Mallee Scrubs

Mallee scrubs develop on poor sandy soils in areas receiving less than 350 mm annual rainfall in the far north of the region. Organic matter is low and soil structure is poor and subject to drought stress. The structure is variable although the overstorey is usually dominated by Mallee-form trees such as Yellow Mallee Eucalyptus incrassata, Slender-leaf Mallee E. leptophylla, Dumosa Mallee E. dumosa and Grey Mallee E. socialis that are low in height. The understorey is dominated by heathy shrubs like Desert Banksia Banksia ornata, Green Tea-tree Leptospermum coriaceum, Baeckias Baeckia spp., Scrub Cypress Pine Callitris verrucosa and Myrtles Calytrix spp. with few if any grasses except for Common Porcupine Grass Triodia scariosa and annual herbs (particularly composites). Mallee scrubs are better represented on public land in catchments to the north of the region. Examples occur in the Wimmera CMA in the vicinity of Lake Hindmarsh and Lake Albacutya although these are generally degraded by user pressures. Better information is required on the range, extent and quality of EVCs that make up this vegetation type in the region. EVCs: East/West Dune Mallee Loamy Sand Mallee Chenopod Mallee Shallow Sand Mallee Broombush Mallee Mallee Heath Sandstone-rise Broombush Scrub Pine Woodland.

Desert Banksia Banksia ornata Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link) Mallee Eucalyptus dumosa Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link) Yellow Mallee Eucalyptus incrassata Photograph is the property of Viridans Biolo../../vrosite.nsf/pages/os_soil_viridiansgical Databases (externa link)

Grey Mallee Eucalyptus socialis
Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link)



Green Tea-tree Leptospermum coriaceum
Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases
(external link)
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