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Habitats within the woodland

Woodland sites with particular soil, topographic or past management conditions provide localised habitats and microhabitats for particular plant species. These are important to maintain the full range of local biodiversity.

The Conservation Research Woodland occupies a gentle east-facing slope from a ridge running along Mount Annan Drive about 130 m elevation to Mount Annan Creek (110 m elevation), a change in elevation of about 20 m.

Soils and geology

Soils are derived from Bringelly shales in the Wianamatta Group, and are yellow podzolic on the hillside with some alluvium along Annan Creek.

Localised habitats

Within the woodland localised habitats include

  • Dry gully habitat in the northern part of the woodland provides locally moister conditions and habitat for the ferns Asplenium flabellifolium and Pellaea falcata, and the climbers Cayratia clematidea and Parsonsia straminea.
  • Shady area habitat on slopes provides habitat for Plectranthus parviflorus, Scutellaria humilis and Ranunculus lappaceus.
  • Under tree habitat has a species composition that includes a higher proportion of species with fleshy fruits such as Einadia nutans subsp. linifolia and Einadia nutans, and the woody weed African Olive *Olea europea subsp. cuspidata though the more shaded conditions may also influence species composition.
  • Bare area habitat may be temporally colonised by ephemerals during wet periods, such as Crassula sieberiana, Ranunculus sessiliflorus, and mosses, lichens and algae.
  • Mown area habitat, though favouring exotic grass species such as couch, *Cynodon dactylon and Paspalum, *Paspalum dilatatum, may sometimes provide habitat for ephemeral herbs such as Solenogyne bellioides and Solenogyne dominii, depending on weather conditions.
  • Roadside habitat and paths provide habitat for a number of weed species as well as Chloris truncata, Bothriochloa macra, Cotula australis

Away from the woodland are other important habitat areas including

  • Riverflat forest habitat along Mount Annan Creek on the eastern side of the woodland, with some very large trees of Eucalyptus tereticornis. The creekline itself includes sedges and Typha (Bullrush).
  • Dam habitat at a small dam below the woodland as well as larger ones further along Mount Annan Creek. These provide habitat for aquatic and semiaquatic plants. Additional native species, not necessarily local ones have been established in the larger dams.
  • Grassland habitat - there are some large areas of open, periodically mown grassland adjacent to our woodland, and elsewhere in the Gardens. Grassland /woodland interfaces are currently the focus of some of our ecological studies.
  • Woodland Picnic area is a gardened habitat providing picnic facilities. Even during dry seasons visitors can see a range of woodland plants in flower as a result of irrigation water.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.

Woodland soil profile showing shallow A horizon (5 cm) over clay B horizon.

The dry gully provides the only habitat in the woodland for the ferns Asplenium flabellifolium (above) and Pellea falcata.

Isolated individual trees provide local conditions for species requiring shade as well as species such as Einadia that are dispersed by birds.

Build up of bark and litter around the base of large Eucalyptus tereticornis provides habitat for reptiles and many invertebrates such as the Cumberland Large Land Snail.

Soil disturbance by rabbits and wallabies may provide sites suitable for particular plant species.

Bare areas may be colonised by non-vascular plants, mosses, lichens and algae which may be conspicuous during cool moist weather.

Grassy mown track provides habitat for some light requiring species such as Chloris truncata, Solenogyne bellioides and Sida corrugata as well as exotic species.

Grassy mown area of couch/ Paspalum adjacent to regenerating remnant at the back, may provide additional habitat and food for bird species of open habitats.

Roadside provide open conditions which may favour ephemeral species including Chloris truncata and Bothriochloa macra, as well as a lot of exotic species.

Riverflat forest with large trees of Eucalyptus tereticornis along Mount Annan Creek. The walkway leads to the Stolen Generation Memorial Sculpture.

A small dam at the eastern edge of woodland fringed by Carex, Ludwigia, Persicaria, Centipeda, Gratiola and Damasonium, provides habitat for frogs and Red Bellied Black snakes.

Ottelia ovalifolia is the conspicuous water plant with floating leaves.

Small dam has dried out (8 November 2006).

Woodland areas cleared for agriculture in the 19th Century are now our grassland habitats. They are now dominated by exotic species mainly *Paspalum dilatatum with some native species.

Woodland picnic area at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.