1A. Subtropical Rainforest
In the Subtropical Rainforest the upper canopy averages about 30 m tall with scattered emergents, typically usually of Eucalyptus or Ficus species. A lower sub-canopy, about 7 m tall, may be present, and epiphytes and lianas are common, but the floor is usually relatively open. They occur in the deep valleys, usually with a southern to eastern aspects and at lower altitudes where richer soils have accumulated. Numerous species are present, producing a high species richness, and the trees and shrubs have relatively large and soft mesophytic leaves.
Subtropical Rainforest in the Williams River valley.
1B. Warm Temperate (Submontane) Rainforest
In this sub-formation emergents are fewer, the canapy is not as high and a sub-canopy may also be pesent. Epiphytes are fewer, but lianas are common and ferns are often present on the floor. Tree and shrub leaves are also smaller. They generally occur at altitudes above the STRf and may merge with the CTRf at the upper limit. They also occupy the less favourable areas of lower moisture and/or greater exposure or lower temperatures. Many of the same species that are present in the STRf also occur here but the species richness is reduced.
Warm Temperate Rainforest in Bow Wow Gorge.
1C. Cool Temperate (Montane) Rainforest
The Cool Temperate Rainforest canopy is relatively even, lianas are absent and the floor is often dense with mosses, ferns and tree ferns. They occur in similar aspects to the WTRf but at higher altitudes where the average temperatures are lower. The number of species is few, Nothofagus moorei is dominant, and Doryphora sassafras may be locally common. The tree ferns are Dicksonia antarctica.
Cool Temperate Rainforest in a south facing gully on Barrington Tops.
1D. Dry Rainforest (Low Closed-forest)
In drier sheltered situations with a south-eastern aspect, or amongst rocky outcrops, where there is sufficient moisture Dry Rainforest may be found. The trees are lower, to about 10 m high and the canopy is often dense, emergents are common and there is often a discontinuous shrubby understory. Ground cover may be herbaceous and/or ferny, or open. In the moister areas rainforest species are common, where as in the drier areas the softer mesophytic species are replaced by hardier genera, such as: Trema, Geijera, Ficus, Clerodendrum, Notelaea, Breynia, Citrobatus, Myoporum, Canthium, and Rhagodia. Small vines and twinners, such as species of Cissus, Pandorea, Parsonsia and Marsdenia are common. A few scattered grasses may occur.
1E. Mangrove Low Closed-forests
Along waterways and on mud flats in the intertidal zone, mangroves form narrow bands of small trees of uniform height with a dense canopy. One or two species, Avicennia marina and less frequently Aegiceras corniculatum, only are present. Sarcocornia quinqueflora and other halophytes and the sedge Juncus kraussii may occur on the tidal areas to the landward side of the mangroves. Whilst not classified as "rainforest", mangroves usually have a closed canopy.
Avicennia marina mangroves along the Hunter River.
1F. Other Minor Closed Forests
In near coastal areas a number of small areas are occupied by Livistona australis closed forest. These normally contain other co-canopy or emergent species and generally occur on moist sites in the Open-forest formations.
Along some of the streams on the Barrington Tops dense stands of Leptospermum montanum may occur.
