Reference Community: Sandstone Dry Ridge-top Woodland
Equilibrium acknowledges that these reference community sites are on Garigal Land. We pay our respects.
Site: Mackay Reserve, Palm Beach
Soil landscape: Gymea - Undulating to rolling low hills with local relief 20–80m, broad convex crests, moderately inclined sideslopes with wide benches, localised rock outcrop on low broken scarps.
Aspect: Predominantly occurring on West-Facing aspects on the Barrenjoey Peninsula, but is widespread elsewhere in Northern Sydney.
Vegetation type: Dry woodland
Flora:
Recorded as Occurring
Canopy
Angophora costata (Smooth-barked Apple)
Corymbia gummifera (Red Bloodwood)
Eucalyptus piperita (Sydney Peppermint)
Eucalyptus punctata (Grey Gum)
Eucalyptus umbra (Broad-leaved White Mahogany)
Mid-storey
Acacia floribunda (Sally Wattle)
Acacia suaveolens (Sweet Wattle)
Acacia ulicifolia (Hedge Wattle)
Banksia spinulosa (Hairpin Banksia)
Ceratopetalum gummiferum (NSW Christmas Bush)
Correa reflexa (Native Fuchsia)
Dillwynia retorta (Heathy Parrot-pea)
Epacris pulchella (Wallum Heath)
Hakea sericea (Needle Bush)
Monotoca elliptica (Tree Broom Heath)
Notelaea longifolia (Large Mock-olive)
Persoonia levis (Broad-leaved Geebung)
Persoonia linearis (Narrow-leaved Geebung)
Pittosporum revolutum (Rough-fruit Pittosporum)
Pomaderris ferruginea (Rusty Pomaderris)
Pultenaea daphnoides (Large-leaf Bush-pea)
Zieria smithii (Sandfly Zieria)
Vines and Scramblers
Billardiera scandens (Apple Berry)
Eustrephus latifolius (Wombat Berry)
Hardenbergia violacea (Happy Wanderer)
Marsdenia suaveolens (Scented Silkpod)
Pandorea pandorana (Wonga Vine)
Smilax glyciphylla (Sweet Sarsaparilla)
Groundcover (Herbs, Grasses, and Sedges)
Actinotus helianthi (Flannel Flower)
Aotus ericoides (Common Aotus)
Astrotricha latifolia (Broad-leaf Star Hair)
Calochilus paludosus (Red Beard Orchid)
Crassula sieberiana (Sieber's Stonecrop)
Cryptostylis erecta (Hooded Orchid)
Cryptostylis subulata (Tongue Orchid)
Daviesia ulicifolia (Gorse Bitter Pea)
Dianella caerulea (Blue Flax-lily)
Entolasia stricta (Erect Panic)
Eragrostis brownii (Brown's Lovegrass)
Gahnia aspera (Rough Saw-sedge)
Gahnia clarkei (Tall Saw-sedge)
Gompholobium latifolium (Golden Glory Pea)
Hibbertia dentata (Trailing Guinea Flower)
Hibbertia empetrifolia (Showy Guinea Flower)
Lobelia purpurascens (White Root)
Lomandra cylindrica (Lomandra)
Lomandra glauca (Grass Mat-rush)
Lomandra obliqua (Twisted Mat-rush)
Phyllanthus hirtellus (Thyme Spurge)
Pimelea linifolia (Rice Flower)
Platylobium formosum (Handsome Flat-pea)
Poa affinis (Slender Tussock-grass)
Polymeria calycina (Cup Vine)
Pomax umbellata (Pomax)
Schoenus melanostachys (Black Bog-rush)
Schelhammera undulata (Schelhammera)
Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass)
Xanthorrhoea arborea (Grass Tree)
Xanthosia tridentata (Southern Cross)
Ferns, Cycads and Conifers
Lindsaea linearis (Screw Fern)
Pteridium esculentum (Bracken Fern)
Sticherus flabellatus (Shiny Fan Fern)
A sea of Slender Rice Flower (Pimelea linifolia) emerging in the post-burn site
Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata) rising through the understorey
Slender Rice Flower (Pimelea linifolia)
The canopy creates a dappled effect on the understorey - pockets of light for vegetation to grow within
Twisted Mat-Rush (Lomandra obliqua)
Golden Pea (Aotus ericoides) in flower
Ridge-top woodland
Screw Fern (Lindsaea linearis) spinning through the leaf fall
Varied Mitrewort (Mitrasacme polymorpha) flowering
The ground is thick with Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi)
Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) and Blue Flax Lily (Dianella caerulea)
A medley: Large Bronze Bush Pea (Pultanea ferruginea), Sweet-Scented Wattle (Acacia suaveolens), Flannel Flower (Actinotus helianthi)
A Red Bearded Orchid (Calochilus paludosis)
Lilac Lily (Schelhammera undulata) in bloom
The snaking branches of the Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata) frame the sky
Gorse Bitter-Pea (Daviesia ulicifolia)
Umbrella Fern (Sticherus flabellatus) finds a nook in a Sandstone-Cliff Soak to occupy
Broad Leaf Star Hair (Astrotricha latifolia)
A more mesic zone creates the right climate for (left to right) Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum), Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus), and Hill Water Gum (Tristaniopsis collina).
Fuschia Heath (Epacris longiflora) in bright bloom