2GEucalyptus oreades Open-forest/Tall Open-forest

2G Eucalyptus oreades Open-forest/Tall Open-forest

(2G) Eucalyptus oreades Open-forest/Tall Open-forest

Eucalyptus oreades open forest/tall open-forest refers to those vegetation communities dominated by E. oreades (Blue Mountain Ash). A range of other Eucalypts may also occur, most commonly, E. piperita (Sydney Peppermint), E. cypellocarpa (Monkey Gum) and E. radiata**subsp.**radiata (Narrow-leaved Peppermint).

The characteristic vegetation structure is tall open-forest, however this can vary depending on site conditions and history. In some places the understorey is shrubby, while in moister sites a ferny understorey can be present. Although typically found in gullies or on sheltered slopes in the upper mountains (Bell to Wentworth Falls), this community also occurs in relatively exposed sites eg ridgetops, where suitable depth of shale provides more fertile conditions and better soil moisture.

E. oreades is extremely fire-sensitive, with individual trees readily killed in a major bush fire. Although the capacity of E. oreades to regenerate from seed after fire is indicated by even-aged stands of trees often found in this community, the species will be adversely affected or eliminated entirely by an inappropriate fire regime of frequent burning.

This community is relatively rare outside of the National Park estate and has apparently suffered significant loss to urbanisation and associated infrastructure, as well as being degraded by weed invasion, changed fire regimes, and stormwater run-off.

Eucalyptus oreades open-forest/tall open-forest is characterised by the following assemblage of native plant species. Other species also occur, but the list is indicative of the species composition of the vegetation.

| Acacia brownii | Acacia obtusifolia | Acacia terminalis | | Amperea xiphoclada | Arrhenechthites mixta | Austrodanthonia longifolia | | Banksia spinulosa | Billardiera scandens | Bossiaea heterophylla | | Cassytha glabella | Conospermum tenuifolium | Dampiera stricta | | Daviesia ulicifolia | Dianella caerulea | Dianella longifolia | | Dianella prunina | Eucalyptus oreades | Eucalyptus piperita | | Eucalyptus radiata subsp. radiata | Eucalyptus sieberi | Goodenia bellidifolia | | Hakea laevipes | Hibbertia aspera | Hibbertia rufa | | Hovea linearis | Leptomeria acida | Leptospermum polygalifolium | | Lindsaea microphylla | Lomandra gracilis | Lomandra longifolia | | Lomandra obliqua | Lomatia silaifolia | Mitrasacme polymorpha | | Monotoca scoparia | Olearia erubescens | Patersonia sericea | | Persoonia chamaepitys | Persoonia laurina | Persoonia levis | | Persoonia myrtilloides | Phyllota squarrosa | Platylobium formosum | | Platysace linifolia | Poa sieberiana | Poranthera corymbosa | | Pteridium esculentum | Stackhousia viminea | Symphionema montanum | | Telopea speciosissima | Xanthorrhoea media | |