Rare plant recovery in Mallee woodlands

2013·4.2 MB·English

Research Reports
Rare plant recovery in Mallee woodlands
David Cheal1,2, Claire Moxham1, Sally Kenny1 and JessicaMillet-Riley1
1ArthurRylahInstituteforEnvironmentalResearch,DepartmentofEnvironmentandPrimaryIndustries
123BrownStreet,Heidelberg,Victoria3084
2correspondingauthor;SchoolofScience,Information,Technology&Engineering,
UniversityofBallarat,POBox663,Ballarat,Victoria3353
Abstract
Recent botanical surveys in semi-arid woodlands in the Victorian Mallee have provided further records of
28plantspeciesconsideredrareorthreatened. Thethreatstatusof10speciesisrecommendedforreview, as
theyappearto be morecommonthan in theircurrentlisting. Botanicalcollections in 2012 include thefirst
Victorian specimen record forthe Desert New Holland Daisy Vittadinia eremaea. The records ofthese rare
orthreatened plants come aftertwo decades ofbrowsing andgrazingcontrol,which enabled thewoodland
flora totakeadvantageofthebreakingofthedroughtin2010. From2010to2012rainfallextended intothe
normally dry summers, providing two consecutive and unusually benign summers with good recruitment
opportunities.Lowgrazingandbrowsingpressureisanecessaryprecursorforregeneration ofmanyofthese
speciesandthesemi-aridwoodlandtheyconstitute.(7heVictorianNaturalist130(3)2013,96-108)
Keywords:Woodland recovery,rareplants,semi-arid,grazing,regeneration
Introduction
Semi-arid non-eucalypt woodlands (hereafter and the severe degradation of the remaining
semi-aridwoodlands)areanimportantcompo- woodlands, and recommended their further
nent ofthe Victorian Mallee region. Semi-arid reservation into what are now the Mallee Na-
woodlands are characteristically dominated by tional Parks and Reserves (Land Conservation
treesotherthaneucalypts,notablyBelahCasua- Council 1977; 1987).
rinapauper BulokeAllocasuarina luehmannii The composition of the remaining wood-
, ,
Slender Pine Callitris gracilis and Sugarwood lands is substantially dependent on the local
Myoporum platycarpum (plant nomenclature (site-specific) management history. Most rem-
follows Walsh and Stajsic 2007). Lower strata nant stands have been changed greatly follow-
may be dominated by various grasses, forbs ing a century or more offires (to which these
and cryptogams (notablylichens and mosses), woodlandsareparticularlysusceptible),timber
or a variety ofcharacteristic shrubs (e.g. Aca- harvesting (especially Slender Pine), brows-
cia spp., Senna spp.) (White etal. 2003). These ing and grazing by domestic, native and feral
woodlandsonce coveredextensivetractsofthe mammals, weed invasion and other novel in-
Mallee region, but today are restricted largely trusionsintoecologicalprocesses(Gowansand
to theNational Parks and Flora and Fauna Re- Westbrooke 2002; Callister 2004; Gowans et
serves (Connor 1966; Sluiter etal 1997; White al 2005; Cheal 2009a, b; Gowans et al 2010)
etal. 2003;Callister2004). such as wind-blown sand (Cheal et al 2012).
Managementhistory This wind-blown sand (a result ofovergrazing
Semi-arid woodlands have been cleared ex- and clearing) has been a problem since Euro-
tensively for agriculture, timber harvesting peansettlementandcontinuestoday. Ithasthe
abilityto ‘bury’ large areas ofsemi-arid wood-
(especially Slender Pine) and grazing. They
have been further impacted by high popula- land and mallee shrublands. Areas in Hattah-
Kulkyne and Wyperfeld National Parks have
tionsofbrowsing andgrazing animals, notably
rabbits and kangaroos (Cohn and Bradstock been replanted in the past in orderto stabilise
2000; Morcom 2000; Sandell etal 2002; Sand- theshiftingsands.
ell 2006). In 1977 and again in 1987, the Land Soil disturbance has also been reduced
Conservation Council recognised the severe through the removal of stock grazing, a key
and extensive depletion of these woodlands management focus in the parks soon after res-
96 TheVictorian Naturalist
Research Reports
ervation.Additionalbrowsingspeciescurrently of a degrading process (such as high grazing
includerabbits,hares,kangaroosandgoats,and pressure) does not produce rapid recovery of
their numbers fluctuate as a result of control woodlandthatisoriginal oringoodcondition.
measuresandclimaticconditions (i.e. numbers It may take many decades, and an accumula-
decreaseindroughtperiodsandincreaseinwet tion ofrare stochastic circumstances (such as
periodswhenabundantfeedisavailable). cooler summers with extended rainfall) before
degraded communities approach undisturbed
RecoveryandRestoration
condition states.
Previous studieswithintheseMallee Parksand
Reserves found that grazing-sensitive ground Climate
layer plants can recover quite rapidly with re- Droughts in north-western Victoria may be
duced grazing pressure (Sandell 2002; Cheal both seasonal and over much longer periods.
2009a; Gowans et al 2010), but recovery of Seasonal drought is a characteristic feature of
woody perennial species such as shrubs and the regional environment, with marked water
trees is more variable. Gowans et al. (2010) deficits from December to April-May (White
found a > 80% increase in mean species rich- et al 2003). A longer-term pattern ofdrought
ness ofthe shrub layer in Pine-Buloke wood- may be superimposed on this annual pattern,
lands in Wyperfeld National Park, following such as the recent rainfall deficit ofthe decade
stock removal and early control of browsers, that finished in 2010-2011 (Fig. 1, Austral-
notablyrabbits,hares,goatsandkangaroos. ian Bureau of Meteorology 2012). Seasonal
Regenerationand/orrecruitmenteventsinthe drought is part ofthe regional landscape and
Mallee are sporadic (Batty and Parsons 1992; rarelyhas long-term repercussions on the cur-
Sinclair2005;Sandell2006). Pre-conditionsfor rent flora and vegetation (White et al 2003).
bothgerminationandestablishmentarelargely Longer-term drought can have dramatic ad-
unknown; however, it is thought that unusu- verse impacts onthe survival and regeneration
allyheavyorprolonged rainfall isimportantto oflong-livedspecies. Decadaldroughthasbeen
facilitate establishment and continued survival suggestedasareasonfortherecentwidespread
(Sinclair2005;Sandell 2006). Successfulregen- deaths ofSlender PinesinthewesternMurray-
erationofBelahhasbeenobservedwherewater Sunset National Park (Cheal et al 2007). Of
accumulatesinlow-lyingareasfollowingheavy course, drought is largely unmanageable (i.e.
rainfall (Westbrooke 1998). Sugarwood regen- there isscantmanagementresponsethatamel-
eration also occurred following the establish- iorates drought) with the possible exception
ment ofthe rabbit calicivirus in 1996 (Sandell that, to a certain extent, herbivore control and
2002; Sandelletal 2002;Cheal2009b). theassociated reduction inbrowsing andgraz-
Semi-arid vegetation is necessarily slow- ingpressuremimicagoodseasoninitsimpacts
growing. Low mean annual rainfall reduces on the local vegetation and flora (Cheal et al
growth rates and variable and unpredictable 2007).
rainfall patterns make plant establishment a Recently, in 2010 to 2012, two unseason-
rare and unreliable event for many plant spe- ably mild and damp summers have occurred
cies, including the dominant trees and shrubs. (Fig. 1; Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Consequently, ecological impacts have very 2012). Moister summers are very rare (maybe
long-lasting consequences. For example, many onceevery20to30years),butmaybeessential
ofthe surviving Buloke trees most likely pre- for the regeneration ofmany ofthe local plant
date the arrival ofrabbits in the 1860s (Castle species.Theabove-averagerainfallin201 pro-
1
1989; Raymond 1990; Sluiter et al 1997; Wil- vided a unique opportunity to determine dif-
liamsetal2004a,b).Recognisable(butdegrad- feringratesofregenerationacrossthesemi-arid
ed) Buloke Woodlands still exist, even though woodlandsoftheMallee.
there hasbeenscantregeneration foracentury Inthepast,heavygrazingbyrabbits,hares,goats,
andahalf.Thecorollaryofthistolerancetoad- stockandkangaroospreventedplantsfromtaking
verse ecological management is that recovery advantage oftheseoccasionalclimaticconditions
is also slow and extended. Immediate reversal favourable to regeneration. However, concerted
Vol 130 (3) 2013 97
Research Reports
Month
2010
ez—32011 ebm2012 - - - -long-term average
Fig. 1.Rainfall(mm)2010to2012andlong-termaverage(Mildurastation,AustralianBureauofMeteorology
2012
).
efforts to control these mammalian grazers and areavailableinKennyetal (2012). Thespecies
browsers (Sandelletal. 2002; Sandell 2002;Cheal discussedbelowwereincidentalrecords,noted
2009a; Gowans et al 2010) have culminated re- andcollectedwhenassessingsitesforthetarget
cently in an extended period ofreduced impact, project. Theprojectreportisavailablefrom the
CMA
putatively providing the essential pre-conditions Mallee andParksVictoria.
for regeneration ofmany species which had be- During these surveys 28 species listed on
comerareafterdecades (more than acentury) of the Department ofEnvironment and Primary
adversemanagement. Industries’ (DEPI’s) Advisory List ofRare and
Threatened Species (DSE 2005) were found.
Methods
Aspartofaprojectassessingthequalityofrem-
nant semi-arid woodlands in north-western
Victoria, fieldsurveyswereconducted in Janu-
aryandFebruary2012. Surveyswererestricted
totheWyperfeld,Hattah-KulkyneandMurray-
Sunset National Parks and Yarrara Flora and
FaunaReserve(Figs.2and3)andwererestrict-
ed to sites that supported semi-arid woodland
orthatwerebelievedtohaveformerlysupport-
ed semi-arid woodland. Data collected during
the survey were largely habitat structural as-
pects (e.g. treedensity,coverofvariousvegeta-
tionstrata), withveryfewfloristic data, mostly
treeandlargershrubspecies.Themethodsused
during the survey, the number ofsites visited Fig. 2. The location ofthe major reserves in north-
and other background to the regional survey western Victoria, and the focus areas of semi-arid
woodlandsamplingforthesurvey.
98 TheVictorianNaturalist
ResearchReports
Fig.3.Lessdisturbedsemi-aridwoodland,inYarraraFloraandFaunaReserve.
These species are individually and briefly dis- Implications: None; current status is support-
cussedbelow. ed. The plant is not widespread. It occurred in
two localisedpopulationsofno morethan 100
Results
plants each, on otherwise unremarkable sites
Most threatened species are found in low
on lowrolling dunes in former woodland. The
abundance and often their distributions and
plant is probably subject to heavybrowsing in
abundances have been impacted negatively by
‘normal5 seasons and reasonably considered
extensiveclearing,browsing andgrazing inthe
region. As a result, they are represented spar- threatened in Victoria. It is not considered
threatened elsewhere in Australia. The seeds
inglyinsurveydatasets.Thecurrentsurveyre-
are capable oflong-term storage in a soil seed
turned morethan 115recordsofrareorthreat-
— bank. Previousgerminationexperimentsunder
ened species a surprisingly high number
‘fresh5 andseedheatedtrials resultedin noger-
(Table 1), particularly as rare or threatened mination (Ooietal.2009).
species were not targeted. Easting/northing
was determined by GPS unit, datum GDA 94, Acacia colletioidesWait-a-while
zone54. DEPIlist: rare.
New Records: Three new localities, with few
Abutilonotocarpum DesertLantern
NDEePwIRliesct:orvudlsn:erFaibvlee.new localities, two with pRleapnrtesseantteaatcihv;eaLllocwailtihtyi:n5f6o1r4m5e0r/ra6n1g7e.7402
100+plants;allwithinformerrange. Implications: None; current status is support-
RSepperceismeenntsa:tiLvoedLgoecdalwitiyt:h5t0h1e6A6R81/H6e2r1b3a4r6i7um. etdh.e InnorVtihcetronriaM,alWlaeiet,-aw-hwehrieleitisisreusntrcioctmemdotno
Vol 130 (3) 2013 99
Research Reports
Table 1. Rareorthreatened speciesrecordedinthesemi-aridwoodlandsofnorth-westernVictoriain 2012.
Incidental’referstothosespeciesrecordedoutsiderecentquadrat-basedsurveys.*indicatesspecieswhichare
alsolistedundertheFloraandFaunaGuaranteeAct1988.
Scientificname Englishname DEPIlist Numberof
Conservationstatus records
Abutilonotocarpum DesertLantern Vulnerable1 5
Acaciacolletioides Wait-a-while Rare2 3
Amyemalinophylla BulokeMistletoe vulnerable Incidental
Atriplexacutibractea PointedSaltbush rare* Incidental
Convolvulusclementii DesertBindweed vulnerable Incidental
Eremophilaoppositifolia Twin-leafEmu-bush rare 6
Eremophilascoparia ScotiaBush rare 1
Eriochlamysbehrii3 WoollyMantle rare 1
Jasminumdidymum DesertJasmine vulnerable 4
Maireanageorgei Slit-wingBluebush vulnerable 2
Maireanasedifolia PearlBluebush rare 1
Maireana triptera Three-wingBluebush rare 12
Marsdeniaaustralis Doubah vulnerable 2
Phyllanthuslacunellus SandhillSpurge rare 2
Ptilotussessilifolius CrimsonTails poorlyknown4 1
Radyerafarragei BushHibiscus vulnerable 2
Rhagodiaulicina SpinyGoosefoot rare 24
Rhyncharrhenalinearis PurplePentatrope vulnerable 1
Sarcozonapraecox Sarcozona rare 11
Sclerolaenapatenticuspis Spear-fruitCopperburr vulnerable 2
Sidafibulifera PinSida vulnerable Incidental
Sidaintricata TwiggySida vulnerable >5
Sidaspodochroma LimestoneSida vulnerable* Incidental
Tecticornia triandra5 DesertGlasswort rare 1
Tragusaustralianus SmallBurrgrass vulnerable >20
Triraphismollis PurpleNeedlegrass rare 6
Velleiaarguta GrasslandVelleia rare 3
Vittadiniaeremaea DesertNewHollandDaisy Newrecord Incidental
1Vulnerabledefined as ‘notpresently endangeredbut likelyto become so soon dueto continueddepletion;
oroccurringmainlyonsiteslikelytoexperiencechangesinland-usewhichcouldthreatenthesurvivalofthe
speciesinthewild; orspecieswhosetotalpopulationsaresolowthatrecoveryfromlocaldisturbancecould
beunlikely’.
2Raredefinedas‘rareinVictoriabutnotconsideredotherwisethreatened.Thiscategorydoesnotnecessarily
implythatthespeciesissubstantiallythreatened,butmerelythattherearerelativelyfewknownstands’
3Note:whilstthisspeciesislistedintheVictorian Census (2007) asrare,itiswidespreadandrelativelycom-
moninnorth-westernVictoria.
4 Poorly Known defined as ‘suspected, but not definitely known, to belong to categories rare, vulnerable or
endangered’.
formerlyknownasPachycorniatriandra.
but concentrated in non-mallee sites (i.e. non- Amyema linophylla Buloke Mistletoe (front
eucalypt sites, which are only exceptionally cover)
burnt). In spite ofits spiny nature, it appears DEPIlist: vulnerable.
to be relatively palatable. For many years the New Records: Fewer than five new records, all
more common Spine Bush Acacia nyssophylla withinformerrange.
was confused with Wait-a-while. All records RepresentativeLocality: 534811 /6194098
ofWait-a-while before the mid-1980s are sus- Implications:None;currentstatusissupported.
pectandshouldbechecked;itissuspectedthat The plant is not widespread and is largely an
manymaybere-determinedasA. nyssophylla. obligate parasite on Buloke Allocasuarina lue-
100 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
hmannii and Belah Casuarina pauper in Vic- Eremophila oppositifolia Twin-leaf Emu-
toria, although it is occasionally recorded on bush
other hosts (Marriott 2012). Both Buloke and DEPIlist: rare.
Belah are greatly reduced in abundance and New Records: Six new records, all within the
heavily browsed (as is Buloke Mistletoe itself) knownrangeinVictoria.
wherever the foliage is accessible to kangaroos RepresentativeLocality: 556392/6177413
ordomesticstock. Implications:None;currentstatusissupported.
Theplantisnotwidespread, butmaybelocally
Atriplex acutibractea subsp. acutibractea common(particularlyinhighqualitysemi-arid
PointedSaltbush
woodlands).
DEPIlist:vulnerableandlistedundertheFlora
andFaunaGuaranteeAct 1988. EremophilascopariaSilveryEmu-bush
New Records: One new locality, with approxi- DEPIlist: rare.
mately five plants, a major outlier from its New Records: One new locality, some distance
(former) known range in Victoria (Nowingi to fromformerrecords,whichareconcentratedin
Mildura). thefarnorth-eastoftheSunsetCountry,imme-
RepresentativeLocality: 508817/6203488 diatelywestofMildura.
Specimens: Lodged with the ARI Herbari- RepresentativeLocality: 586686/6171660
um and the National Herbarium of Victoria Implications: None; current status is support-
(MEL). ed. Silvery Emu-bush is not widespread. This
Implications:None;currentstatusissupported. record is a notable range extension and, unlike
Theplantisnotwidespread.Thisisthefirst(and most other Victorian occurrences, in a secure
only) one ofthe recent Victorian records from reserve.
a park or similarly protected reserve. In Vic- EriochlamysbehriiWoollyMantle
toria the species is associated with Oil Mallee DEPI list:rare.
Eucalyptus oleosa, Narrow-leafMallee E. lepto- New Records: One new locality, within the
phylla,WhiteMalleeE.gracilisandGreyMallee formerrange.
E. socialis, usuallyonslightlysalinesoils. RepresentativeLocality: 556398 /6128871
ConvolvulusclementiiDesertBindweed Implications: Review current status. Recent
DEPIlist:vulnerable. taxonomic revision (Walsh 2007) has segre-
New Records: Two new records, all within the gated the more southern populations as a new
formerrange. species,Eriochlamyssquamata.Nevertheless,E.
RepresentativeLocality: 511810/6184943 behrii remainscommon insuitablehabitat (the
Specimens: Lodged with the ARI Herbari- upper margins ofsaline boinkas and seasonal
um and the National Herbarium of Victoria lakes).
(MEL). Jasminum didymum subsp. lineare Desert
Implications: Review current status. This spe- Jasmine
cies may be less threatened than the current DEPI list:vulnerable.
designation ‘vulnerable implies. This spe- NewRecords: Fournewrecords,withinformer
cies is only recently recognised for Victoria range.
(Johnson 2001) and is under-collected and RepresentativeLocality: 539840/6191161
previously overlooked. Its habitat seems to be Specimens: LodgedwiththeARIHerbarium
tniogrhtthl-ywreessttroifcttehdetsotahteeaavnydsiotilisfulantscoinmmthoenftaor IInmpVliicctaotriioan,s:DNeosenret;Jcuarsrmeinntesitsatluasrgiselsyup(pbourttendo.t
locally common. Its distribution in Victoria is wholly) restricted to high quality semi-arid
poorlyknown, as ithasonlyrecentlybeen dis- woodlandstands,which are also rareinoccur-
tinguished from C. erubescens. In NSW, it is rence.
described as mostly found on flat areas, such
asduneswalesandclaypanssubjecttoseasonal
inundation,inareasofopen grassywoodland.
Vol 130 (3) 2013 101
/
Research Reports
MaireanageorgeiSlit-wingBluebush
DEPIlist:vulnerable.
New Records: Two new localities, each with
probably<10plants,allwithintheknownrange
inVictoria.
RepresentativeLocality:499061 /6195895
Implications:None;currentstatusissupported.
Theplant iswidespread andyet nowhere com-
mon.Itappearstoberestrictedtoheavier,more
fertilesites,supportingeithergrasslandoropen
woodland (the focus offormer licensed graz-
ing). It is one ofthe most palatable Maireana
species (Cunningham etal. 1981) and popula-
tions may increase over time (assuming con- Fig. 4. Pearl Bluebush Maireana sedifolia January
tinuinggrazing/browsingcontrol). 2006,westernMurray-SunsetNationalPark.,
MaireanasedifoliaPearlBluebush (Fig. 4)
DEPIlist: rare. MarsdeniaaustralisDoubah
New Records: One new locality, within its DEPIlist:vulnerable.
knownrangeinVictoria. New Records: Two new records, all within
RepresentativeLocality: 512182/6190133 formerrange.
Implications:None;currentstatusissupported. RepresentativeLocality: 539428/6191659
In Victoria, Pearl Bluebush is largelyrestricted Specimens: LodgedwiththeARIHerbarium.
to heavier soils that are relatively fertile (and Implications:None;currentstatusissupported.
were thus preferentially alienated and cleared) InVictoria, Doubah islargely(but notwholly)
in the north-west. It maybe locally dominant, restricted to high quality semi-arid woodland
in small patches. This long-lived perennial is stands, most of which have been cleared for
moderately valuable as forage, particularly in agriculture. Doubahisalsovulnerabletobeing
dry times (Cunningham et al 1981), but only browsed. Doubah is scattered but widespread
rarely germinates and establishes from seed throughout Central Australia and subject to
(Noble 1977; Crisp 1978; Tupper and Muller increasing attention as a bush food, for which
1985). Populations may slowly increase over purpose it is alreadybeingcommerciallyculti-
(extended) time,assumingcontinuinggrazing vated (Olive2011).
browsingcontrol.
PhyllanthuslacunellusSandhillSpurge
Maireana triptera Three-wingBluebush DEPIlist:rare.
DEPIlist:rare. NewRecords:Twonewrecords, approximately
New Records: Twelve new records, within 25 plants in each locality, in expected habitat
knownrange. (sandy rises within woodland) for Sandhill
RepresentativeLocality: 508817/6203488 Spurge.
Specimens:LodgedwiththeARI Herbarium. RepresentativeLocality: 508263 /6213718
Implications:None;currentstatusissupported. Specimens: LodgedwiththeARI Herbarium.
Thissmallshrubmaybelocallycommon(i.e. it Implications:None;currentstatusissupported.
usuallyoccursassmallstandsofrelativelyhigh Germination trials from samples collected in
densitybutsmalltotal area, < 1 ha). Stands are Western Australia found germination only in
fewenough that a Viclist status of‘rare is rea- Autumn conditions (Graham et al. 2004). No
sonable.Molesetal. (2003)foundseedviability individuals were found at thesites from where
almost halved after a year buried in the soil; a seeds were collected, suggesting a long-term
curious observation, in contrast with recorded soil seed store. Only three individuals germi-
recurrences in sites after a good rainy season, nated (Grahametal. 2004).
despitepreviouslackofrecords.
102 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
PtilotussessilifoliusCrimsonTails SarcozonapraecoxSarcozona
DEP1list:poorlyknown. DEPI list: rare.
New Records: One newlocality, within known New Records: Eleven localities added, allwith-
rangein Victoria. intheknown rangeinVictoria.
Representative Locality: 630231 /6160159 Representative Locality: 539428/6191659
Implications: Little; currentstatusissupported. Implications: Reviewcurrent status. Sarcozona
Crimson Tails is not well known in Victoria, is widely scattered throughout the northern
althoughreportedascommonelsewhere(Cun- Mallee,butisrarelylocallyabundant. This spe-
ningham et al. 1981). It is likely to have been cies is often confused with Carpobrotus and
overlooked previously and may have suffered Disphyma species, so it maybe more common
fromformerbrowsing. than the300+ recordsimply.
RadyerafarrageiDesert RoseMallow Sclerolaena patenticuspis Spear-fruit Cop-
DEPIlist:vulnerable. perburr(Fig. 5)
New Records: Two new records and approxi- DEPIlist: vulnerable.
matelyfiveplants. NewRecords:Twonewlocalityrecords,within
Representative Locality: 512085/6184575 known range.
Specimens: Lodged with the ARI Herbari- Representative Locality: 512058/ 6193869
um and the National Herbarium of Victoria Specimens: Lodged with the ARI Herbari-
(MEL). um and the National Herbarium of Victoria
Implications: None; current status is support- (MEL).
ed. Desert Rose Mallowis rarelyrecorded, and Implications:Reviewcurrentstatus.Spear-fruit
usually only after extended summer rains (as Copperburr is not widespread. It occurs in a
occurredin2011-2012;Browne 1986). fewlocalised populations, but with substantial
numbersofindividuals.Theplantsareprobably
Rhagodia ulicina SpinyGoosefoot
NDEePwIRleisct:orrdarse:. Twenty-four new localities, all cssuoobnnjsseicadtnerdteoSdhpeetaharrv-eyaftrbuerinotewdCs.oipnApgseirwnbitumhrorroetwhatesyrpfi(ocmarilmledsrlelya)-y
within itsknown rangeinVictoria.
Representative Locality: 573762/6165291 pbaelnaetfaibtleedScflreoromlaaenacosuppelceieso,fitbiesnliigknelystuomhmaevre
Implications: Review current status. Spiny
seasons(2010-11 and2011-12)andadramatic
Goosefoot is not widespread, but may be lo-
reductioninbrowsingpressure.
cally common. It was formerly confused with
forms of Chenopodium desertorum or Rhago- SidafibuliferaPinSida
diaspinescens, andthus there are relatively few DEPI list: vulnerable.
records (and allofthese arerelativelyrecent). NewRecords: Morethanfiverecords,allwithin
former range.
Rhyncharrhena linearisPurplePentatrope
NDEePwIRleiscto:rvdusl:neOranbelen.ew record, approximately uSRepmperceiasmneednntsat:hteivLeNoadLtogiceoadnliatlwy:iHt5eh1r5bt1ah5re7iu/Am6R2Io0f9H8Ve4ir3cbtaorrii-a
five plants (difficult to count ‘plants’ as this
(MEL).
species suckers freely) in standard habitat (dis-
turbed Belah Woodland). Implications: Review current status. Pin Sidais
SRepperceismeenntsa:tiLvoedLgoecdaliwtiyt:h5t0h6e7A6R0I/H6e1r7b7a7r4i5um. tnhoetMwiildleeswpareraedgiinonth(eesspteatcei,albluytnisowwidtheastprberaodwsi-n
Implications:None;currentstatusissupported. oincgcuprrreesdsuirnemhaasnybe(efnorrmeedru)cewdo)o.dIlnanthdisqusatdurdaytist
Purple Pentatrope is palatable and vulnerable and with substantial numbers of individuals.
tobeingbrowsed.
Theplantisprobablysubjecttoheavybrowsing
Vol 130 (3) 2013 103
Research Reports
FPiagr.k.5.PShpoetaor-KfartueitBCeonnpeptetrsb.urrSclerolaenapatenticuspis,January2012,north-westernMurray-SunsetNational
in more typical seasons andwas formerlycon- bers ofindividuals. The plant is probably sub-
sideredthreatened.AswithotherpalatableSida ject to heavybrowsing in more typical seasons
species, it is likely to have benefited from the and was formerly considered threatened. As
recent benign summer seasons (2010-11 and with other palatable Sida species, it is likelyto
2011-12) and a dramatic reduction in brows- havebenefitedfromtherecentbenignsummer
ingpressure.Theseed,althoughoflowviability seasons(2010-11 and2011-12) andadramatic
(13% viable), maintained viability after a year reduction inbrowsingpressure.
in soil (10%, Moles etal 2003). Pin Sidalikely
maintainsalong-termviableseedstore. SidaspodochromaLimestoneSida
DEPIlist:vulnerableandlistedundertheFlora
SidaintricataTwiggySida andFauna GuaranteeAct 1988 (there is a cur-
DEPIlist: vulnerable. rentActionStatement, DSE2003).
New Records: More than five new records, all NewRecords: Morethanfiverecords,allwithin
withinformerrange. formerrange.
Representative Locality: 514855/6191538 RepresentativeLocality: 509880/6215823
Specimens: LodgedwiththeARI Herbarium. Specimens: LodgedwiththeARI Herbarium.
Implications: Review current status. As with Implications: Review current status and revise
Pin Sida, TwiggySida is not widespread in the the Action Statement. Limestone Sida is not
state, but is widespread in the Millewa region. widespread in the state nor in the region, and
In this study, it occurred in many (former) is far less common than the above-listed Sida
woodland quadrats and with substantial num- species. According to the Action Statement
104 TheVictorian Naturalist
ResearchReports
(DSE 2003), only eight small populations had kangaroo populations. Inlessbenign seasonsit
beenfoundonlimestonesoilsintheRedCliffs- islikelyto retreattoasoilseedstore.
Cardross area, within 10.5 km of each other. TriraphismollisNeedleGrass
In the Millewa area, Limestone Sida is largely DEPIlist: rare.
restrictedtoareaswherelimestoneapproaches, New Records: Six new localities, each with
or outcrops at, the surface. Limestone Sidaoc- manyindividuals, allwithin theformer known
curred in a few (former) woodland quadrats
rangeinVictoria.
and was occasionally locally common. The RepresentativeLocality: 626751 /6164520
plant is probably subject to heavy browsing in Implications:None;currentstatusissupported.
moretypicalseasons andwas formerlyconsid- Theplantisnotrecordedinmostseasons(San-
eredthreatened. dell 2003) and is (locally) common only after
Tecticornia triandraDesertGlasswort extended summer rains, as occurred in 2011
DEPIlist: rare. and 2012. It tolerates, or even benefits from,
New Records: One new locality, somewhat re- moderate soil disturbance (Cunningham et al
moved from its (former) known range in Vic- 1981).
toria (old river terraces west of Mildura and VelleiaargutaGrasslandVelleia
RocketLake). DEPIlist: rare.
RepresentativeLocality: 575887/6166604 New Records: Three new localities, all within
Implications:None;currentstatusissupported. theknown rangeinVictoria.
The plant is not widespread and has not been Representative Locality: 512085/6209220
overlookedasitcannotreasonablybeconfused Implications:None;currentstatusissupported.
withanyotherspeciesfromtheregion.
InVictoria, GrasslandVelleiaislargelyrestrict-
TragusaustralianusSmallBurr-grass edtolittle-disturbed grasslands inthenorth.
DEPIlist: rare. VittadiniaeremaeaDesertNewHollandDaisy
NewRecords: More than 20 newrecords, each DEPIlist: none; ‘rare statusisrecommended.
with anything between 1 and 50 plants, all New Records: One new locality, with an un-
withinformerrange. known number ofplants (suspected to be well
RepresentativeLocality: 506760/6177745 over50).Alongwithanotherrecordinthesame
Specimens: LodgedwiththeARI Herbarium.
season, from Ian Sluiter ofOgyris Consulting,
Implications: Review current status, as its this is the first specimen record for Victoria at
abundance in the current study suggests that theNationalHerbariumofVictoria (MEL).
this species should no longer be considered Specimens: Lodgedwith theNationalHerbari-
rare or otherwise threatened. This year (2012) umofVictoria (MEL).
itwaswidespreadinthenorth-westernMillewa Implications: Assessmentandinclusionrecom-
areaand in mostofthe 137 sites surveyed. The mended. Desert New Holland Daisy is wide-
local population inJanuary2012wasestimated spread and locally common throughout arid
at >50000 plants. Low germination rates and Australia, but this years records are the first
similarratesattemperaturesfrom 12°Cto28°C specimen records for Victoria at MEL. Desert
sliusghgmeesntt.thOenepossstiubdiylitryeveoafleydeaar-hrioguhndspeeesdtabo-f New Holland Daisyis relativelyunattractive as
forage (Read 1999) and appears to have only a
germination with 50% ofthe seeds germinat-
short-term soil seed store (Moles et al. 2003).
ing on the first day (Jurado et al 1992), sug- As a result, it is likelythat these recent records
gestive of a disturbance responsive life form. inVictoriaareasmuch inresponsetotworela-
Small Burr-grass is widespread throughout the tivelybenign summers (2010-11 and2011-12)
aridandsemi-aridareasofmainlandAustralia.
astoreducedbrowsingpressures.Nevertheless,
cIanbulrVyriecanttcotreriiaba,untSdambalitelsltaoBbueurxnrt-deganrnadcseesdiissnusme2a0ms1eo2rnailrsaiipnnrfaoolbcl--, iitaisspaemcoiensgatnhdemuonrliekedliystitnocthiavveeofbteheenVictotnasidsitn--
entlyoverlookedinthepast.
combinedwitheffectivecontroloverrabbitand
Vol 130 (3) 2013 105