Nothofagus moorei (Negrohead Beech) is the species found in northern NSW and
far SE Qld at high altitudes, and is evergreen. N. cunninghamii is found in
Vic and Tas and is also evergreen. Nothofagus gunnii is the small
tree/shrub wit much smaller leaves than the other two species, found in
higher prts of Tas which is deciduous.
Australia actually has a large number of seasonaly deciduous woody plants
(vinces, trees, shrubs) but the bulk oftese are found in the monsonal
tropical areas of Australia (esp Northern Territory), principally in coastal
and sub-coastal areas. There are also a high number of deciduous species
found predominantly in dry rainforests and vine thickets in eastern
Australia, but the number decreases with inreasing latitude
I can think of a least three native species which are definitey seasonally
deicduous in the Sydney region: Red Cedar (Toona ciliata), White Cedar
(Melia azedarach) and a fig (Ficus superba var. henneana), more species of
subtropical rainforests rather than dry rainforests (which are more or less
not represented in the Sydey area, and those small fragments which
correspond to dry rainforests/vine thickets have been cleared and/or
degraded).
Flame tree, or coral tree to those in Qld, (Brachychiton populneus), als in
the Sydney region, is deciduous to semi deciduous, varying between
indivduals and within indivduals between seasons, as to onset, extent an
duration of deciduous period.
I posted a email detailing more poins about deciduous plants in Ausralia,
but mucked up the address, so didn't bother again. If anyone is really
interested, let me know and I wll send it on to them.Cheers.
Frank
Frank Hemmings
Curator
John T. Waterhouse Herbarium
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of New South Wales
UNSW SYDNEY 2052
AUSTRALIA
Tel +61 2 9385 3274
Fax +61 2 9385 1558
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