Mixed Forests
Mixed forests are often mistaken for rainforests, because at eye level they can appear virtually identical.
While both forest types possess a dense understorey of rainforest species, the overstorey in a mixed forest is comprised of tall eucalypt species, such as Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus Regnans) and White-Top Stringybark (Eucalyptus Delegatensis).
Mixed forests are not rainforests because the eucalypts present require a disturbance such as fire to regenerate.
Mixed forests exist in a delicate state of balance - disturbances like fire are crucial to ensure the regeneration of their eucalypt species, but if the fires are too frequent then the rainforest species do not have time to grow to maturity.