NSW listing: Endangered

This small shrub grows up to 30 centimetres tall and is found in open woodlands and heathlands. It has distinctive yellow flowers that will be visible between July to December. This species is susceptible to frequent and infrequent fire and other disturbances common in urban areas.

Photo credit: A.E Orme

NSW listing: Endangered

The Magenta lilly pilly is a medium-sized rainforest tree that grows several meters tall with distinct flaky bark and pinkish fruits. It is a common tree in people's gardens; however, it is at risk of extinction in the wild. In the wild, it is only found in isolated populations with low genetic diversity. Frequent fire activity, residential development, encroaching weeds and Myrtle rust are all threats making this species vulnerable to extinction.

Photo credit: Gardening with Angus

NSW listing: Critically endangered

Seaforth Mintbush is a small thirty-centimetre tall flowering plant only found on the Northern Beaches suburb of Seaforth. Within Seaforth, you will find it in isolated patches on ridge tops within or near the endangered ecological “Duffy forest” community. As its geographic distribution is so small, a single threat could impact its entire population, making it susceptible to extinction.

Photo credit: Allthingsnature

Conservation significance: Common in the Northern Beaches area

This vegetation community is categorised by canopy species such as Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera) and Broad-leaved Scribbly Gums (Eucalyptus haemastoma) and shrub species such as Banksia Serrata and Sweet wattle (Acacia suaveolens) . You will find it on plateaus, ridges and exposed slopes on Hawkesbury Sandstone.

Photo credit: P & J Smith Ecological Consultants

Conservation significance: An endangered community on the Northern Beaches

This vegetation community is commonly comprised of canopy species such as Silvertop Ash (Eucalyptus sieberi) and Brown Stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri). Sydney Redgums (Angophora costata) can also occur. This vegetation community is home to two threatened species; the Rice Flower and Black-eyed Susan. You can find this community on ridge-tops where the fertile shale is more abundant over the Hawkesbury sandstone.

Photo credit: P & J Smith Ecological Consultants

Conservation significance: Common in the Northern Beaches area

This vegetation community is categorised by canopy species Sydney Peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita) and Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata). You can commonly find this plant community in gullies, sheltered slopes and sandstone outcrops surrounding the dam.

Photo credit: P & J Smith Ecological Consultants

Conservation significance: A rare vegetation community on the Northern Beaches.

This vegetation community naturally occurs around open freshwater bodies, commonly experiencing seasonal water level fluctuations. Manly Dam is a rare example of an artificial water body now home to an established freshwater lagoon swamp. Dense clumps of reeds, sedges and other plants commonly found in wetlands cover the zone where the water meets the land butting against common wetland trees such as she-oaks. These communities are essential for the dam as they act as a water filter and nesting habitat for waterbirds.

Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council

Conservation significance: A common vegetation community on the Northern Beaches.

Sandstone Heath communities can be found across the dam on its sandstone plateaus. The soil in these areas is relatively infertile, shallow and damp, resulting in this unique community. Ground cover is fairly continual with sparse larger trees such as Scrub she-oaks (Allocasuarina distyla) and Heath Banksia (Banksia ericifolia) above. This distinct community is easy to notice as it is uncommon to see many plants over four meters tall here.

Photo credits: R.A.Rainton

Conservation significance: A NSW recognised Endangered Ecological Community and a rare vegetation community on the Northern Beaches.

We can find this vegetation community on the plateaus surrounding Manly Dam in sections where impermeable sandstone has developed shallow groundwater aquifers. These areas often act as the headwaters to streams which lead to the dam. The vegetation community is a mix of vegetation commonly found in sandstone heath communities and species in freshwater lagoon swamps on the dams banks. These communities are very important to the dam's health as their health commonly dictates the quality of the water that flows into the dam. However, this health is threatened by factors such as altered climatic moisture, clearing, runoff and localised disturbance from unauthorised activity such as bike trails.

Photo credit: Tony Rodd