Bouddi plant life
We have an abundant variety of plant communities on Bouddi peninsula - grassland, heath, mangroves, rain forest and various other kinds of woodland and forest. Some communities are relatively undisturbed, as in parts of Bouddi National Park, while others have been heavily influenced by human habitation.
We hope that this part of the website will help open your eyes to the variety of plant life that exists on the peninsula and its relationship to the landscape. This section is very much a work in progress. We welcome any help in adding to and improving it. Your observations, photos, corrections etc. will contribute to the value of this resource. Use the contact form to submit your contributions.
What grows where is determined by a range of important variables. These include:
The geology of the area determines the soil types which, in turn, determine what grows where. Very briefly this involves a top layer of Hawksbury sandstone resting on a thicker layer of more mixed rocks and soils called the Narabeen layer which form the slopes. Around the water's edge are the flatter alluvial deposits. Learn more
Different plant communities are described in some detail. They are classified according to soil type and location. Information about the individual plants can be obtained through the links provided. Use this link or the navigation bar above to find these pages.
We hope that this part of the website will help open your eyes to the variety of plant life that exists on the peninsula and its relationship to the landscape. This section is very much a work in progress. We welcome any help in adding to and improving it. Your observations, photos, corrections etc. will contribute to the value of this resource. Use the contact form to submit your contributions.
What grows where is determined by a range of important variables. These include:
- Soil type – determines nutrients
- Aspect - determines exposure to wind, salt, sunshine, rainfall
- Fire history – affects different plants in different ways
- Human interference – changes drainage, introduces new species
The geology of the area determines the soil types which, in turn, determine what grows where. Very briefly this involves a top layer of Hawksbury sandstone resting on a thicker layer of more mixed rocks and soils called the Narabeen layer which form the slopes. Around the water's edge are the flatter alluvial deposits. Learn more
Different plant communities are described in some detail. They are classified according to soil type and location. Information about the individual plants can be obtained through the links provided. Use this link or the navigation bar above to find these pages.
Academic Studies of Bouddi plantlife
For a more academic approach see the following studies:The main academic study, the McRae Study, was carried out by RHD McRae of the National herbarium of NSW at the Botanic Gardens. This was done at much the same time as the Bouddi Study and was published in the academic journal Cunninghamia in 1990 (Cunninghamia 2(2): 263-293).
For a more academic approach see the following studies:The main academic study, the McRae Study, was carried out by RHD McRae of the National herbarium of NSW at the Botanic Gardens. This was done at much the same time as the Bouddi Study and was published in the academic journal Cunninghamia in 1990 (Cunninghamia 2(2): 263-293).
Vegetation Community Profiles
The third was a study done on behalf of Gosford Council and published in 2004: Bell, S.A.J. (2004) The natural vegetation of the Gosford Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Vegetation Community Profiles. Report to Gosford City Council, April 2004. Eastcoast Flora Survey. It was a substantial survey of the plant communities in the Local Government Area (LGA).
The report is available for purchase from Gosford Council. The individual units that correspond to plant communities on the Bouddi peninsula and the neighboring Cockle Bay area have been extracted and can be downloaded as individual profiles from the links below:
The third was a study done on behalf of Gosford Council and published in 2004: Bell, S.A.J. (2004) The natural vegetation of the Gosford Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Vegetation Community Profiles. Report to Gosford City Council, April 2004. Eastcoast Flora Survey. It was a substantial survey of the plant communities in the Local Government Area (LGA).
The report is available for purchase from Gosford Council. The individual units that correspond to plant communities on the Bouddi peninsula and the neighboring Cockle Bay area have been extracted and can be downloaded as individual profiles from the links below:
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Alluvial Plain Redgum forest.pdf
Bouddi Sandstone Coastal Heath.pdf Coastal Headland Grassland.pdf Coastal Headland Low Forest.pdf Coastal Headland Shrubland.pdf Coastal Sand Apple-Blackbutt Forest.pdf Coastal Sand Banksia Scrub.pdf Coastal Sand Swamp Forest.pdf Coastal Sand Wollum Heath.pdf What flowers when
Autumn
Red bloodwood - Corymbia gummifera (near bell outside Maitland Bay Centre) Bangalay - Eucalyptus botryoides Swamp Mahogany - Eucalyptus robusta Crowea saligna - a small shrub with pink flowers often confused with Wax Flowers Eriostemon australasius Banksia (B. ericifolia, B. oblongifolia, B. spinulosa) |