Vegetation of Imbota and Yina Nature Reserves, Armidale, New South Wales

Abstract

The vegetation of Imbota Nature Reserve (30° 35'S, 151° 45'E) (218 ha in area), 10 km south-east of Armidale, and Yina Nature Reserve (30° 29'S, 151° 45'E), (101 ha in area), 10 km east of Armidale, on the Northern Tablelands, NSW, is described. Based on classification analyses, air photo interpretation and ground-truthing, seven vegetation communities are described and mapped: 1. 'Eucalyptus caliginosa' (Broad-leaved Stringybark) Grassy Forest and Woodland on deep soils at Imbota 2. 'Eucalyptus viminalis' (Manna Gum) Grassy Forest and Woodland, Community 3. 'Eucalyptus caliginosa' (Broad-leaved Stringybark) Grassy Forest and Woodland on shallow soils at Imbota 4. 'Eucalyptus caliginosa' (Broad-leaved Stringybark) Grassy Forest and Woodland at Yina 5. 'Eucalyptus blakelyi' (Blakely’s Red Gum) – 'Eucalyptus melliodora' (Yellow Box) Woodland 6. 'Eucalyptus viminalis' (Manna Gum) – 'Eucalyptus nova-anglica' (New England Peppermint) Grassy Forest and Woodland 7. Riparian Herbfields 252 vascular plant taxa (from 59 families) were recorded from the two reserves, 179 species in Imbota NR, the larger reserve and 209 in Yina NR. The lower species richness at Imbota is likely to have resulted human disturbance rather than from overall habitat heterogeneity.