Dry Foothill Forest/Inland Slopes Woodlands

Dry Foothill Forest/Inland Slopes Woodland is a diverse mixture of forest types reflecting environmental and ecological differences such as rainfall, soils, aspect and fire frequency. This is the dominant vegetation type associated with areas in the northern Grampians, occurring on poor to moderately fertile sands and sandy clay loams in areas receiving approximately 500-800 mm rainfall per annum. These low to moderate height forests of Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua, Brown Stringybark E. baxteri, Long-leaf Box E. goniocalyx and Red Stringybark E. macrorhyncha are not dominated by single life-form category but instead have a wide range of life forms. Generally, a significant shrub layer is present except on fertile sites and species diversity may decline on frequently burnt sites where grasses and/or Bracken Pteridium esculentum may become more dominant. Shrubs including Hakea Hakea spp., Banksia Banksia spp. Parrot-peas Dillwynia spp., Pomaderris Pomaderris spp., Common Heath Epacris impressa, Wattles Acacia spp., Correa Correa spp. and Lomatias Lomatia spp. The ground layer contains numerous grasses such as Tussock Grasses Poa spp., Bent-grasses Deyeuxia spp., Plume Grasses Dichelachne spp. and herbs such as Fan-flowers Scaevola spp., Raspworts Gonocarpus spp., Violets Viola spp. and Pennyworts Hydrocotyle spp. There is a common assemblage of vegetation types in the Grampians and in areas to the south-west of Stawell and east of Lake Lonsdale. Much of this latter area was cut over during past mining activities and some areas are still subject to timber harvesting. The Environment Conservation Council has recommended reservation of some of these areas in proposed nature conservation reserves as part of its Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation (external link). EVCs: Lowland Forest Shrubby Foothill Forest Valley Grassy Forest Shrubby Dry Forest Heathy Dry Forest Grassy Dry Forest Herb-rich Foothill Forest Rocky Outcrop Shrubland/Herbland Mosaic

Common Heath Epacris impressa Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link) Red Stringybark Eucalyptus macrorhyncha Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link) Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link)

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