1ACeratopetalum apetalum-Doryphora sassafras Rainforest

1A Ceratopetalum apetalum-Doryphora sassafras Rainforest

(1A) Ceratopetalum apetalum-Doryphora sassafras Rainforest

Ceratopetalum apetalum-Doryphora sassafras (Coachwood-Sassafras) rainforest is found on sedimentary geology at upper and middle altitudes in the Blue Mountains. A variant, the “Montane Rainforest” also occurs on more fertile soils on the slopes of the basalt-capped mountains in the far north of the City. The rainforest on basalt can be very similar both structurally and floristically to rainforest on sedimentary rock where there is significant influence from alluvium derived from the basalt up-slope. As the basalt influence decreases and the sedimentary rock becomes more prominent due to erosion, the structure and floristics blend into typical Sydney Sandstone Gallery Rainforest, which tends to be less diverse than rainforest on basalt, particularly in the understorey.

These rainforest communities are replaced at lower altitudes by Backhousia myrtifolia-Ceratopetalum apetalum rainforest (described below). The upper and lower altitude communities intergrade in the Springwood area. Ceratopetalum apetalum-Doryphora sassafras rainforest occurs in sheltered, moist sites that are rarely, if ever, burnt.

The dominant tree species are usually Ceratopetalum apetalum (Coachwood) and/or Doryphora sassafras (Sassafras). Other trees that are common in some stands are Acacia elata (Mountain Cedar Wattle), Acmena smithii (Lilly Pilly), Callicoma serratifolia (Black Wattle), Hedycarya angustifolia (Native Mulberry) and Quintinia sieberi (Possumwood). Backhousia myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle) is usually absent, although sometimes a minor component of the community. The vegetation structure is usually a closed-forest or low closed-forest. There may be a layer of emergent eucalypts above the rainforest canopy in these communities. Ferns, vines and epiphytes are usually prominent features of the community.

This community is generally characterised by the occurrence of Ceratopetalum apetalum and Doryphora sassafras with the following assemblage of native plant species. Other species also occur, and not all of the following species are present in every stand of the community, but the list is indicative of the species composition of the vegetation.

| Acacia elata | Acmena smithii | Asplenium australasicum | | Asplenium flabellifolium | Blechnum ambiguum | Blechnum cartilagineum | | Blechnum gregsonii | Blechnum nudum | Blechnum patersonii | | Blechnum wattsii | Bursaria spinosa | Callicoma serratifolia | | Calochlaena dubia | Carex appressa | Cassytha pubescens | | Centella aisatica | Cephalaralia cephalobotrys | Ceratopetalum apetalum | | Cissus antarctica | Cissus hypoglauca | Clematis aristata | | Coprosma quadrifida | Cyathea australis | Cyathea leichhardtiana | | Cynoglossum latifolium | Dendrobium teretifolium | Dicksonia antarctica | | Doodia aspera | Doryphora sassafras | Dracophyllum secundum | | Elaeocarpus holopetalus | Elaeocarpus reticulatus | Eucalyptus oreades | | Eucalyptus piperita | Eucalyptus radiata subsp. radiata | Fieldia australis | | Geitonoplesium cymosum | Geranium homeanum | Gleichenia microphylla | | Grammitis billardieri | Hakea salicifolia | Hedycarya angustifolia | | Hydrocotyle peduncularis | Hymenanthera dentata | Hymenophyllum cupressiforme | | Juncus planifolius | Lastreopsis acuminata | Leptopteris fraseri | | Leptospermum polygalifolium | Libertia pulchella | Lomandra montana | | Lomatia myricoides | Microsorum diversifolium | Microsorum scandens | | Morinda jasminoides | Notelaea longifolia | Notelaea venosa | | Pandorea pandorana | Parsonsia brownii | Parsonsia leichhardtii | | Parsonsia straminea | Passiflora cinnabarina | Pellaea falcata | | Pittosporum revolutum | Pittosporum undulatum | Polystichum proliferum | | Pyrrosia rupestris | Quintinia sieberi | Rubus hillii | | Rubus rosifolius | Smilax australis | Smilax glyciphylla | | Stellaria flacida | Stenocarpus salignus | Sticherus flabellatus | | Sticherus lobatus | Syncarpia glomulifera | Tasmannia insipida | | Todea barbara | Tristania neriifolia | Tristaniopsis collina | | Tristaniopsis laurina | Tylophora barbata | Urtica incisa | | Viola hederacea | | |