DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION Background Report

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16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion Background Report Nitraria billardierei, Maireana pyramidata (black bluebush), Atriplex vesicaria (bladder saltbush), Atriplex nummularia, Enchylaena tomentosa, and Chenopodium nitrariaceum. Groundcover species include Sclerolaena diacantha, Sclerolaena obliquicuspis, Austrostipa spp., Calotis erinacea (tangled burr-daisy), Atriplex vesicaria, Atriplex leptocarpa (slenderfruited saltbush), and Atriplex lindleyi (eastern flat-top saltbush), Disphyma crassifolium ssp. clavellatum (pigface), Medicago minima (medic) and Sonchus oleraceus (common sowthistle). Atriplex vesicaria (bladder saltbush) shrublands Within the DRP this community occurs on alluvial plains with grey and brown clays and shallow-surfaced red-brown earths. It is often a treeless community, or has scattered Eucalyptus largiflorens or Acacia pendula, and occurs interspersed with wetland communities, watercourses and sand ridges. Associated chenopods can include Atriplex nummularia, Maireana pyramidata, Maireana aphylla (cottonbush), and occasionally Nitraria billardieri. Grasses and forbs grow between the shrubs. Maireana pyramidata (black bluebush) -Maireana sedifolia (pearl bluebush) shrublands This bluebush community exists on solinized brown soils on plains and dunefields in the DRP, with composition ranging from monospecific stands of either species to a mixed community. It often intergrades into the Atriplex vesicaria community. Grasses and forbs grow between the shrubs. These saltbush shrublands become more common in the south-west of the bioregion, occurring extensively across the southern Wilcannia Plains and the Menindee provinces. 3.3.3 Grassland and wetland communities Astrebla spp. (Mitchell grass) perennial grasslands This community is common in the northern part of the bioregion, occurring on grey clay soils of the floodplains and is usually treeless. Other grass species found with the Astrebla spp. are Eragrostis setifolia (neverfail) and Dichanthium sericeum (Queensland bluegrass), as well as many annuals such as Iseilema spp. (Flinders grass) and Dactyloctenium radulans (button grass) after wet seasons. Pastoral landuses such as grazing of stock has significantly altered this community (Fisher 1999). Eriochloa australiensis (Australian cupgrass) and Eriochloa crebra (tall cupgrass) are often co-dominant in Astrebla lappacea (curly Mitchell grass) closed grasslands in the Bogan- Macquarie province. These communities also have a number of common forbs including Boerhavia dominii (tarvine), Hibiscus trionum (bladder ketmia), Cullen tenax (emu foot), and Brachyscome heterodonta (lobed-seed daisy) (Lewer, S., DLWC, pers. com. Dec. 2001). Astrebla lappacea occurs on upper floodplains with Atriplex nummularia and occasional Atalaya hemiglauca, Eucalyptus coolabah and Geijera parviflora in Bogan-Macquarie and Castlereagh-Barwon provinces. In the Culgoa-Bokhara province Muehlenbeckia florulenta and Acacia cambagei can be found in Astrebla grasslands, especially towards the west. Triodia mitchellii var. breviloba (buck spinifex) grasslands This spinifex community is restricted to the deep sands of the sandplains in the north of the region, often mixing with the Eucalyptus melanophloia community. Common shrubs include 74
16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion Background Report Grevillea juncifolia, Grevillea albiflora (white spider-flower), Acacia murrayana (sandplain wattle) and Acacia johnsonii (gereera wattle). Austrostipa aristiglumis (plains grass) grasslands Grey and brown clays of floodplains of major rivers support this community. Associated species include other grasses, perennial forbs and, following winter rains, annual grasses and forbs. Austrostipa spp. (variable speargrasses) and Enneapogon spp. (bottle washers) grassland This grassland community also often forms the groundcover of the Casuarina cristata - Alectryon oleifolius and Acacia loderi shrubland communities. It is found on solonized brown soils, calcareous red earths and desert loams and occurs with other grasses, chenopods, perennial forbs, and after winter rains, annual forbs. The dominance of Austrostipa variabilis is favoured by winter rains and Enneapogon spp. by summer rains. Floodplain communities A sparse to open chenopod shrubland and open grassland is found on the floodplains, playas and basins within the northern floodplains region. The height of this community ranges from 0.5 to three metres and cover from five to 50%. Most common shrubs are Muehlenbeckia florulenta, Chenopodium auricomum (golden goosefoot), and occasionally regeneration of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Ground cover species include Agrostis avenacea (blown grass), Eragrostis setifolia, Eleocharis pallens (pale spike-rush), Pycnosorus chrysanthus (golden billy-buttons), Atriplex pseudocampanulata (mealy saltbush) and Pimelea simplex (desert riceflower). Muehlenbeckia florulenta and Chenopodium nitrariaceum can form distinct communities although their boundaries can be indistinct depending on the degree, frequency and reliability of flooding. The Muehlenbeckia florulenta community occurs on alluvial areas with cracking grey soils and periodic flooding. It can be a treeless community, or have scattered Eucalyptus largiflorens, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus coolabah or Acacia stenophylla. Associated shrub species include Eragrostis australasica, Leptochloa digitata (umbrella canegrass), Chenopodium nitrariaceum and Typha spp. (cumbungi). After floodwaters recede, a pasture of Marsilea drummondii, Eleocharis spp. (spike-rushes) and Eragrostis setifolia (neverfail) often grows between shrubs. Muehlenbeckia florulenta grows on the beds of the large overflow lakes and basins of the Menindee province, fringed by Eucalyptus largiflorens, Maireana pyramidata and Zygochloa paradoxa (sandhill canegrass) and sparse Casuarina cristata and acacias on the lunettes. The Chenopodium nitrariaceum community is found on the grey clay soils of the beds of periodically flooded lakes and flooded alluvial sites along major rivers. Trees are usually absent and complementary shrub species include Eragrostis australasica, Leptochloa digitata and Muehlenbeckia florulenta. Pastures similar to those found in the Muehlenbeckia florulenta communities occur after flooding. 75
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DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION B
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For more information data contact t
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3.2 Vegetation Mapping and Descript
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10 APPENDICES 166 A CLIMATIC DATA B
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List of Maps Chapter 1 Map 1 Locati
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PROJECT SUMMARY This report forms p
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abbits are listed as key threatenin
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16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bi
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Initial Phase Assessment Phase 16/0
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Appendix A: Mean Monthly Rainfall a
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Major Rangetype Rangetype Physiogra
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Appendix C : Native Flora Other Tha
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Family Scientific Name cretica Comm
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APPENDIX E: Fauna Other than Those
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Common 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 198
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Taxa No Records Dataset Class Arach
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Taxa No Records Dataset Tabanidae s
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Taxa No Records Dataset Berosus sp
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DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION Background Report

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