2CSydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest (Syncarpia glomulifera-Eucalyptus fibrosa-Eucalyptus crebra)

2C Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest (Syncarpia glomulifera-Eucalyptus fibrosa-Eucalyptus crebra)

(2C) Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest (Syncarpia glomulifera-Eucalyptus fibrosa-Eucalyptus crebra)

Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest is listed as an endangered ecological community in Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Within the Blue Mountains, this community represents a drier and generally lower altitude variant of Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest. The primary difference is the general absence of Eucalyptus deanei and E. notablis, and the usual dominance of Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine), sometimes along with ironbark species such as E. resinifera (Red Mahogany), E. fibrosa (Broad-leaved Ironbark), E. crebra (Narrow-leaved Ironbark), and E. beyeriana (Beyer’s Ironbark). These ironbarks can be absent or rare due to their extensive logging for fencing purposes. E. punctata (Grey Gum), E. notabilis (Mountain Mahogany), E. paniculata (Grey Ironbark), E. globoidea (White Stringybark), and E. eugenioides (Thin-leaved Stringybark) may also be present.

The original distribution of this community and the boundary between it and Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest is unclear due to extensive clearing and/or modification of these vegetation types. The two communities are closely related and may intergrade extensively. In addition, this community intergrades with Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest (described below).

Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest occurs on ridgetop caps of Wianamatta Shale. It may extend onto deeper areas of Hawkesbury Shale within the so-called Mittagong Formation.

Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest is characterised in the Blue Mountains by 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 decurrens | Acacia falcata | Acacia implexa | | Acacia longifolia | Acacia parramattensis | Allocasuarina torulosa | | Angophora costata | Angophora floribunda | Billardiera scandens | | Bursaria spinosa | Caesia parvifolius | Cheilanthes sieberi | | Corymbia gummifera | Daviesia squarrosa | Dianella caerulea | | Dichelachne rara | Dichondra repens | Echinopogon caespitosus | | Entolasia marginata | Entolasia stricta | Eucalyptus beyeriana | | Eucalyptus crebra | Eucalyptus eugenioides | Eucalyptus fibrosa | | Eucalyptus globoidea | Eucalyptus notabilis | Eucalyptus paniculata | | Eucalyptus punctata | Glycine clandestina | Goodenia hederacea | | Hardenbergia violacea | Lepidosperma laterale | Leucopogon juniperinus | | Lomandra longifolia | Lomandra multiflora | Microlaena stipoides | | Oplismenus aemulus | Ozothamnus diosmifolius | Panicum simile | | Pittosporum undulatum | Pomax umbellata | Poranthera microphylla | | Pratia purpurascens | Pultenaea elliptica | Smilax glyciphylla | | Stipa pubescens | Syncarpia glomulifera | Themeda australis | | Tricoryne simplex | Veronica plebeia | Xanthorrhoea media |