• Corpus ID: 86005608

Plant Formations in the Queenslandian BioProvince

@inproceedings{Rhind2010PlantFI,
  title={Plant Formations in the Queenslandian BioProvince},
  author={Peter Martin Rhind},
  year={2010}
}

• P. Rhind
• Published 2010
• Environmental Science

Queenslandian Tropical Rain Forest These are found in patches along the wetter parts of the northeastern coast of Queensland although they only reach their maximum floristic diversity in stands between Cooktown and Ingham. However, because of the complexity of these forests it is difficult to assign broadly recognizable forest types and there is a tendency for certain species, such as Lindsayomyrtus brachyandrus or the endemic Backhousia bancroftii (Myrtaceae) to monopolize the upper canopy of small stands. Nevertheless, these forest support a multitude of other canopy trees including many endemic taxa such as Aceratium doggrellii (Elaeocarpaceae), Agathis atropurpurea (Araucariaceae), Alphitonia whitei (Rhamnaceae), Argyrodendron peralatum (Sterculiaceae), Austromuellera trinervia (Proteaceae), Balanops australiana (Balanopaceae), Beilschmiedia bancroftii (Lauraceae), Blepharocarya involucrigera (Blepharocaryaceae), Canarium muelleri (Burseraceae), Doryphora aromatica (Monimiaceae), Ficus destruens (Moraceae), Flindersia acuminata (Rutaceae), Geissois biagiana (Cunoniaceae), Idiospermum australiense (Idiospermaceae), Sphenostemon lobosporus (Sphenostemonaceae), Toechima daemeliana (Sapindaceae) and Xanthostemon chrystanthus (Myrtaceae). Several tree species, such as Dysoxylum schiffneri, are caulicarpous. At mid canopy level the endemic palm Licuala ramsayi (Arecaceae) is often the main component but other palms such as the endemic Archontophoenix alexandrae or Oraniopsis appendiculata may be present together with tree ferns (mainly species of Cyathea). The ground flora is largely dominated by regenerating trees and shrubs such as the endemic Hodgkinsonia frutescens (Rubiaceae). Vines are also conspicuous with species such as Bambusa moreheadiana, Rhaphidophora australasica and the endemic Austrobaileya scandens (Austrobaileyaceae). Equally, epiphytes are also prolific particularly ferns such as Asplenium australasicum, with fronds up to 50 cm long, the endemic Platycerium superbum (Polypodiaceae) and orchids such as Bulbophyllum and Dendrobium species.