Conservation Science W. Aust. 8 (1) : 95–111 (2011) Flora and vegetation of banded iron formations of the Yilgarn Craton: the Montague Range Zone of the Gum Creek Greenstone Belt WENDY A THOMPSON AND NIALL B SHEEHY Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia, 6946. Email:
[email protected] ABSTRACT The Montague Range of the Gum Creek Greenstone Belt is located in the central portion of the Yilgarn Craton, c. 70 km north of the township of Sandstone. Fifty permanent vegetation quadrats were established, within which all vascular flora and a series of environmental attributes were recorded. A total of 91 taxa were recorded, representing 28 families and 43 genera. Five taxa of conservation significance were identified, including Acacia burrowsiana (P1), Stenanthemum mediale (P1), Calytrix praecipua (P3), Sauropus ramosissimus (P3), and Baeckea sp. Melita Station (H Pringle 2738; P3). A single putative variant of the Acacia aneura complex was identified; further material of A. aneura aff. argentea is required for confirmation. Three taxa (A. aneura aff. argentea, A. aneura var. conifera, A. cockertoniana) represented significant range extensions. No weeds or regional endemics were collected during the survey. Six floristic communities were identified from the survey, which were related to topographical position, geology and edaphic factors. The Montague Range represents an important repository of significant taxa and floristic communities associated with banded ironstone formations. Any future exploration or development should ensure that the important conservation values and condition of the range are retained. Keywords: banded ironstone, floristic communities, mulga, Murchison, Yilgarn. INTRODUCTION and 100 km southwest of Wiluna, within the Wiluna and Sandstone Shires (Fig.