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Bits and bobs about Castlereagh Nature Reserve in north western Sydney, NSW, Australia....
http://got2getaway.com.au/tourism/eventdetails.aspx?productid=9085975
1. Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest
"Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest is a community that ranges from open forest to low woodland, with a canopy dominated by broad-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa) (pictured) and paperbark (Melaleuca decora). The canopy may also include other eucalypts such as woolybutt (E. longifolia). The dense shrubby understorey consists of Melaleuca nodosa and peach heath (Lissanthe strigosa), with a range of ‘pea’ flower shrubs, such as Dillwynia tenuifolia, Pultenaea villosa and Daviesia ulicifolia (can be locally abundant). The sparse ground layer is made of grasses and herbs, including kangaroo grass (Themeda australis), weeping meadow grass (Microlaena stipoides var stipoides) and Entolasia stricta."
2. Scribbly Gum Woodland
"Castlereagh Swamp Woodland is a low woodland community that occurs in poorly drained depressions along intermittent watercourses. Castlereagh Swamp Woodland often has dense stands of paperbark trees (Melaleuca decora) (pictured) along with other canopy trees, such as drooping red gum (Eucalyptus parramattensis ssp parramattensis). The shrub layer is not well developed and is mostly made up of young paperbark trees (Melaleuca decora and M. linariifolia). The ground layer has a diversity of plants that tolerate waterlogged conditions, such as swamp pennywort (Centella asiatica), common rush (Juncus usitatus) and Goodenia paniculata."
Castlereagh Swamp Woodland is listed as an endangered ecological community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
Photo: Blacktown City Council Text: NPWS