Victorian Resources Online - East Gippsland

Remnant Vegetation

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The region is characterised by extensive areas of relatively intact and diverse native vegetation, ranging from subalpine to montane and coastal forests. East Gippsland's native forests form a substantial and contiguous part of the forested land in south-eastern Australia (C of A and State of Victoria 1996).

While native vegetation has been retained in the mountainous areas to the east of the region, clearing has been extensive on the plains to the south and along the valleys of major rivers such as the Tambo, Macalister and Dargo Rivers. These areas are substantially freehold and land uses include urban/rural residential; industrial, including electricity production; agriculture and horticulture, including large irrigated areas; and extensive plantations.

Areas of public land within the region have high proportions of forest cover, although clearing on freehold land has reduced the total forest cover across these catchments. In the south and west of the region, the Latrobe River, South Gippsland and Bunyip River basins are generally freehold, with forest covering less than one third of each of these basins. Forested public land is concentrated in river basins such as the Tambo and Snowy.

(C of A and State of Victoria 1999)

The conservation significance of particular plant groupings found in parts of the East Gippsland catchment region are listed below.

Plant Groupings of Conservation Significance in East Gippsland:

Plant Grouping Species of conservation significance

Plants of restricted, highly localised and naturally rare habitat types Plants of alpine and sub-alpine habitats
In Australia, alpine and sub-alpine environments are relictual, their distribution having contracted over time. These environments act as refugia for plants confined to the narrow range of environmental variables typical of such environments.

Sixteen percent of all the rare or threatened plants found within the Gippsland Region grow primarily at high altitudes (>1000m asl) in alpine and sub-alpine habitats. Due to the restricted nature of their habitat, their usually low population numbers the bulk of these taxa are considered rare, but not threatened. Of the 55 plants confined to alpine and subalpine habitats, 12 are considered threatened in Victoria. These are Snow Aciphyll Aciphylla glacialis, Mountain Water-fern Blechnum vulcanicum, Mountain Daisy Brachyscome tenuiscapa, Archer’s Sedge Carex archeri, Dwarf Sedge Carex paupera, Slender Gingidia Gingidia harveyana, Matted Brooklime Gratiola nana, Silver Carraway Oreomyrrhis argentea, Mountain Geebung Persoonia asperula, Harsh Phebalium Phebalium squameum ssp. coriaceum, Tasmanian Bladderwort Utricularia monanthos and Fairy Bluebell Wahlenbergia densiflora.

Plants of riparian or wetland habitats
Although widespread, riparian vegetation has a narrow range of habitat requirements and as such is restricted in extent.

Of the rare or threatened plants found within the region, Bog Willow-herb Epilobium brunnescens ssp. beaugleholei and Native Wintercress Barbarea grayi, are currently considered to be threatened at a national level (Bog Willow-herb Epilobium brunnescens ssp. Beaugleholei, although not having a ROTAP status, is listed as vulnerable under the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992). Although Enigmatic Greenhood Pterostylis aenigma and Winged Everlasting Ozothamnus adnatus are suspected of being threatened at a national level, further survey is required to better document their distribution and identify any potential threats. The other 12 taxa present in the region which are threatened at a State-level are Filmy Maidenhair Adiantum diaphanum, Brickmakers’ Saw-sedge Gahnia grandis, Prickly Tree-fern Cyathea leichhardtiana, Star Cucumber Sicyos australis, Water Parsnip Berula? erecta, Mountain Water-fern Blechnum vulcanicum, Shining Anchor Plant Discaria nitida, Showy Willow-herb Epilobium pallidiflorum, Gippsland Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, Slender Gingidia Gingidia harveyana, Blue-tongued Greenhood Pterostylis dubia and Slender Mud-grass Pseudoraphis paradoxa.

Plants of coastal habitats
Along the coastline a typical series of vegetation types dominate the littoral zone, calcareous dune systems and immediate hinterland. The dominant EVCs in this area are Coast Banksia Woodland, Coastal Dune Scrub, Coastal Tussock Grassland, Coastal Saltmarsh and Mangrove Shrubland. All are commonly found along the Victorian coast, including the recent Quaternary deposits that can be found around the mountainous granitic outcrop that forms Wilsons Promontory.

Only three plants of all the rare or threatened plants found within the region grow primarily in coastal habitats. These are Coast Fescue Austrofestuca littoralis, Coast Stackhousia Stackhousia spathulata and White Mangrove Avicennia marina ssp australasica. Coast Fescue Austrofestuca littoralis is considered to be vulnerable in Victoria. Other priority taxa that occur within coastal habitats are Gilgae Blown-grass Agrostis billardierei var. filifolia, Marsh Saltbush Atriplex paludosa, Ribbed Thryptomene Thryptomene micrantha and Tiny Arrow-grass Triglochin minuitissimum.

Plants localised to natural regions of the Gippsland CRA Region Plants of the Gippsland Plains
The Gippsland Plains are extensive coastal plains that extend across the southern section of the region. The vegetation in this area is both structurally and floristically diverse resulting in a wide range of ecological vegetation classes. Some of the main EVCs include Coast Banksia Woodland, Coast Dune Scrub, Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland, Lowland Forest, Grassy Forest, Heathy Woodland, Plains Grassland and Plains Grassy Forest.

Threatened taxa known to occur on the Gippsland Plains include Gilgae Blown Grass Agrostis billardierei var. filifolia, Wavy Swamp Wallaby-grass Amphibromus sinuatus, Swamp Everlasting Bracteantha palustris, Purple Diuris Diuris punctata var. punctata, Gippsland Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, Prostrate Cone-bush Isopogon prostratus, Woolly Waterlily Philydrum lanuginosum, Gaping Leek-orchid Prasophyllum correctum, Maroon Leek-orchid Prasophyllum frenchii, Holey Plains Mint-bush Prostanthera sp. aff. linearis (Holey Plains), Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata, Metallic Sun-orchid Thelymitra epipactoides. Holey Plains Mint-bush Prostanthera sp. aff. linearis (Holey Plains) and Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata are endemic to the Gippsland Region.

Plants endemic to the Gippsland CRA Region Nine priority taxa are endemic to the Gippsland Region. Two taxa are considered threatened nationally, viz. Marble Daisy-bush Olearia astroloba and Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata, and another four considered threatened in Victoria, viz. Lemon-scented Boronia Boronia citrata, Aniseed Boronia Boronia galbraithiae, Leafy Phebalium Phebalium frondosum and Enigmatic Greenhood Pterostylis aenigma. The other endemic taxa not considered threatened are Promontory Peppermint Eucalyptus willisii ssp. willisii s.s. (Prom), Mount Elizabeth Hovea Hovea pannosa (Mount Elizabeth form) and Holey Plains Mint-bush Prostanthera sp. aff. Linearis (Holey Plains).

Source: (C of A and State of Victoria 1999)

References

Commonwealth of Australia and State of Victoria (1996). East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement: Comprehensive Regional Assessment. AGPS, Canberra.

Commonwealth of Australia and State of Victoria (1999). Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement: Comprehensive Regional Assessment. AGPS, Canberra.

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Plant Grouping	Species of conservation significance
Plants of restricted, highly localised and naturally rare habitat types	Plants of alpine and sub-alpine habitats In Australia, alpine and sub-alpine environments are relictual, their distribution having contracted over time. These environments act as refugia for plants confined to the narrow range of environmental variables typical of such environments. Sixteen percent of all the rare or threatened plants found within the Gippsland Region grow primarily at high altitudes (>1000m asl) in alpine and sub-alpine habitats. Due to the restricted nature of their habitat, their usually low population numbers the bulk of these taxa are considered rare, but not threatened. Of the 55 plants confined to alpine and subalpine habitats, 12 are considered threatened in Victoria. These are Snow Aciphyll Aciphylla glacialis, Mountain Water-fern Blechnum vulcanicum, Mountain Daisy Brachyscome tenuiscapa, Archer’s Sedge Carex archeri, Dwarf Sedge Carex paupera, Slender Gingidia Gingidia harveyana, Matted Brooklime Gratiola nana, Silver Carraway Oreomyrrhis argentea, Mountain Geebung Persoonia asperula, Harsh Phebalium Phebalium squameum ssp. coriaceum, Tasmanian Bladderwort Utricularia monanthos and Fairy Bluebell Wahlenbergia densiflora. Plants of riparian or wetland habitats Although widespread, riparian vegetation has a narrow range of habitat requirements and as such is restricted in extent. Of the rare or threatened plants found within the region, Bog Willow-herb Epilobium brunnescens ssp. beaugleholei and Native Wintercress Barbarea grayi, are currently considered to be threatened at a national level (Bog Willow-herb Epilobium brunnescens ssp. Beaugleholei, although not having a ROTAP status, is listed as vulnerable under the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992). Although Enigmatic Greenhood Pterostylis aenigma and Winged Everlasting Ozothamnus adnatus are suspected of being threatened at a national level, further survey is required to better document their distribution and identify any potential threats. The other 12 taxa present in the region which are threatened at a State-level are Filmy Maidenhair Adiantum diaphanum, Brickmakers’ Saw-sedge Gahnia grandis, Prickly Tree-fern Cyathea leichhardtiana, Star Cucumber Sicyos australis, Water Parsnip Berula? erecta, Mountain Water-fern Blechnum vulcanicum, Shining Anchor Plant Discaria nitida, Showy Willow-herb Epilobium pallidiflorum, Gippsland Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, Slender Gingidia Gingidia harveyana, Blue-tongued Greenhood Pterostylis dubia and Slender Mud-grass Pseudoraphis paradoxa. Plants of coastal habitats Along the coastline a typical series of vegetation types dominate the littoral zone, calcareous dune systems and immediate hinterland. The dominant EVCs in this area are Coast Banksia Woodland, Coastal Dune Scrub, Coastal Tussock Grassland, Coastal Saltmarsh and Mangrove Shrubland. All are commonly found along the Victorian coast, including the recent Quaternary deposits that can be found around the mountainous granitic outcrop that forms Wilsons Promontory. Only three plants of all the rare or threatened plants found within the region grow primarily in coastal habitats. These are Coast Fescue Austrofestuca littoralis, Coast Stackhousia Stackhousia spathulata and White Mangrove Avicennia marina ssp australasica. Coast Fescue Austrofestuca littoralis is considered to be vulnerable in Victoria. Other priority taxa that occur within coastal habitats are Gilgae Blown-grass Agrostis billardierei var. filifolia, Marsh Saltbush Atriplex paludosa, Ribbed Thryptomene Thryptomene micrantha and Tiny Arrow-grass Triglochin minuitissimum.
Plants localised to natural regions of the Gippsland CRA Region	Plants of the Gippsland Plains The Gippsland Plains are extensive coastal plains that extend across the southern section of the region. The vegetation in this area is both structurally and floristically diverse resulting in a wide range of ecological vegetation classes. Some of the main EVCs include Coast Banksia Woodland, Coast Dune Scrub, Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland, Lowland Forest, Grassy Forest, Heathy Woodland, Plains Grassland and Plains Grassy Forest. Threatened taxa known to occur on the Gippsland Plains include Gilgae Blown Grass Agrostis billardierei var. filifolia, Wavy Swamp Wallaby-grass Amphibromus sinuatus, Swamp Everlasting Bracteantha palustris, Purple Diuris Diuris punctata var. punctata, Gippsland Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, Prostrate Cone-bush Isopogon prostratus, Woolly Waterlily Philydrum lanuginosum, Gaping Leek-orchid Prasophyllum correctum, Maroon Leek-orchid Prasophyllum frenchii, Holey Plains Mint-bush Prostanthera sp. aff. linearis (Holey Plains), Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata, Metallic Sun-orchid Thelymitra epipactoides. Holey Plains Mint-bush Prostanthera sp. aff. linearis (Holey Plains) and Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata are endemic to the Gippsland Region.
Plants endemic to the Gippsland CRA Region	Nine priority taxa are endemic to the Gippsland Region. Two taxa are considered threatened nationally, viz. Marble Daisy-bush Olearia astroloba and Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata, and another four considered threatened in Victoria, viz. Lemon-scented Boronia Boronia citrata, Aniseed Boronia Boronia galbraithiae, Leafy Phebalium Phebalium frondosum and Enigmatic Greenhood Pterostylis aenigma. The other endemic taxa not considered threatened are Promontory Peppermint Eucalyptus willisii ssp. willisii s.s. (Prom), Mount Elizabeth Hovea Hovea pannosa (Mount Elizabeth form) and Holey Plains Mint-bush Prostanthera sp. aff. Linearis (Holey Plains).