Distribution
Occurs in Sydney and is heavily fragmented, with only 0.5 percent its original extent remaining intact. Remnants mostly occur in the Baulkham Hills, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Parramatta, Ryde, Sutherland and Hurstville local government areas. Good examples can be seen in small reserves such as Wallumatta Nature Reserve and Newington Nature Reserve.
A similar form of the community occurs more widely (particularly in the Wollondilly and Hawkesbury areas) but this is outside the nominated councils that are included in the determination (Ashfield, Auburn, Canterbury, Concord, Drummoyne, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Bankstown, Ryde, Hunters Hill, Baulkham Hills, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby, Parramatta, Bankstown, Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville and Sutherland). This form could be equated to Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest, although the correlatio is less strong for Wollondilly (which is not mentioned in that determination).
Habitat and ecology
- Occurs close to the shale/sandstone boundary on the more fertile shale influenced soils, in higher rainfall areas on the higher altitude margins of the Cumberland Plain, and on the shale ridge caps of sandstone plateaus.
- A transitional community, between Cumberland Plain Woodland in drier areas and Blue Gum High Forest on adjacent higher rainfall ridges.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.