Plant families on the Newnes Plateau

Ferns There are nearly 50 species of ferns representing 20 families, mostly restricted to wet places in swamps or gullies.
Cupressaceae The Cupressaceae is the only conifer family on the Newnes plateau, and Callitris species are common around some of the Pagoda rock formations on the drier western side.The Wollemi pine Wollemia nobilis in the Araucariaceae is found in adjacent Wollemi National Park.
Apiaceae The apiaceae or carrot family includes the flannel flower, Actinotus helianthi and the rarer Actinotus forsythii which is only seen shortly after fire.
Asteraceae The Asteraceae or daisy family has 34 species on the Plateau, which is quite high for a sandstone landscape. It includes a number of species restricted to high elevation sites that are widely disjunct from each other e.g. Olearia quercifolia, Celmisia longifolia.
Dilleniaceae There are 7 species represented in this family all in the Hibbertia genus.
Ericaceae The Ericaceae or heath family (previously know as Epacridaceae) is represented by 17 species most of which are confined to permanently wet or moist sites including shrub swamp (Epacris paludosa) and moist clifflines (Dracophyllum secundum).
Fabaceae - Acacia Acacia species or Wattles belong to the Minosoideae subfamily of the legume family Fabaceae. Some of the Newnes Plateau species are very restricted (Acacia asparagoides) while others are very widespread on the Plateau (Acacia dorothea) and beyond (Acacia obtusifolia). There are 22 species recorded on the Newnes Plateau.
Fabaceae - others The Fabaceae family includes a range of bacon and egg peas in the genera Pultenaea, Dillwynia and Almaleea. Many of the peas have restricted habitat requirements (e.g. Dillwynia stipulifera in swamps, Sphaerolobium minus in soaks), and short regular flowering periods in spring. Phyllota squarrosa flowers in autumn. over 40 species of peas occur here.
Goodeniaceae This family is represented by 9 species all with colourful, asymetric flowers. The most commonly seen species are the goodenias, a group of yellow flowered, herbaceous plants.
Haloragaceae The Haloragaceae family contains 7 species in the Newnes Plateau. The most common speceis is Gonocarpus micranthus found in the swamps.
Myrtaceae - Eucalyptus There are 23 Eucalyptus species on the Plateau many of which are closely related and have hybridised in the disturbed open sites resulting from logging and other disturbance. Some species are very widespread (e.g. Eucalyptus sieberi, Eucalyptus oreades and Eucalyptus piperita) while others are very restricted (Eucalyptus gregsoniana, Eucalyptus moorei and Eucalyptus laophila).
Myrtaceae - others Apart from Eucalyptus there are other species of Myrtaceae on the plateau. Most are shrubs and include 14 species of Leptospermum or tea trees.
Plantaginaceae There are seven species represented in this family including the listed Veronica blakelyi.
Proteaceae The Plateau is rich in Proteaceae species including 10 species of Persoonia and Banksia penicillata which is restricted to the upper Blue Mountains. Isopogon prostratus occurs in a few disjunct locations on the South Coast.
Rhamnaceae There are 5 species of Pomaderris on the Newnes Plateau.
Rubiaceae Several genera are found on the Plateau including Asperula, Galium, Nertera, Opercularia and Pomax.
Rutaceae The Rutaceae family includes the threatened Boronia deanei which is restricted to shrub swamps as well as 13 other species.
Santalaceae The Santalaceae are a family of semi parasitic shrubs. There are 5 species in this family on the Newnes Plateau and some produce edible fruits.
Violaceae This family contains Viola and Hybanthus genera both low growing herbaceous with beautiful purple flowers
Other Dicot families Many other plant families are found on the Newnes Plateau and they are illustrated here. These families include Araliaceae, Bignoniaceae, Campanulaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Casuarinaceae, Clusiaceae, Cunoniaceae, Droseraceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Geraniaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Lentibulariaceae, Lobeliaceae, Loganiaceae, Loranthaceae, Lythraceae, Monimiaceae, Moraceae, Myrsinaceae, Olacaceae, Oleaceae, Onagraceae, Oxalidaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Picrodendraceae, Pittosporaceae, Polygalaceae, Quintiniaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Sapindaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae, Stackhousiaceae, Sterculiaceae, Stylidiaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Urticaceae and Winteraceae.
Anthericaceae This family includes the fringe lilies (Thysanotus species) and other small but beautiful monocots.
Cyperaceae The Cyperaceae or sedge family includes over 40 species with species generally restricted to particular habitats including swamp, woodland and heath.
Iridaceae The only native Iridaceae species on the Plateau are Patersonia which are conspicuous when they are flowering in November. All four NSW species are found on the Plateau.
Juncaceae This family contains only two genera in Australia and both of these are found on the Plateau. There are at least 11 species of Juncus and 4 speceis of Luzula but they are difficult to identify.
Lomandraceae Eight speceis of Lomandra have been recorded on the Newnes Plateau.
Orchidaceae There are over 40 species of Orchid on the plateau, all terrestrial.
Phormiaceae The repesentatives in this family found on the Plateau all have blue flowers. There are 5 Dianella and 1 Theilionema species to be seen.
Poaceae There are grass species on the plateau including the threatened species Notochloe microdon which is confined to shrubswamps
Restionaceae This is a group of sedges generally found in damp habitats. One of the most common being Empodisma minus that occurs in most of the swamps on the Plateau.
Other monocot families The remaining graminoid species in less represented families can be found here. They include Colchicaceae, Haemodoraceae, Hypoxidaceae, Luzuriagaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae and Xyridaceae.

Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia

Plant families on the Newnes Plateau