Heathy Woodland

This vegetation occurs on Quaternary sand sheets and low dunes of aeolian origin to the south of the Little Desert and on Quaternary sandy outwash areas in the northern parts of the Grampians and around Deep Lead in areas receiving less than 500 mm annual rainfall. The soils are deeply leached infertile, sands that may have a coffee rock horizon where the leached iron of upper soil horizons has reconsolidated. The predominant life-forms in this woodland formation are scattered overstorey trees of Desert Stringybark Eucalyptus arenacea, Shining Peppermint E. willisii with a range of heathy shrubs such as Wattles Acacia spp., Parrot-peas Dillwynia spp., Tea-trees Leptospermum spp., Common Heath Epacris impressa, Flame-heaths Astroloma spp., Daphne-heath Brachyloma daphnoides, Banksias Banksia spp., Guinea-flowers Hibbertia spp., Horny Cone Bush Isopogon ceratophyllus, Hakeas Hakea spp. and Sheokes Allocasuarina spp. The ground layer may contain a range of sedges such as Rapier-sedges Lepidosperma spp., Saw-sedges Gahnia spp., Tassel Rope-rush Hypolaena fastigata and Scale-shedder Lepidobolus drapetocoleus. Grass-trees Xanthorrhoea spp. are often locally abundant. Herbs and grasses are uncommon or absent although a number of seasonal lilies and annual daisies are present in most areas as is Supple Spear-grass Austrostipa mollis. This is a relatively common vegetation type in the region, although high fire frequencies in many areas have resulted in the elimination of many of the heathy species and allowed Bracken Pteridium esculentum to dominate. Better quality examples of this vegetation can be found within the Jilpanger Flora and Fauna Reserve and the Mt Arapiles - Tooan State Park. EVCs: Heathy Woodland Heathy Herb-rich Woodland Sand Heathland Shallow Sands Woodland

Common Heath Epacris impressa Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases(external link) Shining Peppermint Eucalyptus willisii Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases(external link) Desert Stringybark Eucalyptus arenacea Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases(external link)

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