Shale Geology
Blue Gum High Forest - Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest - Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest - Sydney Foreshore Shale Forest - Coastal Shale-Sandstone Forest
In Ryde, vegetation growing within shale substrates occurs where the Wiannamatta shale overlies the Hawkesbury Sandstone as a ridge cap.
The majority of the vegetation communities within the shale region are found in elevated slopes, gullies, ridgelines and crests. The soils on crests are moderately deep and on upper slopes quite deep, with a fertile clay layer.
Blue Gum High Forest
Blue Gum High Forest (BGHF) is listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Less than 1% of this forest type remains in Ryde and the most significant areas of BGHF can be found in Denistone, Eastwood and West Ryde.
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Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest
Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest is listed as an endangered ecological community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and critically endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. There is only 0.5% of the original extent of this forest left in Ryde with prominent tree species that include turpentine, red mahogany and ironbark.
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Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest
Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest is a closed forest that occurs in highly shaded areas. The understory consists of palms, mesic shrubs and small trees, above a scattered ground cover of ferns.
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Sydney Foreshore Shale Forest
Sydney Foreshore Shale Forest is a tall open eucalypt forest with a sparse shrub layer and a dense cover of ground covers, vines and climbers. The only patch of this vegetation community in Ryde can be found at Memorial Park, Meadowbank.
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Coastal Shale-Sandstone Forest
Coastal Shale-Sandstone Forest is often a tall open eucalypt forest with sparse layer of dry shrubs and a grassy ground cover. A diverse range of grasses, rushes and herbs provide a continuous ground cover.
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