Royal National Park Rainforest

The rainforest areas of Royal National Park are mainly on the Narrabeen Group geology in the south of the park, extending south along the Hacking River and its tributaries from around Calala, and south along the coast from around Garie Beach. Rainforest is also seen in small amounts around Port Hacking (not shown).

Map showing rainforest in Royal National Park

Royal National Park Rainforest Map (Satellite image credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel imagery)

Rainforest Plants (Common)

Doryphora sassafras

Sassafras: Simple, Opposite, Toothed, Sunken midvein, Aniseed like scent

Elaeodendron australe

Red Olive Berry: Simple, Opposite, Crenate margins, Raised midvein

Callicoma serratifolia

Black Wattle: Simple, Opposite, Saw toothed, White undersides, Interpetiolar stipule scars

Ceratopetalum apetalum

Coachwood: 1-foliolate, Opposite, Toothed, Interpetiolar stipule scars

Schizomeria ovata

Australian Crabapple: Simple, Opposite, Toothed, Swollen petiole bases, Raised mid & side veins, Interpetiolar stipule scars

Diospyros australis

Black Plum: Simple, Alternate, Yellowy green undersides with veins obscure

Trochocarpa laurina

Tree Heath: Simple, Opposite, Longitudinal veins

Claoxylon australe

Brittlewood: Simple, Alternate, Toothed, Glands near top of petiole

Eupomatia laurina

Bolwarra: Simple, Alternate, Zigzagged branchlets, Shiny

Clerodendrum tomentosum

Hairy Clerodendrum: Simple, Opposite, Toothed when young, Purplish petioles

Cryptocarya glaucescens

Jackwood: Simple, Alternate, Rounded groove midvein, Glaucous undersides

Cryptocarya microneura

Murrogun: Simple, Alternate, Raised midvein, Lateral veins curving along leaf

Wilkiea huegeliana

Wilkiea: Simple, Opposite, Toothed, Stiff, Raised reticulated undersides

Ficus coronata

Sandpaper Fig: Simple, Alternate, Sandpaper texture, Zigzagged branchlets, margins sometimes finely toothed

Ficus rubiginosa

Port Jackson Fig: Simple, Alternate, Flat midvein, Stipules medium length, Undersides often reddish

Backhousia myrtifolia

Cinnamon Myrtle: Simple, Opposite, Raised midvein, Hairy new growth

Acmena smithii

Common Lilly Pilly: Simple, Opposite, Rounded tips, Sunken midvein, Veiny

Tristaniopsis laurina

Water Gum: , ,

Notelaea venosa

Veined Mock-olive: Simple, Opposite, 2 or more dark rounded axillary buds

Glochidion ferdinandi

Cheese Tree: , ,

Pittosporum revolutum

Yellow Pittosporum: , ,

Alphitonia excelsa

Red Ash: Simple, Alternate, White undersides, Hairy branchlets

Synoum glandulosum

Scentless Rosewood: Imparipinnate, Alternate, Raised midvein, Midvein domatia

Guioa semiglauca

Guioa: Pinnate, Alternate, Bluey white undersides, Rachis projection

Livistona australis

Cabbage Tree Palm: , ,

Rainforest Plants (Reasonably Common)

Citronella moorei

Churnwood: Simple, Alternate, Lime to dark green, Shiny, Midvein domatia

Sloanea australis

Maiden's Blush: 1-foliolate, Alternate, Toothed, base widens/cordate

Polyosma cunninghamii

Featherwood: Simple, Opposite, Teeth with callus tips extending outward

Endiandra sieberi

Hard Corkwood: Simple, Alternate, Corky Bark, Midvein raised above and flattens into leaf on underside

Toona ciliata

Red Cedar: Pinnate, Alternate, Bases asymmetric, Tufted midvein domatia

Rhodamnia rubescens

Scrub Turpentine: Simple, Opposite, 3 veined, Hairy undersides, Endangered

Syzygium oleosum

Blue Lilly Pilly: Simple, Opposite, Long pointed tips, Large translucent oil dots

Pittosporum undulatum

Sweet Pittosporum: Simple, Pseudo-whorled, Undulate margins

Myrsine howittiana

Brush Muttonwood: Simple, Alternate, Rusty bud hairs, Undulate margins

Myrsine variabilis

Muttonwood: , ,

Stenocarpus salignus

Scrub Beefwood: Simple, Alternate, 3 longitudinal veins

Psychotria loniceroides

Hairy Psychotria: Simple, Opposite, Hairy in general, Midvein domatia

Acronychia oblongifolia

White Aspen: 1-foliolate, Opposite, Raised midvein

Melicope micrococca

White Euodia: 3-foliolate, Opposite, Lateral leaflets curve around terminal leaflet

Scolopia braunii

Flintwood: Simple, Alternate, Leaves with angled margins, Toothed when young

Alectryon subcinereus

Native Quince: Pinnate, Alternate, Winged rachis, Toothed in upper half, Rachis projection

Planchonella australis

Black Apple: Simple, Alternate, Raised midvein, Many straightish lateral veins

Duboisia myoporoides

Corkwood: Simple, Alternate, Corky Bark, Leaves clumped

Symplocos stawellii

White Hazelwood: Simple, Alternate, Toothed, Hairy scales over terminal buds

Tasmannia insipida

Brush Pepperbush: Simple, Alternate, Pepper scent, Green branches

Rainforest Plants (Scattered)

Euroschinus falcatus

Blush Cudgerie: Pinnate, Alternate, Y-forked lateral veins, Mango scent

Brachychiton acerifolius

Flame Tree: Simple, Alternate, Entire, 3-lobed or 5-lobed, Long petioles

Hedycarya angustifolia

Native Mulberry: Simple, Opposite, Irregularly toothed, obvious reticulation above

Ficus henneana

Deciduous Fig: Simple, Alternate, Midvein sunken, Stipules short, Lateral veins distinct, Large individual fruit

Abrophyllum ornans

Native Hydrangea: Simple, Alternate, Toothed, Leaves at ends of branches

Cyclophyllum longipetalum

Coast Canthium: Simple, Opposite, Interpetiolar stipules, Domatia sometimes

Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Tuckeroo: Pinnate, Alternate, Rachis projection

Diploglottis australis

Native Tamarind: Pinnate, Alternate, Large hairy leaflets, Rachis projection

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

Bangalow Palm: , ,

Rainforest Plants (Rarer)

Polyscias elegans

Celery Wood: Bipinnate, Alternate, Rachis swollen and jointed at nodes

Polyscias murrayi

Pencil Cedar: Imparipinnate, Alternate, Toothed, Rachis jointed at nodes with glands between leaflets

Celtis paniculata

Investigator Tree: Simple, Alternate, Zigzagged branchlets, Lowest pair of lateral veins distinctly steeper

Diospyros pentamera

Myrtle Ebony: Simple, Alternate, Whitish green undersides with veins showing

Baloghia inophylla

Brush Bloodwood: Simple, Opposite, Gland on both leaf margins near base

Pararchidendron pruinosum

Snowwood: Bipinnate, Alternate, Pinnae opposite, Leaflets alternate

Gmelina leichhardtii

White Beech: Simple, Opposite, Raised hairy veins below, Toothed when young

Litsea reticulata

Bolly Gum: Simple, Alternate, Reticulated below, Midvein flatish, Veins make orderly loops well inside margin

Ficus obliqua

Small-leaved Fig: Simple, Alternate, Midvein raised, Stipules short, Fruit small

Maclura cochinchinensis

Cockspur Thorn: , ,

Syzygium australe

Brush Cherry: Simple, Opposite, New branchlets 4-winged with humps at nodes

Pisonia umbellifera

Birdlime Tree: , ,

Quintinia sieberi

Possumwood: Simple, Alternate, Tiny red glands on young branchlets and leaf undersides

Pennantia cunninghamii

Brown Beech: , ,

Podocarpus elatus

Plum Pine: , ,

Emmenosperma alphitonioides

Yellow Ash: Simple, Opposite, Wirey branchlets, clusters of small orange fruit

Nematolepis squamea

Satinwood: , ,

Sarcomelicope simplicifolia

Yellow Aspen: 1-foliolate, Opposite, Sunken midvein, white petioles

Myoporum acuminatum

Boobialla: , ,

Symplocos thwaitesii

Buff Hazelwood: Simple, Alternate, Irregular teeth, Hairless scales over terminal buds

Dendrocnide excelsa

Giant Stinging Tree: Simple, Alternate, Toothed, Base cordate, Painful stinging hairs

Rainforest Plants (Possibly)

Syzygium paniculatum

Magenta Lilly Pilly: Simple, Opposite, Often pitted above, Multiple embryos in seed

Neolitsea dealbata

Hairy-leaved Bolly Gum: Simple, Pseudowhorled, Hairy branchlets and buds, Hairy white undersides

* Syzygium paniculatum is seen around some cleared picnic areas on the Hacking River but remnant populations appear to be very rare or even absent

** There is only a single BioNet record of Neolitsea dealbata in the park, which I have not been able to find to verify