The composition and structure of the understorey is influenced by grazing and fire history, changes to hydrology and soil salinity and other disturbance, and may have a substantial component of exotic shrubs, grasses, vines and forbs.įor a comprehensive list of species that characterize the community open the Scientific Determination. The groundcover is composed of abundant forbs, scramblers and grasses including Microlaena stipoides, Dichondra repens, Glycine clandestina, Oplismenus aemulus, Desmodium gunnii, Pratia purpurascens, Entolasia marginata, Oxalis perennans and Veronica plebeia.

Scattered shrubs include Bursaria spinosa, Solanum prinophyllum, Rubus parvifolius, Breynia oblongifolia, Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Hymenanthera dentata, Acacia floribunda and Phyllanthus gunnii. styphelioides (prickly-leaved teatree), Backhousia myrtifolia (grey myrtle), Melia azaderach (white cedar), Casuarina cunninghamiana (river oak) and C. benthamii is restricted to the Hawkesbury floodplain.Ī layer of small trees may be present, including Melaleuca decora, M. grandis (flooded gum) may occur north of Sydney, while E.

ovata (swamp gum) occurs on the far south coast, E. elata (river peppermint) may be common south from Sydney, E. amplifolia (cabbage gum), Angophora floribunda (rough-barked apple) and A. While the composition of the tree stratum varies considerably, the most widespread and abundant dominant trees include Eucalyptus tereticornis (forest red gum), E. It has a tall open tree layer of eucalypts, which may exceed 40 m in height, but can be considerably shorter in regrowth stands or under conditions of lower site quality.

For teachers, schools and community educatorsĪs the name suggests, this EEC is found on the river flats of the coastal floodplains.

Coastal flats nutritional information