Poytr
Rainforest at Resolute Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Water Gum rainforest above Resolute Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, just north of Sydney.
Rainforest is rare in Sydney, as there's so much fire, the soils are shallow and poor. But in sheltered sites such as this, there are small remnants that persist.
The canopy height is about 8 metres. Other tree species include the Coachwood, Muttonwood (Myrsine howittiana), Blue Cherry, Lilly Pilly, Pittosporum, Wilkiea and the Cabbage Tree Palm. Nearby are Banksia integrifolia and Eucalyptus scias.
The rainforest floor is rocky and steep, with plenty of interesting understorey plants, including the ancient and fabulous Silurian relict, Psilotum nudum (Skeleton Fork Fern.) The most prominent climber is the Five leaf water vine, Cissus hypoglauca
The geology is the Narrabeen Group of Sedimentary Rocks. This east facing gully is relatively fire free. Soils are poor in nutrient, rainfall is 1300 mm per year. There is some debate whether this rainforest is classed as littoral or warm temperate. I'm going for warm temperate, as there is no evidence of salt winds affecting the vegetation. It is next to the beach, but perhaps, is more likely to be warm temperate. Across Pittwater, at the south western corner of Barrenjoey rock, the rainforest is definitely littoral. That rainforest is closer to the ocean, with a different group of species.
Rainforest at Resolute Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Water Gum rainforest above Resolute Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, just north of Sydney.
Rainforest is rare in Sydney, as there's so much fire, the soils are shallow and poor. But in sheltered sites such as this, there are small remnants that persist.
The canopy height is about 8 metres. Other tree species include the Coachwood, Muttonwood (Myrsine howittiana), Blue Cherry, Lilly Pilly, Pittosporum, Wilkiea and the Cabbage Tree Palm. Nearby are Banksia integrifolia and Eucalyptus scias.
The rainforest floor is rocky and steep, with plenty of interesting understorey plants, including the ancient and fabulous Silurian relict, Psilotum nudum (Skeleton Fork Fern.) The most prominent climber is the Five leaf water vine, Cissus hypoglauca
The geology is the Narrabeen Group of Sedimentary Rocks. This east facing gully is relatively fire free. Soils are poor in nutrient, rainfall is 1300 mm per year. There is some debate whether this rainforest is classed as littoral or warm temperate. I'm going for warm temperate, as there is no evidence of salt winds affecting the vegetation. It is next to the beach, but perhaps, is more likely to be warm temperate. Across Pittwater, at the south western corner of Barrenjoey rock, the rainforest is definitely littoral. That rainforest is closer to the ocean, with a different group of species.