Reference Community: Coastal Swamp Mahogany Lowland Forest

Site: Toongarie Reserve, Avalon Beach

Soil landscape: Warriewood - Level to gently undulating swales, depressions and infilled lagoons on Quaternary sands. Local relief <10 m.

Aspect: East, South-East, however this community is not generally limited by aspect, but by hydrology

Vegetation type: Swamp forest

Flora:

A swampy under-storey of Tall Saw Sedge (Gahnia clarkei) with Cabbage Tree Palms (Livistona australis) emerging in the mid-storey

Bleeding Heart Tree (Homolanthus populifolius)

Brush Muttonwood (Myrsine howittiana)

Bangalay (Eucalyptus botryoides) in the foreground, with Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) in the background

Textures across the ground

A drift of Pale Grass Lillies (Caesia parviflora) in flower

Tall Sedge (Carex appressa)

The light filters in through the canopy, illuminating a Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata). The fruits of these are edible, and quite lovely!

A stand of Cabbage Tree Palms (Livistona australis)

Ground Fern (Hypolepis mulleri)

Sweet Morinda (Morinda jasminoides) scrambling across the fallen leaves

Rasp Fern (Doodia aspera) has beautiful red new growth

A big sea of flowering Blue Flax Lily (Dianella caerulea)

Black Plum (Diospyros australis) budding up

Ground Fern (Hypolepis mulleri)

Bolwarra (Eupomatia laurina)

An Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis) eating Hop Bush (Dodonea triquetra) seeds

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Reference Community: Sandstone Dry Ridge-top Woodland