12 families, between them, contain over 60% of the species -

Fabaceae ^*  Until recently the Mimosaceae (Acacia) and Caesalpiniaceae (Senna) families were separate families. They are now subfamilies, together with Faboideae (pea flowers), of the Fabaceae family.  See here.

39 families only have one species in the GBMWHA; whilst 91 have 5 of fewer species.

Of the 2,300 species, 95 are threatened and 359 protected. See here.

In addition, there are over 400 exotic or introduced species - weeds. See here.

The information is compiled from BioNet and PlantNET for the GBMWHA's seven national parks and the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve as of May 2016.

More details of the analysis can be found at the foot of this webpage.

Here's a list of the GBMWHA flora species.

The Waratah Software website contains over 240 images of Blue Mountains wildflowers.

The GBMWHA was inscribed on the World Heritage list due to its biodiversity - especially its number of Eucalypt species.

The Nomination for World Heritage quoted "over 1,500 flora species". It now stands at 2,300 - and is increasing.

The landscape, geology, microclimates and fire histories of the Greater Blue Mountains are very diverse, and give rise to a rich ecological diversity. This is well expressed by the variety of vegetation in the World Heritage Area, which contains:

• 7 of the 12 vegetation formations recognised for New South Wales: Dry Sclerophyll Forests, Wet Sclerophyll Forests, Grassy Woodlands, Rainforests, Heathlands, Freshwater Wetlands, Forested Wetlands;
• 28 broad vegetation classes (almost one-third of the 99 classes recognised for NSW);
• some 500 distinct vegetation communities ('locally consistent assemblages of plant species that live together')

There are 241 native species of the Fabaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 8 are vulnerable and 3 are endangered.

The endangered species are -

• Bynoe's Wattle (Acacia bynoeana)
• Acacia gordonii
• Pultenaea villifera var. villifera.

The sub-family breakdown is as follows -

• 139 - Sub-family Faboideae (pea flowers)
• 98 - Sub-family Mimosoideae (Acacias)
• 4 - Sub-family Caesalpinioideae (Senna).

With some 19,500 species worldwide, it is the third largest flora family. It could be called the legume, pea and bean family.

There are 196 native species of the Myrtaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 24 are protected.

Of these 23 protected species, 13 are vulnerable and 5 are endangered.

The endangered species are -

• Baeckea kandos
• Megalong Valley Bottlebrush (Callistemon megalongensis)
• Camden Woollybutt (Eucalyptus macarthurii)
• Eucalyptus sp. Howes Swamp Creek
• Magenta Lilly Pilly (Syzygium paniculatum).

The 1998 World Heritage Nomination lists 90 Eucalypt taxa. This combines Eucalyptus, Angophora and Corymbia species.

Current analysis shows 109 - Eucalyptus (99), Angophora (6) and Corymbia (4).

There are 186 native species of the Orchidaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 150 are protected.

Of these 150 protected species, 3 are vulnerable and 3 are endangered.

The endangered species are -

• Buttercup Doubletail (Diuris aequalis)
• Slaty Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum fuscum)
• Sydney Plains Greenhood (Pterostylis saxicola).

At 28,000 species the Orchidaceae family is the world's largest plant family.

The vanilla bean comes from the Vanilla planifolia orchid.

There are 156 native species of the Poaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 1 is vulnerable.

The vulnerable species is -

• Ancistrachne maidenii.

The Poaceae family includes wheat, corn, rice and bamboo.

There are 149 native species of the Asteraceae family in the GBMWHA of which 8 are protected, 2 are vulnerable and 1 is endangered.

The vulnerable species are -

• Olearia cordata
• Ozothamnus tesselatus.

The endangered species is -

• Austral Cornflower (Rhaponticum australe).

The Asteraceae family is the world's 2nd largest floral family and includes lettuce and artichokes, and the Calendula and Echinacea genera.

There are 114 native species of the Cyperaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 6 are protected, 1 is vulnerable and 1 is endangered.

The vulnerable and endangered species are -

• Carex klaphakei (Ancistrachne maidenii) - endangered
• Evans Sedge (Lepidosperma evansianum) - vulnerable.

Members of the Cyperaceae family include the water chestnut and papyrus.

There are 98 native species of the Proteaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 40 are protected, 5 are vulnerable and 5 are endangered.

The endangered species are -

• Grey Grevillea (Grevillea obtusiflora)
• Kowmung Hakea (Hakea dohertyi)
• Bargo Geebung (Persoonia bargoensis)
• Mittagong Geebung (Persoonia glaucescens)
• Hairy Geebung (Persoonia hirsuta).

The Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is the floral emblem of NSW.

There are 69 native species of the Ericaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 4 are protected, 2 are vulnerable and 1 is endangered.

The vulnerable and endangered species are -

• Epacris hamiltonii - endangered
• Sparse Heath (Epacris sparsa) - vulnerable
• Woronora Beard-heath (Leucopogon exolasius) - vulnerable.

Members of the Ericaceae family include the cranberry, blueberry, rhododendron and azaleas.

There are 66 native species of the Rutaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 36 are protected, 3 are vulnerable and 4 are endangered.

The endangered species are -

• Asterolasia buxifolia
• Leionema lachnaeoides
• Coveny's Zieria (Zieria covenyi)
• Zieria involucrata.

Members of the Rutaceae family include oranges, lemons and limes.

There are 49 native species of the Lamiaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 4 are vulnerable.

The vulnerable species are -

• Singleton Mint Bush (Prostanthera cineolifera)
• Wollemi Mint-bush (Prostanthera cryptandroides)
• Prostanthera discolor
• Mount Vincent Mint-bush (Prostanthera stricta)

Members of the Lamiaceae family include basil, mint, rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme and lavender, and the teak tree.

There are 33 native species of the Rhamnaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 1 is vulnerable and 4 are endangered.

The endangered species are -

• Brown Pomaderris (Pomaderris brunnea)
• Cotoneaster Pomaderris (Pomaderris cotoneaster)
• Scant Pomaderris (Pomaderris queenslandica)
• Silky Pomaderris (Pomaderris sericea).

23 of the 33 species recorded as being in the GBMWHA belong to the Pomaderris genus. [I find it hard to identify the actual species.]

There are 31 native species of the Apiaceae family in the GBMWHA of which 5 are protected, 1 is vulnerable and 1 is endangered.

The vulnerable and endangered species are -

• Mountain Trachymene (Trachymene scapigera) - endangered
• Xanthosia scopulicola - vulnerable.

Members of the Apiaceae family include celery, carrot and parsley.

28 of the endangered species are included in the family description above - the remaining 15 are -

• White‑flowered Wax Plant (Cynanchum elegans)
• Allocasuarina glareicola
• Spreading Guinea Flower (Hibbertia procumbens)
• Hibbertia puberula
• Bristly Shield Fern (Lastreopsis hispida)
• Large-leafed Monotaxis (Monotaxis macrophylla)
• Narrow-leaf Finger Fern (Grammitis stenophylla)
• Gyrostemon thesioides
• Haloragodendron lucasii
• Dwarf Kerrawang (Commersonia prostrata)
• Commersonia rosea
• Keraudrenia corollata
• Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii)
• Rough Eyebright (Euphrasia scabra)
• Solanum armourense.

Here's a list of all threatened GBMWHA species.

More information on Threatened Species in NSW can be found here.

The more well known noxious ones are -

• Black Willow  (Salix nigra)
• Blackberry  (Rubus fruticosus)
• English Broom  (Cytisus scoparius)
• Gorse  (Ulex europaeus)
• Lantana  (Lantana camara)
• Large-leaved Privet  (Ligustrum lucidum)
• Montbretia  (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora)
• Montpellier Broom  (Genista monspessulana)
• Patterson's Curse  (Echium plantagineum)
• Small-leaved Privet  (Ligustrum sinense).

Here's a list of the GBMWHA exotic species.

It was initially planned to prepare lists at a subspecies/variety level - but this turned out to be arduous and time consuming, as it requires detailed examination of each species so affected. This will have to wait until time permits.

Although comprehensive, the resulting lists are incomplete as they will change as -

• new species are identified
• existing species are reclassified as subspecies, and vice-versa
• exotic species are introduced or removed.

It should be remembered that 65% of the million hectares of the GBMWHA is declared wilderness and is difficult to access.

In addition, BioNet makes the following qualification - "The data are only indicative and cannot be considered a comprehensive inventory, and may contain errors and omissions."

However, the lists provide a solid baseline of the GBMWHA flora - its diversity, breadth and splendour.