), Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapwood), Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Melaleuca nervosa (woodland paperbark) or Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree). Livistona muelleri (dwarf fan palm) may be common in the sub-canopy tree layer and dominated this layer at one site. The very sparse shrub layer is composed of a variety of young trees and shrubby regrowth. The ground layer is usually sparse to mid-dense and dominated by Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern cane grass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass) or Aristida spp. Occurs on colluvial fans. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
3.5.7e: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is not mapped. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) dominates the sparse canopy (18-20m tall) with Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) a subdominant canopy tree. The distinctive mid-dense sub-canopy tree layer (8-10m tall) is dominated by Asteromyrtus brassii and Neofabricia myrtifolia (yellow teatree). Occurs on sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
3.5.7x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 9.5.8. Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus cullenii (Cullen's ironbark) and Corymbia hylandii (Hyland's bloodwood) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) +/- C. tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash) +/- Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). Occurs on undulating Tertiary residual surfaces. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18b).
3.5.7x2a: [RE not in use]²: This proposed new vegetation community is now mapped as 3.5.39. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) dominates the sparse canopy (10-25m tall). Other Eucalyptus spp. or Corymbia spp. may be present in the canopy and are occasionally codominant. Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and C. disjuncta or E. leptophleba (Molloy red box) occur most frequently. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) may also be codominant in the canopy. Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis (gum-topped bloodwood) and C. nesophila (Melville Island bloodwood) occur less frequently and are rarely codominant. Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree), Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), G. parallela (silver oak) and Parinari nonda (nonda) are the most commonly encountered species in the very sparse to sparse sub-canopy layer (3-16m tall). The very sparse to sparse shrub layer (0.5-4m tall) usually includes Croton arnhemicus (hard cascarilla), Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Xylomelum scottianum (woody pear), Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Planchonia careya and Coelospermum reticulatum (medicine bush). The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by the grasses Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Eulalia mackinlayi (brown silky top), Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass) and Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass). Occurs on erosional plains and rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
3.5.7x2b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 3.5.39. Open woodland (15-18m) of Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark), Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) and Eucalyptus leptophleba (Molloy red box) +/- Corymbia confertiflora (broad-leaved carbeen) +/- Eucalyptus platyphylla (poplar gum) +/- Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood). Melaleuca viridiflora (broad-leaved teatree), Grevillea glauca (bushman's clothes peg), G. parallela (silver oak) and Parinari nonda (nonda) are the most commonly encountered species in the very sparse to sparse sub-canopy layer (3-16m tall). The very sparse to sparse shrub layer (0.5-4m tall) usually includes Croton arnhemicus (hard cascarilla), Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Xylomelum scottianum (woody pear), Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Planchonia careya and Coelospermum reticulatum (medicine bush). The ground layer is sparse to mid-dense and dominated by the grasses Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Eulalia mackinlayi (brown silky top), Eriachne spp. (wanderrie grass) and Schizachyrium spp. (fire grass). Occurs on erosional plains and rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
3.5.7x2c: [RE not in use]²: This proposed new vegetation community is now mapped as 3.5.38a. Eucalyptus tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark) and Corymbia stockeri subsp. peninsularis (gum-topped bloodwood) usually dominate the canopy (12-20m tall) in approximately equal proportions. Erythrophleum chlorostachys (Cooktown ironwood) and Eucalyptus chlorophylla (shiny-leaved box) may be present and form part of the canopy. A very sparse sub-canopy (3-10m tall) and shrub layer (0.5-1.5m tall) is usually present and dominated by juveniles of the canopy species. The grasses, Heteropogon triticeus (giant speargrass), Sarga plumosum (plume sorghum), Schizachyrium fragile (fire grass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) dominate the sparse to mid-dense ground layer. Tertiary sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b).
Special values 3.5.7: The vulnerable species Jedda multicaulis occurs in this ecosystem.
Comments 3.5.7: Widespread. 3.5.7d: Cape Melville. 3.5.7e: This unit occurs at the north-eastern extremity of the geographical range of 3.5.7. 3.5.7x1: On sandy depositional plains on the Edward/Coleman Fan. 3.5.7x2a: Edge of the Weipa plateau and Merluna Plain. 3.5.7x2b: This proposed new vegetation community is now mapped as 3.5.39. Merluna Plain, Bertieshaugh and east of Weipa.

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.

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.

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Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Last updated
16 November 2023