Vegetation patterns associated with a large rock plate in the Meehan Range, Tasmania

Abstract

Rock outcrops provide unusual environmental conditions, often being the habitats of disjunct populations or rare species. A large rock plate on Mt Direction, within the Meehan Range, southeastern Tasmania, supports an open-heath of unusual floristic composition, and contains the only known population of Ozothamnus reflexifolius Leeson & Rozefelds. Four floristic communities occur on and around the plate, forming a sequence from the open-heath on the plate itself to tall woodland with a dense understorey of small trees where rock and bare ground cover are low. Patterns of moisture availability, related to soil depth, aspect, slope and topographic position seem to best explain the floristic, structural and species richness patterns in the area.