Plains Grassy Woodlands

The flat, riverine plains of the region are dominated by Plains Grassy Woodlands, which typically occupy areas on fertile silts and clays that receive between 400-600 mm rainfall per annum. This vegetation is characterised by a very low density of trees including River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Yellow Box E. melliodora and Grey Box E. microcarpa. Black Box E. largiflorens, Yellow Gum E. leucoxylon and Buloke Allocasuarina luehmannii are generally more common in lower rainfall areas. The most common shrubs include low-growing species such as Gold-dust Wattle Acacia acinacea, Spreading Eutaxia Eutaxia microphylla and Cranberry Heath Astroloma humifusum. The ground layer is dominated by perennial grasses, particularly Wallaby Grasses Austrodanthonia spp., Spear Grasses Austrostipa spp., Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra and a range of perennial and annual herbs and geophytes, especially orchids and lilies. Chenopods (saltbushes) and composites (daises) may also be a feature of this vegetation in lower rainfall areas. Many of the areas that once carried this vegetation have been cleared for agriculture and only fragmented remnants remain on private land, roadsides and the fringes of larger public land blocks. A feature of this vegetation type in many areas is the presence of seasonal wetlands and swamps, including saline lakes. Areas between Horsham and Edenhope are typical of such landscapes. EVCs: Low Rises Grassy Woodland Plains Grassy Woodland Plains Woodland Shallow Sands Woodland Creekline Grassy Woodland Red Gum Wetland Plains Grassy Wetland Salt Paperbark Woodland Lunette Woodland Plains Sedgy Woodland

Buloke Allocasuarina luehmannii Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link) River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link) Yellow Gum Eucalyptus leucoxylon Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link)

Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora
Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases
(external link)

Grey Box Eucalyptus microcarpa
Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link)


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