Riverine Grassy Woodlands / Forests

Riverine Grassy Woodlands/Forests occur on the flood plains of major rivers and streams in the region where rainfall is 300-600 mm per annum. The soils are fertile silts and water is rarely a limiting factor. Floods are a regular feature usually occurring at least once a year. Structurally, this vegetation forms a woodland or forest of River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens in lower rainfall areas. Grey Box Eucalyptus microcarpa is often recorded on slightly elevated areas not subject to regular flooding. The understorey has very few shrubs, often only the occasional Woolly Tea-tree Leptospermum lanigerum and the ground layer is dominated by grasses such as Common Tussock Grass Poa labillardieri, Southern Cane Grass Eragrostis infecunda and Wallaby-grasses Austrodanthonia spp. Various sedges such as Carex spp. or Cyperus spp. and Rushes Juncus spp. are usually common. Herbs are not always obvious but Bluebushes Maireana spp., Swainson-peas Swainsona spp. and a number of composites (daisies) may be present on higher ground while closer to the stream or creek, aquatic and amphibious species such as Milfoils Myriophyllum spp. and Water-ribbons Triglochin spp. may also be present. An interesting variant of this vegetation type is where large sand dunes have formed as a result of stream/river sand deposition. Such areas often contain Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora or Yellow Gum E. leucoxylon in association with Slender Cypress-pine Callitris gracilis and a range of shrub species including Weeping Pittosporum Pittosporum phylliraeoides, Daphne Heath Brachyloma daphnoides and Silver Banksia Banksia marginata. Annual herbs are a common feature. Areas of this vegetation type still occur along the major river courses of the region including the Wimmera River and areas around Lake Hindmarsh, however most areas are narrow and degraded by timber harvesting, grazing and recreation. Weed invasions and inappropriate flooding regimes are also a serious threat in most areas. Few areas are protected in conservation reserves. EVCs: Riverine Grassy Woodland Riverine Sedgy Forest Riverine Grassy Chenopod Woodland Riverine Grassland Billabong Wetland Sand Ridge Woodland Back to Vegetation Resources

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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