Oxley Wild Rivers National Park (OWRNP)

Wollomombi Wattle Acacia blakei subspecies diphylla . Feel the 'leaves' - firm, a little leathery, with longitudinal veins. Note flowers, seedpods if present- typical wattle, with the leaf-stalk taking over the functions of a leaf, and without the stomates - the breathing pores through which plants lose water. So wattles can live in seasonally dry places.

Restricted to Northern Tablelands gorges.

Gorge Mock-Olive Notolea microcarpa subspecies velutinea is a small bush with opposite +/- velvety leaves that grows in on the steep sides of gorges in the New England. It is in the same family as the commercial European olive, and produces similar fruit.

Green Wattle Acacia irrorata. Feel the leaves (eyes closed), compare with the phyllodes of Wollomombi Wattle. This plant keeps its juvenile leaves into maturity. Sometimes planted in gardens, with golden balls of flowers in November to January – and sometimes also in winter like most other wattles

Lichen on railings beside track. Note the difference between the top of rail (flat Crustose lichen) and the side (thick Foliose lichen). Also look at lichen on nearby dead tree. Which type? Evidence of the thick mists that sometimes roll up from the gorge, allowing many plants to survive without putting roots deep into the soil Rainfall here 30-40 inches (750-1000mm) per year.

Lichen is caused by moss and fungus taking a liken to each other.