Arthur Rylah Institute Technical Report Series No. 150

Recovery of Rare and Threatened Flora after the 2002 Wildfire and Vital Attributes to Assist Ecological Fire Management in the Big Desert, Western Victoria

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research

Recovery of Rare and Threatened Flora after the 2002 Wildfire, and Vital Attributes to Assist Ecological Fire Management in the Big Desert, Western Victoria

Oberon Carter and David Cheal

Final Report – August 2004

Cover Photo: Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum in recently burnt Heathy Mallee, Big Desert

II Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, July 2004

© The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2004 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne.

ISBN 1 74106 947 5 ISSN 0810 5774 Arthur Rylah Institute Technical Report Series: No. 150

For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186

Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

Citation Carter, O. & Cheal, D. (2004) Recovery of Rare and Threatened Flora after the 2002 Wildfire, and Vital Attributes to Assist Ecological Fire Management in the Big Desert, western Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 150. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg Victoria

III Contents Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………… V

Introduction ……………………………………………………………….………………………….…………………..………………… 6

Objectives ……………………………………………………………...…………………………………………….…..………………… 7

Methodology ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 8

Threatened Species ………………………………………………….…………….………………………………………………… 9-29 oswaldii ………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………… 9 hemipogon/mollis ……………………………………………………………………………………… 10-11 Comesperma scoparium ………………………………………………….………….………………….…………… 12-14 Haloragis acutangula forma acutangula .………………………………………………………………….………… 15 Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum ………………………………………………………….…… 16-17 Lawrencia berthae ………………………………………………………………………………..…….……………… 18-19 Leucopogon costatus ……………………………..………………………………..……………………………………… 20 Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora ……………………………………………...………………..………… 21-23 Phyllota remota ………………………………………………..………………………………………………………… 24-26 Schoenus racemosus ……………………………………………………………....…………………...………………… 27 Stenopetalum velutinum ………………………………………………………………………..……….…………… 28-29 Teucrium sessiliflorum ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30

Threatened Ecological Vegetation Classes …………………………………………….……………………………..…… 32-34

Vital Attributes to assist ecological fire management ………………………………………………….……………… 35-37

Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 38-42

Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………….……………… 43-44

Appendixes: 1. Rare or threatened recorded from within the perimeter of the 2002 Big Desert wildfire ……………………………………………………….…………………………………………..……………….…………… 45-46

2. Vital Attributes of plants from Heathy Mallee and Sandplain Heath in the Big Desert and Wyperfeld National Park, collected in April and June 2004 ………………………………………….….. 48-59

List of Tables

Table 1. Rare or threatened plants targeted or recorded in, or near, to the Big Desert 2002 Wildfire area during survey in 2004 …………………….…..……………. 8

Table 2. Plants recorded in Eucalyptus porosa-dominated vegetation at Gunners Reserve on 5th April 2004 ………………………………………………………………. 33

Table 3. The vital attributes scheme …………………………….………………………………………….………………….. 34

IV Executive Summary

The status and post-fire recovery of eleven rare and threatened species in or near the Big Desert were assessed. Five threatened taxa were observed recruiting successfully within the perimeter of the 2002 Big Desert fire area. They were Comesperma scoparium, Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum, Leucopogon costatus, Phyllota remota and Stenopetalum velutinum. However, only two of these were recruiting in high numbers in areas searched, ie. Comesperma scoparium and Phyllota remota. Both H. adenophorum var. adenophorum and S. velutinum had not been previously recorded for many years and there are no quadrat records of either of these taxa in DSE's Flora Information System. The regionally threatened taxa Haloragis acutangula forma acutangula, Lawrencia berthae and Microcybe multiflora were also assessed from nearby roadsides

Vital attribute data were collected for 141 plant taxa in the Big Desert and Wyperfeld National Park to augment DSE’s existing vital attributes database. A range of fire ages was assessed to gain insight into the timing of reproductive stages (life-history transitions) in a range of common and threatened plant taxa. These data can be used to support future planning of applied ecological burning in mallee and heathland vegetation in north-western Victoria and elsewhere in the state where these species (or their ecological analogs) occur.

V Introduction

There are approximately 36 Victorian rare or threatened plant species recorded from areas affected by the recent wildfires in north-western Victoria (Big Desert). Some of these species are likely to have priority for risk management in the post fire environment (See Appendix 1 for a full list of threatened taxa recorded from areas likely to have been affected by the 2002 wildfire).

Map 1. Extent of the December 2002 Wildfire in the Big Desert. Fire boundary courtesy of DSE Mildura. Other data sourced from DSE Corporate Library. 2002 Scale is 1 cm ≅ 20 km.

The status of affected Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) is less certain, as public land mapping utilising the recent EVC typology and classification, has not yet been incorporated into DSE datasets. It is likely that a poorly-defined, and threatened, EVC (dominated by Black Mallee Box, Eucalyptus porosa) occurs in the burnt area. Of particular concern, and likely to require an immediate management response are threats associated with pest plants and animals, and with the impacts of fire suppression works, particularly mineral earth and slashed fire breaks. These have been rated as posing high to medium-high risk, but have not been specifically assessed for impacts on populations of threatened flora and vegetation in the field. The Statewide Fire Recovery Plan has identified that management is required to address the impact of fire suppression activities and the impacts of fire on the natural environment and water quality. Its objectives include:

• Minimise potential invasion by pest plants and animals exacerbated by fire, caused by soil disturbance and/or the opening of access into previously inaccessible areas. • Identify any ongoing threats to flora and fauna values, particularly rare or threatened species, which may be a consequence of the suppression activities or threatening processes exacerbated by the fire. • Identify species, communities, sites or areas requiring special protection from disturbance to enable recovery. Key outcomes for natural values protection identified in the Statewide Fire Recovery Plan include: • Monitoring the status and recruitment of a range of rare and threatened plant species and EVCs.

6

• Identifying and implementing priority actions to mitigate any identified threats. This project will determine the impact of risks on rare or threatened species and EVCs, identify urgent management actions and monitor progress toward recovery. Specific attention will be paid to potential for weed invasion. Risks associated with bulldozer works for suppression or rehabilitation (“High Risk”) will be investigated, particularly in relation to post-fire recovery of flora and weed invasion. Targeted searches for rare or threatened species known from the fire area and the general vicinity will also be conducted. An opportunity also exists to compile vital attributes information for inclusion in the Statewide and national fire response databases which underpin ecological fire management protocols currently being developed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria.

Objectives

• Determine the current status of rare or threatened flora and EVCs. • Identify threats to post fire recovery of rare or threatened flora and EVCs. • Identify management requirements for rare or threatened flora and EVCs. • Provide a baseline against which post fire recovery of rare or threatened flora and EVCs can be evaluated.

7 Methodology

Five taxa were selected for targeted searches of previously recorded locations, which are within, or near to, the Big Desert 2002 wildfire area. Taxa were selected on the basis of their perreniality and hence likelihood of re-location in the post-fire environment, and known life- history characteristics. Populations of seven rare or threatened taxa were also found opportunistically in the process of either gathering vital attribute information or searching for targeted species in recently-burnt areas. Table 1 provides a list of rare or threatened species recorded during this project.

Table 1. Rare or threatened plants targeted or recorded in, or near, to the Big Desert 2002 Wildfire area during survey in 2004. Rare or Life-form threatened No. of (perennial Targeted New (Ross & Scientific Name English Name Family sites unless Search Find Walsh assessed specified) 2003) to v Acacia oswaldii Umbrella Wattle Mimosaceae Yes 1 small tree Austrostipa Half-bearded/Supple r Grass Yes 4? hemipogon/mollis Spear-grass r Comesperma scoparium Broom Milkwort Polygalaceae Forb Yes 1 Haloragis acutangula f. e Smooth Raspwort Haloragaceae Forb Yes 0 acutangula Helichrysum r adenophorum var. Branched Everlasting Annual Forb Yes 2 adenophorum v Lawrencia berthae Showy Lawrencia Sub-shrub Yes 1

r Leucopogon costatus Twiggy Beard-heath Epacridaceae Shrub Yes 1

Microcybe multiflora v Red Microcybe Shrub Yes 2 subsp. multiflora r Phyllota remota Slender Phyllota Shrub Yes Yes 2 Perennial r Schoenus racemosus Tufted Bog-sedge Cyperaceae Yes 0 Herb v Stenopetalum velutinum Velvet Thread- Brassicaceae Annual Forb Yes 1 k Teucrium sessiliflorum Camel Bush Lamiaceae Forb Yes 1

Each of the rare or threatened taxa found during surveys by the authors in April and June 2004 will be discussed in more detail in the next sections.

The methods used to assess threatened EVCs are described on p30.

Methods used to collect vital attribute data for Sandplain Heath and Heathy Mallee plants are described on pp 32-34.

8 Threatened Species

Acacia oswaldii (Umbrella Wattle)

Description Acacia oswaldii (Family Mimosaceae), is a shrub or tree to 8m high, with terete branches. Phyllodes are spreading to erect, terete to compressed, linear, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 2.5-10.5 cm long, 3-15 mm wide straight or curved, acute to acuminate, or obtuse and mucronate and occasionally glaucous. There are 3-6 main veins, which are distant and raised. Secondary veins nearly as prominent as the primary veins. Peduncles are 0.5-0.8 mm long, paired with appressed, minute hairs. 8-15-flowered pale golden globular heads appear between November and January. Linear pods to 31 cm long and 6-10 mm wide in one to several open coils contain oblong-elliptic glossy dark-brown seeds that have a large orange aril (Entwisle et al. 1996).

A. oswaldii is considered rare in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003), however recent proposals to change this status to 'not threatened' are here supported. The former dearth of seedling or sucker regeneration appears to have been overcome in the last decade. Seedlings and suckers of A. oswaldii, whilst nowhere common, can readily be found in sites supporting adults. It is tempting to suggest that this change in status is a direct result of reduction in public land grazing by domestic stock and reduction in rabbit numbers following establishment in the region of Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD).

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species Acacia oswaldii occurs on all mainland states of . It has not been recorded from the Northern Territory. In Victoria it is widespread but uncommon across the north-west of the state, occurring mainly in calcareous sands or loam, and most frequently in semi-arid woodlands (Entwisle et al. 1996).

Present survey Acacia oswaldii was opportunistically recorded from Eucalyptus porosa-dominated woodland at Gunners Reserve, north of, and adjacent to, Wyperfeld National Park (location info given under Threatened EVCs section of the report). The approximate (ie. within c. 50 m) geographic location of the population was: Latitude: 35o 15’ 19.3” South, Longitude: 141o 53’ 18.1” East. The species was recorded as locally rare. A more accurate estimate of population size was not made. Photo 1 The distinctive curled seed pods of A. oswaldii

Resolutions • This species may tolerate long-term absence of fire (ie. > c.50-100 years). Local populations should be monitored in a small number (5 or so) of selected occurrences. Such monitoring should focus on the regeneration and survival of germinants, any suckers and mature plants under various grazing regimes. A. oswaldii is principally a species of semi-arid woodlands dominated by gracilis, luehmannii and/or Casuarina pauper. • The post-fire response of this species is unknown. Advantage should be taken of any fire in occurrences of A. oswaldii by subsequent monitoring to determine the species’ post-fire responses, the location and persistence of any seed store and the germination cues of any soil-stored seed. • The threat status of Acacia oswaldii should be reviewed. It may be not be ‘rare’ once adequate recent records have been taken into account.

9 Austrostipa hemipogon/mollis (Half-bearded/Supple Spear- grasses)

A tall, tussock spear grass (Austrostipa sp.) is common thruout the Big Desert, and particularly common in the first few seasons post-fire. Its specific identity has been confused for some time and both names Austrostipa hemipogon and Austrostipa mollis have been applied to this grass ( or 'these grasses'). These species cannot be distinguished in the field when not flowering and only with difficulty in the lab. The distinction between them is quantitative (rather than qualitative), with A. mollis being slightly larger in a number of significant features (such as lemma and awn lengths), although the values overlap. It is noted that the key in Walsh and Entwisle (op. cit., p. 376) refers to "hairs .. evenly distributed around the column" for A. hemipogon, but the description of that species refers to "column densely plumose with a spiralling line of hairs" (op. cit., p. 393)! A. mollis also has column hairs ‘appearing to spiral as the awn twists’ (loc. cit.). This spiralling line of hairs along the lower column was formerly thought to be the only reliable field character to distinguish these two taxa.

There are few to no reliable quadrat records for A. hemipogon - all reliable FIS records are specimen records. This suggests that either- (a) the two species cannot be reliably distinguished in the field (in which case A. hemipogon may be overlooked and more common than these few records indicate), or (b) these two taxa are merely forms of the same species.

In either case, the two taxa cannot be distinguished without reproductive material, which was not available in May and June (when field work for the current study was completed). The identity of this tall tussock grass (an abundant fire ephemeral) remains uncertain.

Description Austrostipa hemipogon (Poaceae), is a tufted perennial to c 1 m high with erect culms and pubescent nodes (see photo 1). are scabrous and sparsely pubescent, blades are weakly to strongly inrolled, to 20 cm long and 3 mm broad. Ligule is ciliate and 0.5-3 mm long. Inflorescence is a contracted panicle to 25 cm long. Glumes are 14-20 mm long, purplish or green and acuminate. The lemma is brown at maturity finely granular, with appressed white to golden hairs. The awn is twice bent but the second bend is often obscure and the bristle often falcate. The column of the awn is densely plumose with a spiralling line of hairs 0.5- 1.5 mm long. The palea is about equal to the lemma, with a line of hairs down the centre (Walsh 1994). Flowers appear mostly between October and December.

A. hemipogon is considered rare in Victoria, while A. mollis is widespread and common (Ross & Walsh 2003). This/these species is/are locally abundant post-fire in mallee and heath of siliceous sands. Photo 2. Austrostipa hemipogon/mollis 16 months after fire in the Big Desert, April 2004

10 Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species Austrostipa hemipogon is known from , and Victoria. A. mollis is known from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Present survey Austrostipa hemipogon/mollis was recorded opportunistically from four sites in or adjacent to Wyperfeld NP. The species was very abundant in mallee heath burnt by the 2001-02 wildfire, but was noted to be generally rare within older (eg. 23 and 45 years old) Sandplain Heath vegetation within Wyperfeld NP. This species regenerates profusely from seed after fire and appears able to also regenerate (although less successfully) in the absence of fire. It is unknown whether the species also has the capacity to resprout post-fire, and to what extent. A. hemipogon/mollis is often a minor component of older Heathy Mallee and Sandplain Heathland vegetation throughout the Big Desert region. Plants in 16 month-old vegetation had already flowered and set seed, so this species is unlikely to be detrimentally affected by fire intervals at the more frequent end of those generally experienced in the Big Desert (eg. minimum of 5-7 years). A. hemipogon/mollis may be excluded from extremely old vegetation once completely dominance by C. verrucosa is achieved. Nevertheless, this grass may regenerate in the absence of fire but probably requires recurrent fires to maintain substantial population sizes and also to maintain appropriate habitat. The persistence of any soil seed bank is unknown.

Resolutions (as these 2 species are more or less indistinguishable in the field, ecological observations apply to both) • Recurrent fire is apparently necessary for successful population-scale turnover. • The optimal fire interval for this grass is unknown but likely to be in the order of 5-50+ years. • Confirm taxonomic identity of known populations of A. hemipogon and A. mollis to resolve confusion between these two species. Site visits in October-November are required. Only sterile specimens were observed (and collected ) during the present surveys.

11 Comesperma scoparium (Broom Milkwort)

Description Comesperma scoparium (Polygalaceae), is a rigid, erect subshrub to c. 80 cm high (see photo 3). It has grooved stems, which are minutely tuberculate, with microscopic hairs between the grooves but otherwise glabrous. Leaves are reduced to closely appressed, narrow-triangular scales c. 1-2 mm long. Flowers appearing from August to October are pink or pale blue and solitary along the upper part of branches. are free, the outer 3 ovate, c. 2.5 mm longs, wings broadly obovate, c. 5 mm long, keel is pouched and pleated from near midway, c. 4 mm long. Upper are narrow-obovate, shortly exceeding keel and shortly united with it to c. midway, yellowish. The perianth is "violet with yellow-green flower parts" (MEL 203498). The is obovate and 5.5-6.5mm long. Seeds are flattened-ellipsoid, c. 3 mm long, pubescent, with a linear, membranous basal appendage c. 2 mm long (Walsh 1999).

C. scoparium is considered vulnerable in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003).

Potentially co-occurring Comesperma calymega is easily distinguished from C. scoparium in having smooth stems and being notably leafy (leaves 8-25 mm long). It is a small subshrub of sandplain heathlands. C. scoparium has a broom-like (scopiform) growth habit (ie. many stems arising at or near ground level and scant branching above). Other scopiform plants from the same habitat include Glischrocaryon behrii (distinctively yellow- green, weak aerial shoots, with prominent yellow flowers, or flower remains from previous seasons' flowering) and Logania nuda (fewer, broader, brighter green, striate branchlets). Photo 3. C. scoparium in flower, June 2004

Photo 4. C. scoparium in Heathy Mallee, Big Desert, June 2004 Photo 5 Logania nuda in Sandplain Heathland, Wyperfeld National Park

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species Comesperma scoparium occurs in Vic, SA, WA and possibly NSW. In Victoria it is found on deep sand in mallee dominated by Eucalyptus incrassata and/or Eucalyptus socialis with and in heath communities. The Victorian stands of Broom Milkwort are widely disjunct from the nearest stands interstate, which include those on the Eyre Peninsula. Big Desert records

12 describe “mallee heath association on white sand” (MEL SPEC 2063274), and “Associated with mallee eucalypts on low sandhill” (MEL SPEC 576223), and “Mallee-heath on deep sand. Dominants include Eucalyptus costata, Acacia spinescens, bullatum, Hibbertia sericea, Spyridium subochreatum, Stenanthemum leucophractum” (MEL SPEC 2212395). Sunset Country records describe C. scoparium occurring “on a small dune with light sand with Eucalyptus incrassata, Callitris verrucosa, Glischrocaryon behrii, behrii, Phebalium bullatum, Goodenia sp (sandhill), Triodia and others” (MEL SPEC 1560528), and “Mallee woodland on north facing sandy consolidated dune. Burnt within last two years. Associated species include Eucalyptus incrassata, E. socialis, Exocarpos sparteus, Glischrocaryon behrii, Waitzia acuminata, Triodia irritans” (MEL SPEC 220466).

A recent quadrat by Sluiter (2004) (FIS: KB0315) in 6-year old Heathy Mallee in Lowan Sands Mallee in the Big Desert provides a more detailed account of prevalent associated species (cover–abundance of 1 or more listed only):

Cover- Scientific Name Common Name abundance 2 coriaceum Mallee Tea-tree 1 terminalis Gland Flower 1 muelleriana subsp. Slaty Sheoke muelleriana 1 Aotus subspinescens Mallee Aotus 1 Babingtonia behrii Broom Baeckea 1 Baeckea crassifolia Desert Baeckea 1 ornata Desert Banksia 1 Dampiera marifolia Velvet Dampiera 1 Desert Stringybark 1 Hibbertia riparia Erect Guinea-flower 1 Lepidobolus drapetocoleus Scale Shedder 1 Leptospermum myrsinoides Heath Tea-tree 1 Leucopogon rufus Ruddy Beard-heath 1 Lomandra collina Pale Mat-rush 1 Phebalium bullatum Desert Phebalium 1 Schoenus breviculmis Matted Bog-sedge

Ecology Comesperma scoparium has light wind-dispersed seeds, which are unlikely to be soil-stored (R.F. Parsons comments in La Trobe University Rare Species Registry File). This would suggest that the species has a ‘D’ method of persistence (sensu Noble & Slatyer 1980). Thus a nearby seed source may be needed if the species is to appear after fire, which may partly explain why it seems to be eliminated by certain fire histories. Parsons (loc. cit.) observed the species in areas that had not been burnt for seven years and possibly for ten years. He suggested that the species might be locally eliminated if whole stands are destroyed in a single fire. If this is the case then the large 2002 wildfire may have destroyed whole populations. Nevertheless, large fires with few unburnt refuges appear to be the usual fire pattern in the Big Desert. This pattern may pre-date European settlement for the last few thousand years and yet C. scoparium has persisted and is at its most common in the Big Desert. A 1979 record from the Big Desert occurs in an area that appears to have been unburnt since 1959 (ie. 20 years), according to DSE fire mapping.

Parsons suspected that C. scoparium is palatable to mammals. If so, its rarity may be partly due to dependence on certain fire frequencies and vulnerability to grazing by rabbits, stock and other mammals.

When inspected by Parsons in the early 1980s, Victorian plants had few flowers and seed set was low or lacking entirely.

13 Present Survey Four previously recorded sites within the Big Desert N.P. were considered for targeted searches of Comesperma scoparium: 1. Murrayville Track 1 (c. 20-23km S of Murrayville) (Little Billy Bore) Not searched – There are at least three sites called ‘Little Billy Bore’, all within 5 km of each other. This early record is not identified with a precise grid reference. Rather than going on an uncoordinated, haphazard search looking for this inadequately identified former site, it was felt time would be better spent searching elsewhere, where the locality data were more reliable and precise. 2. Murrayville Track 1 (c. 28km S of Murrayville) (1979 record) Area searched for c. 30 minutes in June 2004 but no C. scoparium located. The area searched matched the lat / long from the FIS, but not the annotation of ‘28 km S of Murrayville’ associated with the MEL record. The lat./long. from the FIS record is app. 30 km south of Murrayville. Hence, further searches may rediscover this population. 3. Murrayville Track 1 (c. 33km S of Murrayville) (Accurate 2003 Ian Sluiter record) Unnecessary to visit this site as a recent species list was compiled by Ian Sluiter. 4. Murrayville Track 1 (c. 35-37km S of Murrayville) (Accurate 1999 Neville Walsh Record) Site visited in June 2004 and C. scoparium successfully located. Location is Latitude 35o 33’ 06.2” South / Longitude 141o 19’ 06.8 East / Elevation: 99m A.S.L. This is within 40 seconds of latitude and 6 seconds of longitude of Neville Walsh’s 1999 record. This species appeared to be locally common for at least a few hundred metres along this stretch of road. This area was last burned in 1997, hence plants are c. 7 years old. Some plants were observed with a few flowers (eg. see photo 3), suggesting that this species has reached, or is close to, reproductive maturity. More flowering plants may be expected between August and October 2004 and in subsequent years.

Resolutions • This species responds positively to the regeneration opportunities after fire. It has been recorded from vegetation unburnt for between 2 and 20 years. • Time to plant reproductive maturity is estimated to be no longer than about 6 years (no evidence of earlier flowering available, although it is suspected that reproductive maturity could be reached as soon as 3-4 years post-fire). Hence, fire intervals should not be shorter than this confirmed interval of 6 years. • There are no records of C. scoparium in relatively old vegetation (eg. > 20 years). Nevertheless, until more is known of soil seed bank persistence in this species, no maximum tolerable fire interval may be estimated. Death of mature plants is no indication of maximum tolerable fire interval as the soil store of viable seed could be anywhere between two to 100 years, or more. Future study should investigate soil seed banks of this species and determine tolerable fire intervals.

14 Haloragis acutangula forma acutangula (Smooth Raspwort)

Description Haloragis acutangula forma acutangula (Haloragaceae), is a perennial herb or sub-shrub to 30 cm tall (rarely to 45 cm) with more or less erect braches, and often rooting at the nodes in the lower part. Stems are 4-ribbed, more or less woody, particularly near the base, green to reddish purple and glabrous or scabrous. The leaves are alternate (except the first 2-3 pairs of seedling leaves, which are opposite), pale green, more or less dull, linear to linear-lanceolate, 1.0-3.0 (-5.0) cm long, 0.2-0.4 (0.8) cm wide, more or less flat, sessile, entire or toothed. The midrib is usually faint, lamina soft and fleshy in life, glabrous or scabrous with hairs (as for stem) on both faces or confined to the margins. The inflorescence is an indeterminate spike of 1-7 flowers and lateral inflorescences arising in the axils of the upper leaves. The primary are -like, green, fleshy, lanceolate, 5.0-8.0 (-15.0) mm long, 1.5-2.0 (-5.0) mm wide, equal to or exceeding the fruit, glabrous or scabrous only on margins. Secondary bracts are membranous, yellow- brown, lanceolate, 2.0-3.0 mm long, 0.7-1.0 mm wide and entire. The flowers are tiny with green sepals and green to red petals. The more or less woody fruits are oblong, longer than broad, with wings absent or reduced to ribs. Flat faces of the fruit are smooth or transversely wrinkled, (1.8-) 2.0-2.5 mm long (excluding the sepals) and 1.5-1.7 mm wide (Orchard 1975).

This taxon is considered endangered in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003).

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species H. acutangula f. acutangula is known from South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria. This form appears to be mostly restricted to limestone soils and hence is unlikely to be observed in the Big Desert proper. The single known Victorian record is from the Murrayville area (north of the siliceous sands of the Big Desert) at the “Margin of small limestone excavation pit at roadside” (MEL SPEC 2054112). Similarly in South Australia on “sand dunes” on west coast of Eyre Peninsula (MEL 38932), and on “shallow sandy soil over limestone” about 30 km south-west of Warooka (MEL SPEC 2191359). In Western Australia it has been found “growing on the outer edges of a winter wet depression in a heavy clay loam, often amongst Marsilea” about 158 km north-east of Esperance (MEL SPEC 2040985).

Ecology Very little is known of the species' ecology. A black-bodied bee was seen collecting pollen from Haloragis acutangula f. acutangula at a site in South Australia in 1970 (MEL SPEC 2191359).

Present Survey • About 6 km SSE of Murrayville (1 plant recorded in 1998) This site was inspected on 4th April 2004. At least one hour was spent searching in and near the excavation area where the single plant was recorded in 1998, but no plants of H. acutangula were found. It is possible that the 1998 plant provided the herbarium specimen, and this plant has subsequently disappeared. The dry conditions at the site (characteristic of the local climate during the previous few years) were also unlikely to favour persistence of any other standing plants that may have been present. The site should be re-visited after the next season of considerable rainfall.

Resolutions • The site should be re-visited after the next season of considerable rainfall to see if new germinants or resprouts are present. In the meantime H. acutangula forma acutangula is best considered as 'probably extinct' at this site.

15 Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum (Branched Everlasting)

Description Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum (Asteraceae), is an erect annual to c. 60 cm tall; stems are usually unbranched below, and scabrous with short septate and sessile glandular hairs (see photo 4). Leaves are sessile, erect and linear, mostly 2-5 cm long, 1-5 mm wide, acute, with their bases broad and stem-clasping. Both leaf surfaces are glandular hairy, (woolly below in Helichrysum adenophorum var. waddelliae of the Alps and sub-Alps) with margins recurved to revolute. There are three to 20 capitula in compound leafy corymbs, 3-4.5 cm diameter. The involucre is 7-9-seriate; outer bracts colourless to pale-straw coloured; intermediate bracts narrow-elliptic, 10-17 long, short-clawed, opaque, white, often tinged pink in bud. Florets are all bisexual. The cypselas (fruit) are 1.5-2.5 mm long, 4-angled, glabrous, pitted, brown; with 20 to 25 pappus bristles, slightly connate, 4-6 mm long and white. The flowers appear between October and March, but may persist for longer (eg. as in photo 4, taken in April) (Jeanes 1999).

This taxon is considered rare in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003). There is considerable doubt that the records from the southern part of Wilsons Promontory have been correctly referred to this taxon. Further inspection of specimens at MEL is likely to reveal that the Wilsons Promontory records are of Xerochrysum papillosum, a similar-looking large white-flowered everlasting. X. papillosum is a common species on the Bass Strait islands and, in Victoria, is restricted to Wilsons Promontory. Similarly, the records of H. adenophorum var. adenophorum from the upper Thompson River are likely to be the variety waddelliae. As such, true H. adenophorum var. adenophorum in Victoria is likely to be restricted to a handful of records from recently- burnt western heathlands. Its threat status should be revised.

Photo 6. Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum in the Big Desert, April 2004

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species This taxon has been recorded in Victoria and South Australia. In South Australia there are records from the Murray and Kangaroo Island regions (Cooke 1986). In Victoria it is known from only a few collections near Coleraine, Kaniva, Mt Abrupt in the Grampians, Murrayville, the upper Thompson River and on Wilsons Promontory (Jeanes 1999) - (these last two dubious, see discussion above). DSE’s Flora Information System records this taxon from 8 grid squares across the state but without site locality data and no new grid records recorded since 1950.

16 Habitats include scrubland, mallee and heathy woodland. More specific information has not been collected.

H. adenophorum behaves as a fire ephemeral (ie. germination cued by fire ⇒ rapid growth for a few seasons ⇒ re-establishment of a long-lived soil seed bank and death of parent plants ⇒ survival until the next fire solely as a soil seed bank). This life history strategy is not uncommon in the Big Desert. Other local fire ephemerals include Argentipallium obtusifolium, Gyrostemon australasicus, Argentipallium blandowskianum and (somewhat longer-lived) Exocarpos sparteus.

Present survey This species was incidentally found at two Heathy Mallee sites within the 2002-wildfire area of the Big Desert N.P. Both areas are believed to have been previously unburnt since 1959. The sites were: 1) Lat: 35o 23’ 47.2” South / Long: 141o 14’ 08.4” East / Elevation: 85m A.S.L. 1 plant observed which had flowered and set seed (the GPS should be very close to this plant) 2) Lat: 35o 22’ 59.2” South / Long: 141o 13’ 06.6” East / Elevation: 77m A.S.L. 2 plants observed that had both flowered and set seed (this GPS is may be up to c. 50 m from these 2 plants – as the identity and significance of this species was not determined until after the survey of this area)

Taxa recorded as locally abundant or common near site 2 include Acacia euthycarpa, Acacia spinescens, Austrostipa hemipogon, Baeckea crassifolia, Blennospora drummondii, Calandrinia eremaea, tomentosa, Eucalyptus incrassata, Gyrostemon australasicus, Hibbertia riparia, Isolepis marginata, behrii, Lepidobolus drapetocoleus, Lepidosperma viscidum, Leucopogon cordifolius, Muehlenbeckia diclina, Neurachne alopecuroidea, Podotheca angustifolia, Trachymene pilosa, Tricoryne tenella and Wahlenbergia gracilenta.

Resolutions • Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum is likely to have a very long-lived soil seed bank (> 30-50 y) and probably requires fire to germinate in situ. The lack of site records for this species in the Big Desert area in the last 50 years may be partially attributed to the paucity of fires between 1959 and 2002 and to the low priority assigned to post-fire survey in mallee heathlands. Nevertheless, H. adenophorum var. adenophorum is probably correctly designated as 'rare' and may be threatened. It is much less common than other fire ephemerals (such as Gyrostemon australasicus or Argentipallium blandowskianum).

17 Lawrencia berthae (Showy Lawrencia)

Description Lawrencia berthae (Malvaceae) is a dioecious subshrub to c. 50 cm tall and wide. Leaves are ovate to obovate, 6-15 mm long, 4-8 mm wide; margins are crenate to shallowly lobed, nerves deeply impressed above, with both surfaces densely stellate-hairy. The flowers appear solitary or in small clusters; pedicels to c. 15 mm long; calyx 3-5 mm long, 5-lobed from near the base, stellate pubescent; petals obovate, 9-12 mm long in males, c. 6 mm long in females, white and often pubescent near the base. The flowers appear in September-October and contain 10-30 anthers and 6-11 styles. Fruit is broadly ovoid, c. 2 mm high and 4-6 mm diameter, stellate- pubescent (eg. see the empty schizocarps in photo 5). Mericarps are indehiscent and more or less wedge-shaped (Barker & Walsh 1996).

This species is considered vulnerable in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003).

Photo 7. Specimen of dead Lawrencia berthae stems and empty schizocarps collected from south-east of Murrayville, April 2004

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species Lawrencia berthae has been recorded in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. In Victoria the species is confined to limestone-rich and clay-loam soils in the far north-west (Murrayville, Bambill, Mildura districts), sometimes appearing following disturbance (Barker & Walsh 1996). The Murrayville record is from a degraded roadside (see photo 8).

Present Survey The site previously recorded a few kilometres south-east of Murrayville was visited in April 2004. The previous geographic co-ordinates (by Neville Walsh in 1998) accurate relocated the site, ie. Latitude: 35o 17’ 11" South, Longitude: 141o 14’ 32” East. During the visit a total of 27 standing but dead plants were recorded during a comprehensive search (19 on the north side of the road within c. 2 m of the fence and 8 on the south side of the road close to the fence). This count matches exactly that of 27 plants recorded by Neville Walsh in 1998 (which described 10 senescent and 17 mature, non-senescent plants). A survey in August 2002 by Geoffrey Allen and P. Richardson failed to find any plants at this site, however if plants were dead at that time then they may have been overlooked (L. berthae is a facultative annual - dependent on seasonal conditions).

18

Photo 8. Lawrencia berthae roadside site, south-east of Murrayville, April 2004.

In April 2004 all the previous season's plants were dead, although all retained (over-)mature and empty schizocarps (some of which retained apparently viable seeds, but most seeds had been released). There were no seedlings present, probably due to the continuing drought and, as with many sub-shrubby Malvaceae, it is likely that germination and growth is restricted to the warmer seasons.

It is unclear whether this species resprouts from basal material under favourable seasonal conditions. No basal resprouting was evident on any specimen at this site. In addition, the size and longevity of the soil seed bank is unknown. Similar species retain a long-lived soil seed bank that requires an environmental cue for germination (eg. Radyera farragei). The site is highly degraded with many components of the presumed pre-European vegetation (Woorinen Mallee sensu. White et al. 2003) now absent (eg. only scattered mallees present, many chenopods and Zygophyllum spp absent, many introduced weeds present). Whilst the nearby limestone excavation site may have initially promoted germination or establishment of Lawrencia berthae, conditions necessary for ongoing persistence and reproduction are now completely dependent on the management of the site. Additional excavation and dumping of road-making material threaten the persistence of L. berthae at this site, although some level of on-going disturbance may assist its persistence.

Resolutions • Further monitoring of this site after spring rains or after considerable seasonal rains may help to elucidate whether standing ‘dead’ plants resprout from basal material or whether germinants are present. Strategic monitoring may also help elucidate environmental requirements for germination and establishment. • L. berthae is very attractive in bloom. It would be a useful addition to local horticulture, notably to the Botanic Gardens near Mildura. Local nurserymen or native plant enthusiasts should be encouraged to propagate the species from seed collected in situ.

19 Leucopogon costatus (Twiggy Beard-heath)

Description Leucopogon costatus (Ericaceae) is an erect shrub to c. 50 cm high. The younger branches are shortly pubescent. Leaves are broadly ovate, 1.5-5 mm long, 1-3.5 mm wide, cordate and stem- clasping at the base, slightly recurved above with a thickened blunt tip, concave, dull, glabrous, concolorous, palmately 5-7 veined, the veins usually once or twice branched. The leaf margins are glabrous to sparsely ciliate. White flowers appear between July and October that have 1-4 terminal or upper-axillary spikes 4-7 mm long with ovate bracteoles 1.6-2.3 mm long, obtuse, glabrous or minutely ciliate along the midrib. Sepals are ovate 1.6-2.3 mm long, acute, usually minutely hispid near apex. The corolla is c. 3 mm long with lobes more or less equal to the tube, acute, densely bearded within. Anthers have short, recurved, sterile tips and the ovary is glabrous with 2 cavities. Style is c. 0.3 mm long. The fleshy fruit (a small drupe) is depressed- globose, slightly ridged and c. 1.5 mm diameter (Powell et al. 1996).

This species is considered rare in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003). Nevertheless, it is a relatively frequent component of sandplain heathlands in the Big Desert, although of low density, and may have been overlooked. Its threat status should be reviewed.

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species Leucopogon costatus occurs in South Australia and Victoria. In Victoria populations occur in heath and mallee-heath communities on the sandhills of Little Desert N.P. and southern to eastern Big Desert (Powell et al. 1996).

Present Survey Leucopogon costatus was incidentally recorded whilst surveying a Phyllota remota site in recently burnt Heathy Mallee in the Big Desert N.P. The approximate location of this stand is latitude: 35o 25’ 46.6” (0524747) longitude: 141o 16’ 21.5” (6079264) Elevation: 78m A.S.L. For a list of associated species see the list provided for site 1 under ‘Phyllota remota’. Only 1 individual of L. costatus was observed within the 20 x 30 m P. remota quadrat (but more plants may be expected elsewhere nearby). Regeneration mode was not recorded.

Resolutions • Leucopogon costatus regenerates successfully in the first season or two post-fire. It does not regenerate from rhizomes (either between fires or soon after fires). • The species may tolerate relatively long fire intervals – 43 years had passed since the last fire prior to 2002. Its ability to regenerate in the inter-fire interval (ie. in vegetation that has not been recently burnt) is unknown and should be investigated, especially as it appears to be a member of the life history and growth form strategy identified in Cheal (2000) as able to regenerate successfully in the absence of fire. • The threat status of Leucopogon costatus should be reviewed. It may be not be ‘rare’ once adequate survey records have been taken into account.

20 Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora (Red Microcybe)

Description Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora (Rutaceae), is a shrub to 1 m tall with glandular-verrucose branchlets that are brown stellate-hairy to stellate-lepidote (see photo 6). Leaves are spreading or appressed to the stems, crowded, sessile, obtusely triangular to subterete, 2-4 mm long and c. 1 mm wide. The leaf apex is rounded to sub-acute, with a glandular-verrucose adaxial surface. The leaf margins are closely revolute. Inflorescence comprises 10-20 flowers that appear in Spring. Sepals free or united below, linear-spathulate to ovate, 0.5-1 mm long, stellate-pilose abaxially. The petals are ovate, c. 2 mm long, pale yellow to white, sparsely ciliate towards the base. filaments are glabrous. The follicles are glabrous and 3-5 mm long, containing dull striated seed 2-3 mm long (Duretto 1999).

This species is considered vulnerable in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003).

Photo 7. Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora south-east of Murrayville, April 2004 (by O. Carter).

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species This species has been recorded from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. In Victoria it is known from ‘open woodland, mallee and heath communities on loamy or sandy soils in the far north-west’ (eg. Murrayville, Bambill, Annuello districts) (Duretto 1999).

Present Survey a) J.H. Browne formerly collected M. multiflora near the small town of Boinka on the Murrayville Highway on 24 September 1974. Unfortunately, this record was imprecisely located and the precise collection locale could not be identified. The former site probably lay within the Boinka Flora and Fauna Reserve, including stands of relatively-undisturbed Parilla Mallee and Woorinen Mallee on the north and south sides of the Murrayville Highway, which was searched for approximately 1.5 hours in April 2004 but M. multiflora was not relocated.

21 b) Another site was visited in April 2004, c. 7.5 km SE of Murrayville township, 2.4 km east along an unnamed east-west road which intersects with the Murrayville-Yanac Rd 6.2 km south of the Ouyen-Pinnaroo Highway. This population was recorded (and precisely located) by Neville Walsh in 1998. The geographic co-ordinates provided (ie. Latitude: 35o 19’ 04” / Longitude: 141o 12’ 44”) accurately located the population. Present population size remains comparable to 1998 estimates of c. 175 plants. The following species list was made within the area containing Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora plants:

Scientific Name Recorded by Neville Recorded by Carter Walsh (14/11/98) and Cheal (04/04/04) *Brassica tournefortii yes *Sisymbrium erysimoides yes Acacia brachybotrya yes Acacia sclerophylla var. sclerophylla yes Austrostipa elegantissima yes yes Austrostipa nitida yes Avena spp. yes Beyeria lechenaultii yes Beyeria opaca yes Cassytha melantha yes Einadia nutans yes Enchylaena tomentosa yes yes Eucalyptus gracilis yes yes Eucalyptus oleosa subsp. oleosa yes yes Eucalyptus socialis yes yes huegelii yes Halgania andromedifolia yes Maireana brevifolia yes Melaleuca acuminata yes Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. lanceolata yes yes Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora yes yes magniflora yes Olearia muelleri yes Rhagodia spinescens yes Salsola kali yes Santalum acuminatum yes yes Sclerolaena diacantha yes Westringia rigida yes yes Zygophyllum apiculatum yes

During the April 2004 survey, an attempt was made to ascertain the age and number of Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora cohorts at the site. Age was estimated using the node- count method, which has been used reliably for ageing Banksia spp. (Wills 2003). Whilst the accuracy of this method can not be determined for M. multiflora subsp. multiflora, the form of this species is such that annual growth apparently correlated with branch nodes. If we assume that each node equals one year then there are at least four cohorts within the site aged 15, 20, 30 and c. 38 years respectively. These cohorts could be easily discerned as distinct size-classes across the site. The presence of multiple cohorts within the site, and the probable lack of fire in at least the last 40 years or more (ie. no physical evidence of fire), indicates that this species is able to regenerate successfully in the absence of fire. c) A site at Murrayville South, South 3-chain Rd, 1 km E from Yanac-Murrayville Rd, recorded by Neville Walsh in 1999, was briefly visited. The population appeared to be healthy but, as it was on a roadside in agricultural land and remote from the area burnt by the 2002 wildfire, a thorough inspection was not made.

22 d) A 1979 Margaret Corrick record from within the Big Desert on the eastern side of Murrayville- Nhill Rd ca. 12 km S of Murrayville (but without a reliable GPS record) was searched for 1 hour but M. multiflora was not relocated there.

Resolutions • M. multiflora will apparently regenerate successfully and persist in the absence of fire. • The 1979 record from within the Big Desert N.P. should be searched in a few years, once post-fire recruits (if present) are more visible. • M. multiflora should be reintroduced to Boinka Flora and Fauna Reserve, a former occurrence, into a habitat similar to that from current records (eg. 'b', above). After reintroduction, the stand should be monitored biennially. • M. multiflora should be introduced to horticulture, perhaps via the Mildura Botanical Gardens and the Australian Plants Society.

23 Phyllota remota (Slender Phyllota)

Description Phyllota remota (Fabaceae) is a low heath-like shrub to 50 cm tall (see photo 2). The stems are non-suckering (as opposed to the freely suckering Phyllota pleurandroides which is abundant in the Big Desert) and terete. Branches are tomentose at least on the upper parts and wrinkled. The leaves are linear 5-10 mm long, 0.8-1.2 mm wide and distant along the stems (conversely, Phyllota pleurandroides has leaves that are very crowded towards the ends of the branches). Leaves are scabrous-tuberculate with a subobtuse apex and a minute mucro. Flowers appear mostly summer to autumn and are 6-9 mm long and solitary or paired at the ends of branchlets. Pedicels are less than 0.5 mm long (longer in Phyllota pleurandroides). The bracteoles are ovate, acute, keeled c. 4 mm long and almost enveloping the calyx. The calyx is 3-4 mm long, glabrous to white villous with lower teeth as long as the tube. Petals are yellow or reddish. Pods are 3-5 mm long, white pubescent, containing 1 ovate seed, c. 2.5 mm long (Jeanes 1996).

Distinguishing Phyllota remota in the field • Branches are tomentose rather than pubescent as in Phyllota pleurandroides. • Stems are consistently less polished-bronze than P. pleurandroides. • Plants are non-suckering rather than suckering as in P. pleurandroides. • Leaves are distant on the stems rather than strongly-clustered at the ends, as in P. pleurandroides. • The foliage is relatively broad and green, without a prominent adaxial vein and with no hint of a sigmoid mucro c/f. Dillwynia spp which have narrow greyish foliage, often with a clear, pale adaxial nerve and frequently with a somewhat recurved leaf tip.

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species This species is known from South Australia and Victoria. In Victoria Slender Phyllota is apparently confined to the Big Desert and found mainly in sand-heath between dunes. In such habitat, associated species have been reported to include "Casuarina muelleriana, Lepidosperma spp., Triodia irritans, Leptospermum myrsinoides” MEL SPEC 1537199). Other habitat includes “Mallee heath on deep white sand. Common spp. include Eucalyptus incrassata, Leptospermum myrsinoides, Allocasuarina pusilla, Spyridium subochreatum, Phyllota pleurandroides, Calytrix tetragona, Baeckea crassifolia” (MEL SPEC 2063255). A recent quadrat by Sluiter (2004) (see FIS: KB0315) in 6-year old Lowan Sands Mallee EVC in the Big Desert provides a detailed inventory of the associated species.

New records by the authors in June 2004 (close to a 1991 record site by Roger Spencer) provide insight into associated species in the early post-fire environment. Species recorded from ‘site 1’ are listed here - vrot Scientific Name Common Name Braun-Blanquet Cover- abundance Allocasuarina pusilla Dwarf Sheoke + Argentipallium obtusifolium Blunt Everlasting 1 Astroloma conostephioides Flame Heath + Austrostipa hemipogon/mollis Half-bearded Spear- + grass Babingtonia behrii Broom Baeckea 1 Baeckea crassifolia Desert Baeckea 1 Banksia ornata Desert Banksia + Boronia coerulescens subsp. Blue Boronia + coerulescens Callitris verrucosa Scrub Cypress-pine 1 patens Slender Smoke-bush + Corunastylis sp aff. rufa Dark Midge-orchid + Cryptandra tomentosa Prickly Cryptandra + Dampiera marifolia Velvet Dampiera + Goodenia geniculata Bent Goodenia + Goodenia robusta Woolly Goodenia +

24 Desert Grevillea + Gyrostemon australasicus Wheel Fruit + Hibbertia riparia Erect Guinea-flower + Laxmannia orientalis Dwarf Wire-lily 1 Lepidobolus drapetocoleus Scale Shedder 1 Lepidosperma carphoides Black Rapier-sedge 1 Lepidosperma viscidum Sticky Sword-sedge 1 Leptospermum coriaceum Mallee Tea-tree + r Leucopogon costatus Twiggy Beard-heath + Lomandra collina Pale Mat-rush + Lomandra leucocephala subsp. Woolly Mat-rush + robusta Neurachne alopecuroidea Fox-tail Mulga-grass 1 Opercularia turpis Twiggy Stinkweed 1 r Phyllota remota Slender Phyllota 1 Pimelea octophylla Woolly Rice-flower + Podotheca angustifolia Sticky Long-heads + sanguinea Banded Greenhood + Schoenus breviculmis Matted Bog-sedge + Spyridium subochreatum var. Velvet Spyridium + subochreatum Stenanthemum leucophractum White Cryptandra + Tricoryne tenella Mallee Rush-lily + Triodia scariosa Porcupine Grass + Wahlenbergia gracilenta s.l. Annual Bluebell +

Present Survey Phyllota remota was found at two sites in recently burnt (2002) Heathy Mallee EVC: 1. Lat: 35o 25’ 46.6” (0524747) Long: 141o 16’ 21.5” (6079264) Elevation: 78m A.S.L. 2. Lat: 35o 25’ 51.9” (0524810) Long: 141o 16’ 24.0” (6079102) Elevation: 79m A.S.L. Site 2 is c. 50m south and 100-150m south-east of Site 1 and runs along an east-west sandy rise.

Both sites occurred on slight sandy rises (no more than 1m above the surrounding mallee heath) with distinctively less Callitris verrucosa than the surrounds. At site 1, 2000-3000 plants were recorded within a 20 x 30m area. Few plants were recorded immediately outside this quadrat. The second site was farther south by about c. 100m on another slight sandy rise. Abundance at the second site is similar to that estimated for the first site (ie. 2000- 3000 plants). At site 2, abundance of Phyllota remota was observed to be approximately inversely proportional to the abundance of Gyrostemon australasicus. Species composition at site 2 resembled that at site 1. At both sites plants ranged from about 5 to 15 cm in height (see photo 11).

Photo 11. Phyllota remota germinant collected from 16-month-old heathy mallee in Big Desert, April 2004

25 Resolutions • Adult Phyllota remota are killed by fire and do not resprout. • However, P. remota can germinate prolifically, from seed, after fire (most likely from a soil seed store). • The observed high abundance of recruiting P. remota where abundance of Callitris verrucosa and Gyrostemon australasicus was low, may by explained by a combination of competitive interactions between those species and slightly different habitat preferences. • Restricted habitat (ie. on slight sandy rises that occur only sporadically across a terrain of mostly flat heathy mallee or steeper dunes) and competitive exclusion by C. verrucosa in the long-term absence of fire may explain the rarity of this taxon.

26 Schoenus racemosus (Tufted Bog-sedge)

Description Schoenus racemosus (Cyperaceae) is a low perennial, wiry sedge with a short, stout rhizome. The erect culms are rigid, terete, nodeless and 12-30 cm tall, c. 1 mm diameter. The leaves (with their subulate blades) are up to 1.5 cm long, the sheath is yellow-brown to red-brown, smooth, shining and the mouth is noticeably woolly. The ligule is ciliate. The inflorescence is narrow, erect, 2-4 cm long, with the spikelets clustered at about 3 nodes. The spikelets are ovate, acute, 1- flowered, 8-13 mm long. There are 4-6 glumes, with the lowest 3 or 4 empty, acute, very dark red-brown and with their margins woolly at the apex but hyaline below. The fertile glumes are larger (7-8 mm long) and do not support hypogynous bristles. The nut is trigonous, prominently 3-ribbed, wrinkled, glabrous and dull, whitish to red-brown, 1.5-2 mm long, c. 0.8 mm diameter.

The species is considered rare in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003) and 'apparently confined to rather remote, central areas of the Big Desert' (Wilson 1994).

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species S. racemosus was first collected in Victoria in 1986 and is known from only 8 quadrats, all towards the centre of the Big Desert. It may have been overlooked, at it is similar to a number of other perennial sedges from these heathlands, but has also been under-collected as it occurs in a remote and largely untracked part of the state.

S. racemosus is restricted to Sandplain Heathland and Heathy Mallee EVCs and is uncommon therein. Of the eight quadrat records in the FIS, all eight quadrats also contain Allocasuarina pusilla, Lepidosperma carphoides, Lepidosperma viscidum, Spyridium subochreatum, Stenanthemum leucophractum and seven contain Grevillea pterosperma, Lepidobolus drapetocoleus, Lomandra juncea and Lomandra collina - all species primarily characteristic of Sandplain Heathland, with a minor extension into Heathy Mallee.

Present Survey The most accessible site, and entirely within the area of the 2002 wildfire, was searched for approx. 1 hour, without success. This was the site identified as quadrat A12300 in the FIS. S. racemosus was recorded, in 1986, as cover value '+' and hence this quadrat may have contained as few as a single plant.

The following identification guide is offered, to assist distinction of S. racemosus from similar species in the field - Leaf Foliage/ Species Inflorescence Tussock Sheaths Culms Schoenus racemosus Elongated, Open Bearded Ungrooved 2-3 clusters Gahnia lanigera Elongated, Condensed Woolly Channelled spike-like Lepidosperma carphoides Condensed, Condensed Glabrous 1-grooved, fan-shaped smooth Schoenus subaphyllus Condensed, Condensed Minutely Striate globular ciliate

All the above perennial sedges may be confused with S. racemosus. All three similar species are long-lived, sclerophyllous and resprout vigorously post-fire. The immediate post-fire environment is also probably their prime seed regeneration opportunity. It is likely that S. racemosus behaves similarly.

Resolutions • It is likely that S. racemosus resprouts successfully and vigorously post-fire, and may establish from germinants as well. Future botanical work in the vicinity of the record sites should record the presence of S. racemosus and its abundance, as well as assess its regeneration post-fire.

27 Stenopetalum velutinum (Velvet Thread-petal)

Description Stenopetalum velutinum (Brassicaceae) is a more or less annual herb that forms a woody base, and grows to about 65 cm high. Stems are densely covered with appressed, irregularly branched hairs. The basal leaves are lanceolate, to 7 cm long, and entire or with a few teeth. The stem leaves are lanceolate to linear to 7 cm long. Flowers appear in spring and contain sepals 3-5 mm long and yellow-green to brown petals 6-20 mm long with a linear claw, elliptic lamina and long slender apex. Fruit are subglobose to oblong or obovoid, 5-8 mm long and 3-4 mm wide (see photo 12). Pedicels are appressed, erect or slightly spreading, 2-10 mm long (Entwisle 1996).

This species is considered vulnerable in Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003), an opinion strongly supported by the authors. There may be justification to redetermine S. velutinum as 'endangered in Victoria'.

Photo 12. Stenopetalum velutinum stems, leaves and remains of fruit (at left of photo), collected from 18-month-old heathy mallee in the Big Desert, June 2004.

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species Stenopetalum velutinum occurs in all mainland states of Australia. Whilst there were numerous nineteenth century collections from the Wimmera Region, this species is now apparently very rare in Victoria, with relatively recent reports only from Wyperfeld National Park and the Red Cliffs area (Entwisle 1996). DSE’s Flora Information System does not hold any recent site records for this species nor any quadrat records and so associated species are unknown.

Present survey Stenopetalum velutinum was incidentally found in the Big Desert in an area last burned by the 2002 wildfire. The population is c. 50-100 m east or north-east of latitude 35o 30’ 35.8” South and longitude 141o 18’ 41.2” East. Approximately 12 plants were observed. All plants appeared to have regenerated by seed after the recent fire and all were reproductively mature at the time of survey. Individuals observed in the present survey were restricted to a small atypical area (c. 20 x 20 m) dominated by mallee eucalypts indicative of loamy soils rather than the deep siliceous sands that characterize nearly all of the Big Desert. Canopy eucalypts at the site were Eucalyptus dumosa s. l. and . It is suggested that S. velutinum, unlike its two common local congeners, is remarkably palatable (particularly to rabbits). Hence, its apparent extinction throughout most of its former range, and its persistence in this isolated locality towards the centre of the Big Desert, is a result of rabbit browsing (and browsing by

28 domestic stock or kangaroos) elsewhere and the virtual absence of rabbits from the heathlands of the Big Desert. Kangaroos are also very uncommon in these heathlands.

The seed has few adaptations to long-distance dispersal and the isolation of this site within a matrix of heathland (unsuitable as habitat for S. velutinum) suggest that these few plants had emerged from soil-stored seed rather than recruitment from long distances after the fire had passed.

Resolutions • Stenopetalum velutinum regenerates by seed following fire. The seed store is likely to be in the soil. There is no evidence for fire-cued germination. • S. velutinum is extremely rare and threatened with extinction in Victoria. An ex situ population should be established and seed collected to establish further sites for the taxon. • The current known site(s) should be ecologically characterized and surveyed (to provide base data to facilitate detection of any further populations in the Big Desert). Subsequent to habitat characterisation, targeted searches should be made. • ex situ populations should be established in horticulture or the species could be (re- )established in protected (grazing excluded) sites/plots in Murray-Sunset, Wyperfeld or Little Desert National Parks.

29 Teucrium sessiliflorum (Camel Bush)

Description Teucrium sessiliflorum (Lamiaceae) is a perennial tufted herb to 25 cm high, often root-suckering and sometimes forming small stands (which may be a single clone). The branches are sparsely to densely pubescent with branched hairs and sessile glands. Leaves are sessile, narrowly obovate to ovate in outline, 0.5-3 cm long, 3-15 mm and divided into 3-5 distal lobes (other Teucrium spp. in Victoria are less deeply lobed). The leaf undersides have a prominent raised midrib and the surfaces have sparse to moderately dense branched hairs. Leaf margins are strongly recurved. Inflorescence is spike-like and 1.5-4 cm long. One or two sessile flowers emerge from the axils of broad floral leaves during August-October. The inflorescence internodes are not visible. The calyx is 4.5-7 mm long with dense simple and branched hairs and scattered glands. Lobes are c. equal to the tube and the corolla tube is c. equal to the calyx. The abaxial lip is 5-8 mm long, glandular-pubescent externally with slightly shorter than the abaxial corolla-lip (Conn 1999).

This species is designated 'k' in Victoria (ie. poorly known and suspected to belong to one of x, e, v or r in Victoria) (Ross & Walsh 2003). It has been reported from a number of sites in the Big Desert and Sunset Country blocks and, although apparently very palatable to goats and, perhaps, kangaroos and rabbits, is perhaps not threatened, although legitimately considered 'rare'.

Distribution, Habitat and Associated Species Teucrium sessiliflorum has been recorded in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. In Victoria this species is restricted to the far north-west, occurring in mallee communities on sandy or loamy soils (Conn 1999).

Present Survey This species was incidentally recorded at Gunners Reserve north of Wyperfeld National Park. The approximate location of the population was latitude 35o 15’ 19.3” South and longitude 141o 53’ 18.1” East. The species was observed to be locally common within Eucalyptus porosa- dominated mallee woodland in the reserve. There was no evidence of recent fire at the site and it is probable that the site has not experienced fire for over 50 years.

Photo 13 - Habitat for T. sessiliflorum, Gunners Reserve

Resolutions • Teucrium sessiliflorum appears able to regenerate vegetatively in the absence of fire. • The threat status of T. sessiliflorum should be reviewed. It may better be designated as ‘rare’.

30 • Its preferred habitat, of heavier soils at the edge of natural clearings in mallee, make it particularly susceptible to disturbance in firebreak construction. Both during fire suppression and in preparatory fire protective works, such mallee clearings are often targeted as highly suitable sites for dozed firebreak construction. In future, all dozed breaks should avoid such clearings.

31 Threatened Ecological Vegetation Classes

The status of affected Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) following the 2002 Big Desert wildfire is uncertain, as public land mapping utilizing the recent EVC typology and classification (White et al. 2003), has not yet been incorporated into DSE datasets. Nevertheless, none of the EVCs recorded from the Big Desert proper is considered rare or threatened, and all are well- reserved. A poorly-defined, and threatened, EVC (dominated by Eucalyptus porosa) occurs near the burnt area, and may occur within it (depending on assessment of vegetation types once recent mapping has been incorporated into DSE datasets). One of the largest (remnant) stands of this threatened vegetation community occurs at Gunners Reserve, adjoining the central northern boundary of Wyperfeld National Park. This reserve was assessed to better define the floristic components that may help to define this potential EVC. About 1 hour was spent traversing the Eucalyptus porosa-dominated areas, which tended to occur on the slopes above the flats, on the deeper Woorinen sands, but not on the upper-slope low dune ridges (with their surface soils incorporating siliceous sands). All vascular plants were recorded (ie. cryptogams were excluded) and an abundance value assigned in the form of A = Abundant, C = Common, U = uncommon, and R = rare. Plants recorded are presented in Table 2. It is emphasised that these data were collected in April, after one of the driest summers on record. Other species are likely to be recorded when the site is surveyed in spring in a more benign season.

Table 2. Plants recorded in Eucalyptus porosa-dominated vegetation at Gunners Reserve on 5th April 2004. E. porosa cover was c. 25% across the survey area. vrot Scientific Name Common Name Family Abundance v Acacia oswaldii Umbrella Wattle Mimosaceae R Actinobole uliginosum Flannel Cudweed Asteraceae A Atriplex pumilio Mat Saltbush Chenopodiaceae U Austrodanthonia caespitosa Common Wallaby-grass Poaceae U Austrodanthonia setacea Bristly Wallaby-grass Poaceae U Austrostipa elegantissima Feather Spear-grass Poaceae R Austrostipa scabra subsp. falcata Rough Spear-grass Poaceae A Brachyscome ciliaris Variable Daisy Asteraceae C Brachyscome lineariloba Hard-head Daisy Asteraceae A * Brassica tournefortii Mediterranean Turnip Brassicaceae A * Bromus madritensis Madrid Brome Poaceae C * Bromus rubens Red Brome Poaceae C * Carthamus lanatus Saffron Thistle Asteraceae U * Centaurea melitensis Malta Thistle Asteraceae R Chenopodium desertorum subsp. Frosted Goosefoot Chenopodiaceae U desertorum Chthonocephalus pseudevax Groundheads Asteraceae C Crassula colorata Dense Crassula Crassulaceae A Crassula peduncularis Purple Crassula Crassulaceae U Crassula sieberiana Sieber Crassula Crassulaceae A Einadia nutans subsp. nutans Nodding Saltbush Chenopodiaceae U Enchylaena tomentosa Ruby Saltbush Chenopodiaceae C Eucalyptus porosa Black Mallee-box C Goodenia pusilliflora Small-flower Goodenia C Maireana brevifolia Short-leaf Bluebush Chenopodiaceae U * Medicago minima Little Medic Fabaceae A * Pentaschistis airoides subsp. airoides False Hair-grass Poaceae C * Petrorhagia velutina Velvety Pink Caryophyllaceae U Pittosporum angustifolium Weeping Pittosporum Pittosporaceae U Salsola tragus s. l. (erect form) Prickly Saltwort Chenopodiaceae C * Salvia verbenaca Wild Sage Lamiaceae R Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Bassia Chenopodiaceae A Senecio glossanthus Slender Groundsel Asteraceae U

32 Senecio pinnatifolius ?var. 1 Mallee Groundsel Asteraceae C * Silene apetala Mallee Catchfly Caryophyllaceae A k Teucrium sessiliflorum Camel Bush Lamiaceae C * Trifolium angustifolium Narrow-leaf Clover Fabaceae U Vittadinia gracilis New Holland Daisy Asteraceae C Zygophyllum glaucum Pale Twin-leaf Zygophyllaceae R

The Eucalyptus porosa-dominated vegetation is characterized by an abundance of species from the Poaceae, Asteraceae and short-lived Chenopodiaceae. The vegetation assessed at Gunners Reserve appears to have had a history of livestock grazing prior to reservation, resulting in an abundance of many introduced taxa and a lack of long-lived sclerophyllous (such as Acacia spp.). The site is most closely related to Ridged Plains Mallee EVC, which structurally comprises open mallee woodland to low open woodland with a chenopod-dominated shrub stratum and a tussock grass-dominated field stratum (White et al. 2003), but is distinct from that EVC. Eucalyptus dumosa s. l. and/or Eucalyptus behriana typically dominate Ridged Plains Mallee, however Eucalyptus porosa (amongst other species) may be locally significant dominants in some disjunct occurrences of this EVC (White et al. 2003). Attributes of the woodland dominated by Eucalyptus porosa at Gunners Reserve that suggest affinity with Ridged Plains Mallee include:

• Presence of a range of shrubby species, notably Acacia oswaldii, Maireana brevifolia, Pittosporum angustifolium and Teucrium sessiliflorum,

• Presence of a range of prostrate shrubs of the Chenopodiaceae, including Atriplex pumilio, Chenopodium desertorum subsp. desertorum, Einadia nutans subsp. nutans, Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa and Sclerolaena diacantha,

• An abundance of graminoids including Austrodanthonia caespitosa, Austrodanthonia setacea, Austrostipa elegantissima and Austrostipa scabra subsp. falcata, and

• A diverse suite of inter-tussock herbs, notably Actinobole uliginosum, Brachyscome ciliaris, Brachyscome lineariloba, Chthonocephalus pseudevax, Goodenia pusilliflora, Vittadinia gracilis and Zygophyllum glaucum. However, many of these species also indicate relatively high levels of past disturbance and are common in, or characteristic of, formerly-grazed sites (eg. A. uliginosum, B. lineariloba, E. tomentosa, S. diacantha).

Eucalyptus porosa is a relatively common roadside tree in the southern Mallee although comparatively rare in reserves or on uncleared public land. Anecdotally, early settlers believed this tree to grow on prime sites for crop production and stands of E. porosa were targeted for selection and alienation. Hence, very few stands remained to be incorporated into reserves. It occurs elsewhere in Wyperfeld National Park (eg. north-east of Lake Werrebean and along Dattuck Track) but Gunners Reserve contains the largest stand of this vegetation community known to the authors. This vegetation community is currently threatened by over-grazing (it incorporates many palatable species and all stands are heavily browsed or grazed by goats, rabbits and kangaroos). Furthermore, the open nature of this community makes it a prime location for dozed firebreak construction, disturbing the soil and creating prime sites for weed invasion and establishment. Although adjoining Wyperfeld National Park, Gunners Reserve has been excluded from the park. It shows evidence of grazing by domestic stock over many years (decades - ?).

33

Photo 14 Mallee woodland dominated by E. Photo 15 Exposed base of E. porosa, illustrating porosa, Gunners Reserve the typical size (and age) of individual trees

Resolutions • Three small grazing exclosures (15 - 20m square) should be constructed within Gunners Reserve to determine the intensity of on-going grazing by rabbits, errant stock and kangaroos. • Once the recent EVC mapping has been incorporated into EVC datasets, other sites for this ill-defined community should be assessed (including field survey) and the status of this community determined (Is it a distinct EVC?). The quadrat data should also be used to characterise this community.

34

Vital attributes to assist ecological fire management

The vital attribute scheme (summarised in Table 3) was originally intended to describe major shifts in species composition and dominance during succession in disturbance-prone ecosystems (Noble & Slatyer 1977; 1980). Since then, it has been used to characterize plant responses to disturbance, model landscape-scale dynamics and develop ecological burning prescriptions. In Victoria, vital attributes data are basic to ecological fire planning, to define the Key Fire Response Species for a community or vegetation type, which in turn provide a guide to the upper and lower Tolerable Fire Intervals for the area (Fire Ecology Working Group 2004, p12). Then, “knowledge of the ecological thresholds for Tolerable Fire Intervals enables a Fire Cycle to be defined” (op. cit., p13).

However, Victoria’s vital attributes database presently describes only a small proportion of the state’s entire vascular flora. No taxa are comprehensively described by the extant data and for all species there are significant data gaps, especially with regard to timing of growth form transitions, the nature and persistence of the propagule (seed) store and cues for germination. As a result, in many (most?) fire-prone vegetation types in Victoria there are insufficient vital attributes data to reliably identify or describe Key Fire Response Species. In addition, some of the basic underlying assumptions of ecological fire planning based on vital attributes data have not been adequately tested (or, in some cases, not tested at all). Collection of the basic ecological information necessary to reliably classify species into a workable vital attribute type is often expensive and time-consuming. Short cuts (justified or otherwise) abound.

As a result, we attempted to collect ecological information from taxa of Big Desert Heathy Mallee and Sandplain Heathland that will permit vital attributes to be assigned for a majority of species that occur in these vegetation types.

Digitally mapped fire boundaries obtained from DSE Mildura were used to source sites from a range of ages since the most recent fire. On the assumption that life history transformations occur contemporaneously across a landscape (ie. all individuals of each taxon pass into the next life history stage at the same time), visiting a range of sites of known age post-fire is perhaps the most efficient way of determining the timing of various reproductive stages transitions for each species. Fire-aged sites identified and surveyed were:

Age in years Year of Fire Fire type EVC surveyed c. 1.5 2002 Wildfire Heathy Mallee 7 1997 ?Prescribed Heathy Mallee 23 1981 Wildfire Sandplain Heath 45 1959 Wildfire Sandplain Heath >100 c. 1900? Wildfire Sandplain Heath

Individual study sites were selected at least 20 m from roads or tracks and the following information recorded: - Species name, - Plant abundance (ie. abundance within the surrounding c. 50 x 50 m). Abundance was measured on a scale from Abundant Æ Common Æ Uncommon Æ Rare, - Estimated proportion of individuals that showed evidence of recent flowering or fruiting. Fruiting individuals were assumed to be reproductively mature unless otherwise noted, and - Post-fire response (ie. whether plants were resprouting from stems or basal material, whether they were recruiting solely from seed or both). Occasionally, species responses varied with the local fire intensity. For example, species that usually regenerate solely from seed may also resprout if the local fire intensity is unusually low. The species' responses to the typical fire intensity for the vegetation type were taken as standard.

Data were collected for 141 taxa, including 5 introduced, 2 poorly known, 4 rare and 2 vulnerable taxa (Ross & Walsh 2003). Data were stored in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and vital attributes assigned based on those data. The vital attributes categories presented in Tolhurst (2000) are the basis if ecological fire planning within DSE and we attempted to present all our field data consistent with this scheme (presented below). The individual species' data are presented in Appendix 2 (excluding abundance information).

35

Nevertheless, there are gaps in the data collected for many taxa and hence some vital attribute categories cannot be accurately determined. For example, seedlings of Acacia ligulata were observed in the 1.5 year-old-site and fecund adults were recorded in the 23 year-old-site. As such, from these data alone, the youngest age to first flowering, to first seed set, to reproductive maturity can only be assumed to be each less than 23 years and more than 1.5 years. Further surveys in a range of sites of different ages (eg. probably 5-10 year old sites) are necessary to more accurately determine the time of these life history transitions for this species.

16a 16b

Photo 16. (a) Seed regeneration (c. 3 cm tall) of Conospermum patens (Slender Smoke-bush) in 1.5 year old Heathy Mallee and (b) a resprouting individual (c. 40 cm tall) of C. patens at the same site

In addition, the vegetative-based response categories often could not be distinguished easily in the field. For example, it is very difficult to determine the status of the pre-fire germinants (ie. recent germinants before the fire), whether they had died in the fire, or had appeared only after the fire and in response to it. Surveys of sites pre- and post-fire may be necessary to determine the magnitude and type of sprouting response between reproductively mature versus germinants plants. Recent germinants are, necessarily, smaller than the parent plants. It may take a number of years for them to develop the thickness of bark, size of lignotuber or other structures that enable mature individual of the same species to resprout post-fire (Bradstock 1990, Keith & Tozer 1997). As a result, seedlings of vegetative resprouter species may behave more akin to obligate seed regenerators.

There is a further fire response category for resprouters that is apparently not included within the scheme presented in Tolhurst (2000). Tolhurst (op. cit.) presents three resprouter categories viz. V - all ages survive, but all become germinants U - mature remain mature & germinants remain germinants W - mature remain mature & germinants die In many habitats, particularly where fire intensity is relatively high, the canopies of mature plants are commonly consumed in any fire and resprouting species revert to a germinants (ie. non-reproductive) condition. At the same time, plants that were germinants before the fire are killed by the fire (as discussed in the paragraph above). In short - all ages survive, mature become germinants and germinants die. This life history strategy is particularly pertinent to species which resprout post-fire, but which may also regenerate between fires (eg. many heath and paper-fruited myrtle species, Cheal 2000). A fourth resprouter category should be added to the scheme presented in Tolhurst (2000).

Recognition that many species successfully regenerate from seed between fires will also require further categories in the 'Combined Response' attribute category.

Nevertheless, it may not be helpful to add further complexity to DSE's Vital Attributes Database by inserting improvements in it by means of an internal report. Such enhancement should come after discussion and consensus amongst DSE fire ecologists. Hence, consistent with a conservative risk analysis approach, all vegetative resprouters were categorised as 'V' (ie. all ages survive fire and all become germinants) in the current report and in the absence of further information (see the table below). Similarly, for this study, and in the absence of a workable

36 alternative within DSE's Vital Attributes scheme, all 'combined' responses have been assigned the letter code 'g'.

Taxa with combined seed and vegetative recovery mechanisms were all assigned the ‘g’ (or Γ) attribute, as the different combined response attributes could not be easily identified in the field. Conospermum patens is an example of a species with a combined fire response. Photo 16a shows a post-fire seedling of C. patens whilst photo 16b shows a sprouting individual, both at the same site.

The vital attribute scheme devised by Noble & Slatyer (1980) is presented in Table 3. There is a total of 30 species recovery types in this formulation (ie. combinations of the 10 VAs in ‘a’ multiplied by the 3 VAs in ‘b’), however only about 15 of these are relevant to real-time plant responses as observed in the field (Noble & Slatyer 1980).

Finally, as with all biological phenomena, all species do not compliantly adopt the regeneration/recovery strategies outlined in any artificial system imposed by anthropogenic needs. Species may behave as obligate seed regenerators in some parts of their range and as facultative root resprouters elsewhere (eg. mitchellii). Other species may behave as obligate seed regenerators after an intense fire, but may resprout without difficulty after milder fires (eg. Casuarina muelleriana). Categorization is a summary statement of a species' frequent and typical response. It is a useful construct to assist management. It is not an invariable attribute of plant species.

Table 3. The vital attributes scheme, extracted from Tolhurst (2000).

(a) The method of arrival or persistence of the species at a site during and after a disturbance Seed-based responses D Seed dispersed long distances (from outside the burnt area) Seed stored, maintains viability for a long period, partial germination per S disturbance. G Seed stored, maintains viability for a long period, single germination pulse. C Seed short-lived, exhausted after a single disturbance. Vegetatively-based responses V Sprouters: all ages survive, but all become germinants. U Sprouters: mature remain mature and germinants remain germinants. W Sprouters: mature remain mature and germinants die. Combination of seed and vegetative mechanisms Δ Dispersed seed; mature remain mature and germinants may or may not resprout. Seed stored, with partial germination; mature remain mature and germinants may or Σ may not resprout. Seed stored, with single germination pulse; mature remain mature and germinants Γ (or g) die. (b) The ability to establish & grow to maturity in the developing community T Tolerant; will establish in the presence of adult competition (multi-aged population). Intolerant; needs a disturbed site with competition removed (single-aged I population). R Requires some pre-condition to be met before establishment, delayed establishment. (c) The time taken for the species to reach critical life stages. The time taken for a species to reach reproductive maturity (includes ability to m resprout for sprouters). l the longevity of the species reproductive population within the community. e the time taken for all remaining reproductive material within the area to die.

37 Recommendations The following specific recommendations were made in the body of this report. Acacia oswaldii • This species may tolerate long-term absence of fire (ie. > c.50-100 years). Local populations should be monitored in a small number (5 or so) of selected occurrences. Such monitoring should focus on the regeneration and survival of germinants, any suckers and mature plants under various grazing regimes. A. oswaldii is principally a species of semi-arid woodlands dominated by Callitris gracilis, Casuarina luehmannii and/or Casuarina pauper. • The post-fire response of this species is unknown. Advantage should be taken of any fire in occurrences of A. oswaldii by subsequent monitoring to determine the species’ post-fire responses, the location and persistence of any seed store and the germination cues of any soil-stored seed. • The threat status of Acacia oswaldii should be reviewed. It may be not be ‘rare’ once adequate recent records have been taken into account. Austrostipa hemipogon / mollis • Recurrent fire is apparently necessary for successful population-scale turnover. • The optimal fire interval for this grass is unknown but likely to be in the order of 5-50+ years. • Confirm taxonomic identity of known populations of A. hemipogon and A. mollis to resolve confusion between these two species. Site visits in October-November are required. Only sterile specimens were observed (and collected ) during the present surveys. Comesperma scoparium • This species responds positively to the regeneration opportunities after fire. It has been recorded from vegetation unburnt for between 2 and 20 years. • Time to plant reproductive maturity is estimated to be no longer than about 6 years (no evidence of earlier flowering available, although it is suspected that reproductive maturity could be reached as soon as 3-4 years post-fire). Hence, fire intervals should not be shorter than this confirmed interval of 6 years. • There are no records of C. scoparium in relatively old vegetation (eg. > 20 years). Nevertheless, until more is known of soil seed bank persistence in this species, no maximum tolerable fire interval may be estimated. Death of mature plants is no indication of maximum tolerable fire interval as the soil store of viable seed could be anywhere between two to 100 years, or more. Future study should investigate soil seed banks of this species and determine tolerable fire intervals. Haloragis acutangula • The site should be re-visited after the next season of considerable rainfall to see if new germinants or resprouts are present. In the meantime H. acutangula forma acutangula is best considered as 'probably extinct' at this site. Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum • Helichrysum adenophorum var. adenophorum is likely to have a very long-lived soil seed bank (> 30-50 y) and probably requires fire to germinate in situ. The lack of site records for this species in the Big Desert area in the last 50 years may be partially attributed to the paucity of fires between 1959 and 2002 and to the low priority assigned to post-fire survey in mallee heathlands. Nevertheless, H. adenophorum var. adenophorum is probably correctly designated as 'rare' and may be threatened. It is much less common than other fire ephemerals (such as Gyrostemon australasicus or Argentipallium blandowskianum). Lawrencia berthae • Further monitoring of this site after spring rains or after considerable seasonal rains may help to elucidate whether standing ‘dead’ plants resprout from basal material or whether germinants are present. Strategic monitoring may also help elucidate environmental requirements for germination and establishment. • L. berthae is very attractive in bloom. It would be a useful addition to local horticulture, notably to the Botanic Gardens near Mildura. Local nurserymen or native plant enthusiasts should be encouraged to propagate the species from seed collected in situ.

38 Leucopogon costatus • Leucopogon costatus regenerates successfully in the first season or two post-fire. It does not regenerate from rhizomes (either between fires or soon after fires). • The species may tolerate relatively long fire intervals – 43 years had passed since the last fire prior to 2002. Its ability to regenerate in the inter-fire interval (ie. in vegetation that has not been recently burnt) is unknown and should be investigated, especially as it appears to be a member of the life history and growth form strategy identified in Cheal (2000) as able to regenerate successfully in the absence of fire. • The threat status of Leucopogon costatus should be reviewed. It may be not be ‘rare’ once adequate survey records have been taken into account. Microcybe multiflora • M. multiflora will apparently regenerate successfully and persist in the absence of fire. • The 1979 record from within the Big Desert N.P. should be searched in a few years, once post-fire recruits (if present) are more visible. • M. multiflora should be reintroduced to Boinka Flora and Fauna Reserve, a former occurrence, into a habitat similar to that from current records (eg. 'b', above). After reintroduction, the stand should be monitored biennially. • M. multiflora should be introduced to horticulture, perhaps via the Mildura Botanical Gardens and the Australian Plants Society. Phyllota remota • Adult Phyllota remota are killed by fire and do not resprout. • However, P. remota can germinate prolifically, from seed, after fire (most likely from a soil seed store). • The observed high abundance of recruiting P. remota where abundance of Callitris verrucosa and Gyrostemon australasicus was low, may by explained by a combination of competitive interactions between those species and slightly different habitat preferences. • Restricted habitat (ie. on slight sandy rises that occur only sporadically across a terrain of mostly flat heathy mallee or steeper dunes) and competitive exclusion by C. verrucosa in the long-term absence of fire may explain the rarity of this taxon. Schoenus racemosus • It is likely that S. racemosus resprouts successfully and vigorously post-fire, and may establish from germinants as well. Future botanical work in the vicinity of the record sites should record the presence of S. racemosus and its abundance, as well as assess its regeneration post-fire. Stenopetalum velutinum • Stenopetalum velutinum regenerates by seed following fire. The seed store is likely to be in the soil. There is no evidence for fire-cued germination. • S. velutinum is extremely rare and threatened with extinction in Victoria. An ex situ population should be established and seed collected to establish further sites for the taxon. • The current known site(s) should be ecologically characterized and surveyed (to provide base data to facilitate detection of any further populations in the Big Desert). Subsequent to habitat characterisation, targeted searches should be made. • ex situ populations should be established in horticulture or the species could be (re- )established in protected (grazing excluded) sites/plots in Murray-Sunset, Wyperfeld or Little Desert National Parks. Teucrium sessiliflorum • Teucrium sessiliflorum appears able to regenerate vegetatively in the absence of fire. • The threat status of T. sessiliflorum should be reviewed. It may better be designated as ‘rare’. • Its preferred habitat, of heavier soils at the edge of natural clearings in mallee, make it particularly susceptible to disturbance in firebreak construction. Both during fire suppression and in preparatory fire protective works, such mallee clearings are often targeted as highly suitable sites for dozed firebreak construction. In future, all dozed breaks should avoid such clearings.

39 Community dominated by Eucalyptus porosa • Three small grazing exclosures (15 - 20m square) should be constructed within Gunners Reserve to determine the intensity of on-going grazing by rabbits, errant stock and kangaroos. • Once the recent EVC mapping has been incorporated into EVC datasets, other sites for this ill-defined community should be assessed (including field survey) and the status of this community determined (Is it a distinct EVC?). The quadrat data should also be used to characterise this community.

General Recommendations There is no evidence of long-lasting ecological damage to the flora or vegetation of the Big Desert as a direct result of the 2002 wildfires. This is a dramatic statement and, like all simple declamations, is somewhat of an over-simplification. Nevertheless - • all rare or threatened species located and surveyed for this report had regenerated successfully post-fire, and some were apparently far more abundant than they were immediately before the fire, • species which had not been seen for many years (decades, in the case of Stenopetalum velutinum) were found growing vigorously post-fire, • some rare or threatened species from unburnt sites, outside the perimeter of the 2002 wildfires, were locally extinct or further threatened, moreso than in previous surveys only a year or so beforehand, • most of the local flora has eminently successful strategies to cope with occasional summer wildfires and they were vigorously regenerating, either from seed or resprouting, in the post- fire environment - even given that the season(s) immediately preceding these surveys were unusually stressful (extremely low annual rainfalls and record low autumn rainfalls in 2004), and • few weed species were noted in the post-fire vegetation, and, apart from localized mechanical disturbance associated with firebreak construction or the track and road network, introduced plant species are almost absent from most of the Big Desert, including recently-burnt areas. However, there were some adverse outcomes from the 2002 wildfires. Remobilisation of dunes The crests of the tallest dunes were destabilised by temporary removal of vegetation. The mean annual rainfall of the Big Desert is not high and the soils are remarkably nutrient-poor, leading to low growth rates. The re-establishment of a stabilising vegetation cover after disturbance is slow and localised wind erosion is evident in the first few years post-fire. Nevertheless, the dunes are usually restabilised within 5 or so years and erosion disappears, as long as continuing disturbance (such as from trail bikes) does not occur. There was negligible evidence of damaging uses (trail bikes or off-road 4 Photo 17 Remobilised dune crest, following Wheel Drives) in the Big Desert after the 2002 wildfires, near Big Billy, June 2004 2002 wildfires. Firebreak Construction There is a long-standing fear of landscape-scale fires in the Big Desert (and elsewhere in Victoria). Mosaic fire histories have become a paradigm objective for all public land management throughout Victoria. The Big Desert is a very large area of relatively homogeneous vegetation and thus relatively homogeneous fuel, unlike the Murray-Sunset which supports large areas of fire-resistant samphire vegetation and raak interspersed amongst dense mallee, open

40 woodlands and grasslands. Fire planning has determinedly attempted to break the perceived fuel continuity of the Big Desert by establishment of broad and extensive fire breaks (either trittered, or fuel-reduced at regular and frequent intervals, or both). For example, the western side of the Murrayville-Yanac road has been bounded by a broad fire break for some years now. These brakes are intended to ensure that very large landscape-scale wildfires do not consume extensive areas of the Big Desert. The Big Desert is dominated by plant species that exploit the opportunities offered by the temporarily fertile soils immediately post-fire for seed regeneration. Many species are so geared to post-fire regeneration that they rarely, if ever, regenerate at any other time. This life history is characteristic of the dominant shrubs and trees. Many other species cannot be found in unburnt vegetation, but appear in abundance immediately post-fire, grow, bloom and set seed in the

space of a single to a handful of Photo 18 - Wheel-fruit Gyrostemon australasicus in seasons and then disappear until post-fire regrowth (2 years old). straight after the next fire. These fire ephemerals are often common or even dominate in recently burnt vegetation (see Photo 18) but for most of the time between fires exist solely as soil-stored seed. Even very long-lived species which are killed outright by fires, such as Scrub Pine Callitris verrucosa, have their major regeneration event immediately post-fire. Unlike in the Murray-Sunset farther north, the Big Desert has very few plant species which regenerate abundantly without fire and also show no adaptations to post- fire regeneration. The Big Desert is a ‘pyrogenic’ landscape. With few areas of fire-resistant vegetation, the Big Desert’s history is of infrequent, but large, landscape-scale fires. The largest, in 1959, burnt something approaching 75% of the Big Desert. The next major fire was in 1981, burning large areas in the eastern Big Desert, now incorporated within Wyperfeld National Park. The 2002 wildfires were just another in this series of large conflagrations. It is tempting to speculate that a history of large fires every 20 - 22 years is simply part of the natural processes of the Big Desert … Yet even these very large fires left unburnt islands - refuges for fire-sensitive species (Photos 19 & 20).

Photo 19 Fire boundary, 1981 fire to the Photo 20 ‘Island’ of unburnt vegetation left, to the right unburnt in that fire, surrounded by fire scar for 2002 wildfire, previous fire in 1959, Wyperfeld Nat. Park, Big Billy, June 2004 June 2004

41 No matter how torrid the weather or seasonal conditions, some unburnt refuges will always be left. No matter how benign the seasons, wildfires will tend to be at landscape scale. By contrast, fire break construction is locally damaging (eg. as discussed for Teucrium sessiliflorum, above) and visually intrusive. Peripheral fire breaks may be a strategically useful tool in fire control and in maintaining good relations with neighbouring landholders. Fire breaks well within the Big Desert, remote from its boundaries, involve substantial commitment of personnel, budget and effort - to prevent landscape- scale fires from burning large areas of the Big Desert. Yet landscape-scale fires may have few adverse ecological consequences. Site-specific prescribed works may be justified, to protect specific infrastructure Photo 21 Fire boundary at an established or specific areally-limited ecological values. experimental site - to the left burnt in 1959 Interior works to prevent landscape-scale and 1981, to the right burnt in 1959 only. fires are problematic. Site now demolished by recent dozed fire break construction. Photo taken in 1994. Ecologically-planned Applied Fires In recent years a new approach to prescribed burning has been developed in Victoria, utilizing knowledge of the responses of plants and vegetation to fire régimes to plan prescribed burns that achieve fuel reduction goals but also assist in maintaining fire-dependant biodiversity (Fire Ecology Working Group 2004). These plans are based on knowledge of the responses of plant species and vegetation communities to fire, utilizing a system first developed by Noble and Slatyer (1980). Unfortunately, our knowledge of the ecological responses of most plant species to fire is rudimentary (at best). With the goal of further enabling this initiative of applying fire régimes that are either of minimal adverse ecological impact, or that achieve ecological management goals for vegetation and habitats, we collected further 'Vital Attributes' data for 141 species of Big Desert flora. Plant species were categorized in accord with the fire-response categories of Tolhurst (2000). These categories successfully accommodated many of the species of the Big Desert Sandplain Heathland and Heathy Mallee, but difficulties were experienced for some species (see Appendix 2, p. 47). Furthermore, categorization frequently made little allowance for variability in species' responses depending on local conditions (species may behave as obligate seed regenerators where the fire intensity was high, but may resprout where the fire intensity has been less). Some of these difficulties derived from limitations in the time available for field work and limited fire history ages available in the landscape. Difficulties also derived from questionable ecological assumptions behind the initial definition of categories. • Further experimental and field work is required to determine some key response categories, notably (1) duration of viable seed store, (2) longevity of individual plants, and (3) time to local extinction (longevity of the species within the community). • Experimental work, involving pre-burn assessments and subsequent controlled applied burns, is required to distinguish responses to fire from seasonal or other responses. • Basic ecological research is required to investigate some of the critical assumptions behind the accepted scheme of categorization of life history strategies, notably (1) the ability of various species to establish in the inter-fire period, and (2) whether species move into life history states reliably according to years/seasons after fire or whether the time of transition varies with local features, such as localized soil moisture or soil fertility.

42 Bibliography

Barker, R. M. & Walsh, N. G. (1996) Malvaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 3 Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Bradstock, R. A. (1990) Demography of woody plants in relation to fire: L. f. and anemonifolius (Salisb.) Knight Australian Journal of Ecology 15, 117-132. Cheal, D. (2000) Seed Regeneration in Long-unburnt and Recently-burnt Heathland at Wyperfeld National Park, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 112, 111-118. Conn, B. J. (1999) Lamiaceae, in: Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 4 Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Cooke, D. A. (1986) Compositae, in Jessop, J. P. & Toelken, H. R. (eds), Flora of South Australia Part III: Polemoniaceae-Compositae, South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide. Duretto, M. F. (1999) Rutaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 4 Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Entwisle, T. J., Maslin, B. R., Cowan, R. S. & Court, A. B. (1996) Mimosaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 3 Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Fire Ecology Working Group (2004) Guidelines and procedures for ecological burning on public land in Victoria 2004, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne. Jeanes, J. A. (1996) Fabaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 3 Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Jeanes, J. A. (1999) Asteraceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 4 Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Keith, D. A. and Tozer, M. G. (1997) Experimental design and resource requirements for monitoring flora in relation to fire, in 'Bushfire '97' (eds. B. J. McKaige, R. J. Williams and W. M. Waggitt) CSIRO Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre, Darwin, NT Noble, I. R. & Slatyer, R. O. (1977) Post-fire succession of plants in Mediterranean ecosystems, in H. A. Mooney & C. E. Conrad (eds), Proceedings of a Symposium on Environmental Consequences of Fire and Fuel Management in Mediterranean Ecosystems, pp 37-45, USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-3, Washington D.C. Noble, I. R. & Slatyer, R. O. (1980) The use of vital attributes to predict successional changes in plant communities subject to recurrent disturbances, Vegetatio, 43, pp. 5-21. O'Brien, T. (1989) The Impact of Severe Frost in J. C. Noble, R. A. Bradstock (eds), Mediterranean Landscapes in Australia: Mallee Ecosystems and their Management, pp 181-188, CSIRO, East Melbourne. Orchard, A. E. (1975) Taxonomic revisions in the family Haloragaceae 1. The genera Haloragis, Haloragodendron, Glischrocaryon, Meziella and Gonocarpus, Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum, Number 10, Auckland, New Zealand.

43 Powell, J. M., Walsh, N. G. & Brown, E. A. (1996) Leucopogon, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 3 Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Ross, J. H. & Walsh, N. G. (2003) A census of the vascular plants of Victoria 7th Edition, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. Sluiter, I. R. K. (2004) Flora of the 1997 and 2002 Big Desert Fire Areas South of Murrayville 1) Draft Species Lists, EVCs, Rare and Threatened Plants, General Observations and Recommendations for Management, Ogyris Ecological Research Report No. 2004/01. Tolhurst, K. G. (2000) Guidelines for ecological burning in foothill forests of Victoria – Mt Cole Case Study, Fire Ecology Working Group, Department of Natural Resources and Environment – Victoria and Parks Victoria, Melbourne. Walsh, N. G. (1994) Poaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 2 Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and , Inkata Press, Melbourne. Walsh, N. G. (1996) Chenopodiaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J., Flora of Victoria Volume 3 Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Walsh, N. G. (1999) Polygalaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 4 Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae, Inkata Press, Melbourne. White, M., Oates, A. Barlow, T. et al. (2003) The vegetation of North-West Victoria, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg, Victoria. Wilson, K. L. (1994) Cyperaceae, in Walsh, N. G. & Entwisle, T. J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Volume 2 Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, Inkata Press, Melbourne. Wills T. J. (2003) Using Banksia () node counts to estimate time since fire, Australian Journal of , 51(3), 239-242.

44 Appendix 1. Rare or threatened plants recorded from the Big Desert. The list is sorted in descending order of threatened status. The list was generated using an area search in DSE’s Flora Information System (April 2003 version).

Rare or Threatened Rationale for searching (Ross & Scientific Name Common Name Family or not searching Walsh 2003*) Ve Pterostylis xerophila Desert Greenhood Not flowering during search seasons Vv Phebalium lowanense Lowan Phebalium Rutaceae South of 2002 wildfire area v Acacia oswaldii Umbrella Wattle Mimosaceae Likely more common than 'v' implies. Occurrence in BD peripheral and minor v Arachnorchis stricta Upright Spider-orchid Orchidaceae East of 2002 wildfire area v Chenopodium Frosted Goosefoot Chenopodiaceae First record in Big Desert was by desertorum subsp. Ian Sluiter in 2003. Of uncertain rectum status, likely overlooked & more common than 'v' implies v Comesperma Broom Milkwort Polygalaceae Targeted searches scoparium v Eleocharis plana Flat Spike-sedge Cyperaceae South-east of 2002 wildfire area. Aquatic and not in flammable habitat. v Haegiela tatei Small Nut-heads Asteraceae East and south-east of 2002 wildfire area. Not in flammable habitat. v Silver Needlewood Proteaceae Occurrence in BD peripheral and subsp. leucoptera minor. North and east of 2002 wildfire area v Maireana georgei Slit-wing Bluebush Chenopodiaceae Occurrence in BD peripheral and minor. North and east of 2002 wildfire area. Not in flammable habitat v Microcybe multiflora Red Microcybe Rutaceae Targeted searches subsp. multiflora v Olearia picridifolia Rasp Daisy-bush Asteraceae Imprecise locality data. Likely west of 2002 wildfire area. v Pomaderris paniculosa Inland Pomaderris Imprecise locality data. Likely subsp. paniculosa west of 2002 wildfire area. No more recent record than 1961. v Senecio magnificus Tall Yellow-top Asteraceae Imprecise locality data. Likely south of 2002 wildfire area v Trichanthodium Woolly Yellow-heads Asteraceae Not in flammable habitat and skirrophorum likely outside 2002 wildfire area r Acacia lineata Streaked Wattle Mimosaceae Imprecise locality data. Worthy of further searches in BD of 2002 fire area – but difficult to target given imprecise localities r Atriplex papillata Coral Saltbush Chenopodiaceae Not in flammable habitat (raak) and likely outside 2002 wildfire area r Calandrinia volubilis Twining Purslane Portulacaceae Not in flammable habitat (raak) and likely outside 2002 wildfire area r Choretrum Common Sour-bush Santalaceae South of 2002 wildfire area glomeratum r Choretrum Golden Sour-bush Santalaceae South of 2002 wildfire area glomeratum var. chrysanthum r Dillwynia uncinata Silky Parrot-pea Fabaceae Imprecise locality data. Likely south & east of 2002 wildfire area. Worthy of further searches in BD of 2002 fire area – but difficult to

45 target given imprecise localities r Frankenia sessilis Small-leaf Sea-heath Frankeniaceae Not in flammable habitat (raak) and likely outside 2002 wildfire area r Leucopogon costatus Twiggy Beard-heath Ericaceae Likely more common than 'r' implies. Almost restricted to Sandplain heathland in BD and relatively frequent there r Leucopogon woodsii Nodding Beard-heath Ericaceae Likely more common than 'r' implies. Widespread but low density - difficult to target - restricted to heathland r Maireana oppositifolia Heathy Bluebush Chenopodiaceae Not in flammable habitat (periphery of raak) and outside 2002 wildfire area r Olearia passerinoides Shiny Daisy-bush Asteraceae Not rare - records not transferred from Olearia teretifolia r Phyllota remota Slender Phyllota Fabaceae Targeted search r Pimelea flava subsp. Diosma Rice-flower Thymelaeaceae Not rare. Found within 2002 dichotoma wildfire area (a fire ephemeral, hence often overlooked) r Poa drummondiana Knotted Poa Poaceae East of 2002 wildfire area r Pterostylis boormanii Sikh's Whiskers Orchidaceae Imprecise locality data. Likely south-east of 2002 wildfire area. No more recent record than pre- 1950. Not flowering during search seasons r Pultenaea densifolia Dense Bush-pea Fabaceae Small dense stands in mallee heath, site in state forest in 2002 wildfire area – ran out of time to search for this species in present study r Schoenus racemosus Tufted Bog-sedge Cyperaceae 12-30cm perennial from the centre of the BD. Searched, but not located. k Allocasuarina Western Sheoke Secure and common mackliniana k Craspedia haplorrhiza Plains Billy-buttons Asteraceae Imprecise locality data. Likely within 2002 wildfire area. No more recent record than pre-1950 k Isolepis victoriensis Victorian Club-sedge Cyperaceae Imprecise locality data. Likely secure but overlooked Other rare or threatened taxa detected while completing targeted searches r Helichrysum Branched Everlasting Asteraceae Very rare fire ephemeral adenophorum subsp. adenophorum v Stenopetalum Velvet Thread-petal Brassicaceae Endangered palatable herb velutinum Other rare or threatened taxa recorded near, but not within the 2002 fire affected area: e Haloragis acutangula f. Smooth Raspwort Haloragaceae In disturbed open situations in acutangula deep sandy semi-stabilized dunes with few associated species other than grasses. v Lawrencia berthae Showy Lawrencia Malvaceae Targeted search k Teucrium sessiliflorum Camel Bush Lamiaceae Look at Murrayville site & in Eucalyptus porosa areas on somewhat heavy but not saline soils * Ross, J.H. & Walsh, N. G. (2003) A census of the vascular plants of Victoria 7th Edition, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. (Note: V = nationally vulnerable, e= endangered in Victoria, v = vulnerable in Victoria, r = rare in Victoria, k = poorly known in Victoria)

46

47 Appendix 2. Vital Attributes of plants from Heathy Mallee and Sandplain Heath in the Big Desert and Wyperfeld National Parks, collected in April and June 2004.

Note that many of these species also occur in other vegetation communities, and may respond differently to fire in those other communities. Data presented here refer only to the post-fire responses of these taxa in Heathy Mallee and Sandplain Heath in the Big Desert (eg. Chrysocephalum apiculatum is a post-fire resprouter elsewhere in Victoria, but in the Big Desert this same species is an annual seed regenerator post-fire).

An assumption underlying this classificatory scheme is that the only (or prime) regeneration opportunity for plant species occurs immediately post-fire. There is doubt that this is universally true (see discussion in text, above). In particular, a significant proportion of the smaller shrubs (eg. heaths, the 'paper-fruited' Myrtaceae and the Rhamnaceae) can recruit in the absence of fire and their persistence as vegetation ages may reflect repeated germination events, rather than a single long-lived cohort that regenerated immediately post-fire.

The scheme presented in Noble & Slatyer (op. cit.) and reiterated in Tolhurst (2000) plays down the strategy whereby adults resprout as juveniles post-fire and pre- fire juveniles are killed. This strategy has much the same outcome as the reseeder group C (ie. all plants post-fire are juvenile) and hence these resprouter species are assigned the category 'C' here. In the Big Desert the only species which are not returned to a juvenile (ie. non-reproductive) state immediately post-fire are renascent perennials, such as Thysanotus patersonii or Stackhousia aspericocca

Abbreviations: Fl = Flowering, Fr = Fruiting, S = Seeding # - designation derived from prior observations, otherwise based on information from present survey (report) g - this attribute has been assigned whenever a plant has been observed re-establishing both via seed and resprouts. It does not imply that there is only a single germination event post-fire. ~ - as long-term fire records (beyond c. 50 years BP) do not exist a reliable upper limit cannot be placed on individual plant survival. The maximum observed longevity from this study is mostly 45 years (with a few spp estimated to be c. 100y or more).

Species Time Since Fire (number of growing seasons (ie. spring) elapsed) Vital Attributes vr intr Scientific Name Common Name 1.3-1.5 years 7 years (1997 23 years 45 years >100 years Post-fire seeder sprouter combin TIR time longe time ot odu years fire) (1981 fire) (1958 fire) (<1900 fire) Response category category ed to vity1 to ced (Dec 2002 fire) respons repro. local e matur extinc ity. tion Acacia Grey Mulga #Fecund Adults Fecund Adult Seed G #<23 >45 ~ brachybotrya regenerator Acacia euthycarpa Wallowa Germinants Fecund Adults Seed G I <23 ~ regenerator Acacia ligulata Small Cooba Germinants #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G I #<7 >23 ~ regenerator Acacia rigens Nealie Germinants #Fecund Adults Seed G I #<23 ~ regenerator

1 'Longevity' = duration of photosynthetic phase of life history or persistence of living rootstock, ie. not including length of time seed remains viable in the soil.

48 Acacia spinescens Spiny Wattle Germinants (most) #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Seed G V g I #<7 >23 ~ and Resprouting regenerator Adults (few) and Resprouter Acrotriche affinis Ridged Ground- Resprouting Adults Resprout V ~ berry and budding (few) Adenanthos Gland Flower Fl (100%) & S Fecund Adult One large dead G? R? <7 >45 ~ terminalis (100%) plant observed k Allocasuarina Western Sheoke #Fecund Adult Fecund Adults C V I #<23 >45 ~ mackliniana subsp. and Germinants xerophila (a few recent seedlings observed but no intermediate aged cohorts) Allocasuarina Slaty Sheoke Resprouting adults Fr (weakly) Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Mainly a seed C C (weak) g? I? c.7 >45 ~ muelleriana subsp. rare & germinants regenerator & muelleriana abundant weak resprouter ( 70-90% adults killed by fire) Allocasuarina Dwarf Sheoke #Resprouting budding Fecund Adults Senescing (?) #Likely #Resprouter #G #V #g I c.7 c.45 ~ pusilla s.s. Adults and (many closed Adults, where eliminated and Seed Germinants cones) most plants are regenerators dead but were not killed in the frost of 81' Amphipogon Long Grey-beard Resprouting Adults Fl & S Resprout V I <7 ~ caricinus var. Grass caricinus Aotus Mallee Aotus Resprouting Adults #Fl Fecund Adult Fecund Adult #Fecund Adult Seed G V g I #c. 7 #>100 ~ subspinescens & Germinants regenerator (for (50%) & seedi Resprouter ng (50%) and T (for respr outin g) Argentipallium Woolly Everlasting Fl (100%) & S #Soil seed store #Soil seed store #Soil seed store #?Soil seed Seed G I 1 #c. 3- ~ blandowskianum (100%) only only only store only regenerator 4 Astroloma Flame Heath Resprouting Adults Fl & S Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Seed Seed short V g? T <7 >45 ~ conostephioides & Germinants regenerator lived and and sporadic, Resprouter continuing germinatio

49 n without fire Astroloma Cranberry Heath Resprouting Adults #Fl & S #Fecund Adults Fecund Adult Resprouter Seed short V g? T <7 >45 ~ humifusum Fl (100%) and #Seed lived and regenerator sporadic, continuing germinatio n without fire Austrodanthonia Bristly Wallaby- Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults Fecund Adult #Fecund Adults Resprouter & C? V g T c. 1 ~ setacea grass (100%) Seed (wea regenerator kly) r Austrostipa Half-bearded Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Seeder S V? g? T 1 ~ hemipogon/mollis Spear-grass (100%) (100%?) and (wea ?Resprouter kly) Austrostipa scabra Rough Spear-grass Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Resprouter #S V g? T 1 ~ subsp. falcata (100%) Babingtonia behrii Broom Baeckea Resprouting Adults Fl & S Fecund Adults Seed C V g I <7 >23 ~ & Germinants regenerator (#mainly) & Resprouter (#weakly) Baeckea crassifolia Desert Baeckea Germinants Fl & ?S Fecund Adults Seed C? T? c.7 >23 ~ regenerator Baeckea ericaea Mat Baeckea Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Seed C? T? <23 >45 ~ regenerator Banksia ornata Desert Banksia Germinants Fl & S (weakly) - Dead Adults at Dead Adults at Seed G I c.7 >45 ~ most have not one site, one site, killed regenerator flowered, and probably killed by severe frost even more have by drought. (O'Brien 1989). not seeded Fecund Adults Elsewhere few elsewhere with plants, all c. 50% cones senescing and closed with many closed cones. Bertya mitchellii Mitchell Bertya Germinants #Fecund Adults Seed G I <23 >23 ~ regenerator Billardiera cymosa Sweet Apple-berry Resprouting Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Resprouter V T #<7 #>45 >100 s.l. Blennospora Dwarf Beauty- Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed S? T 1 1 >100 drummondii heads (100%) - now Adults regenerator Dead Adults Boronia Blue Boronia Resprouting Adults not Fl #Fecund Adults Resprouter V I? >7 #>23 ~ coerulescens subsp. coerulescens Brachyloma Daphne Heath Resprouting Adults #Fecund Adult #Fecund Adult Resprouter Seed short V g? T <23 >45 ~

50 ~ ~ ~ >100 >100 >100 >100

1 1 51 >45 >100 c.100? c.100? 1 1 1 1 >7 <23 <23 >7 & >7 I T T T T I? I?

g g? g?

V V V V V V #V

S S G G? fire fire S/G? sporadic, sporadic, lived and lived and n without n without continuing continuing germinatio germinatio Seed short Seed Seed Resprouter Resprouter Resprouter regenerator and Seed regenerator Bradysporous Seed regenerator and #Seed regenerator Seed regenerator and #Resprouter Seed regenerator regenerator and Resprouter over g Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Fecund #Fecund #Fecund

due to plant plant due to structural limitations. Germinants in low density. Adults Adults Fecund Adults Fecund Adults (cones on dead stems open but closed on live stems). adult mostly plants m, making 4-6 up probably the 99.9 % of - biomass not do plants be appear to senescing but are fallin Adults Adults Adult und Adults #Fecund Fecund #Fec Fecund Adult Fecund 1- Adults varying 4 m, of Lower density. in than density 23 yo sites, but individuals and with bigger many closed cones - also with a significant proportion of up to one-third of cones open & seed released. #Fecund Adults #Fecund Fecund Adults Fecund ts ts Fecund Adults Fecund Adult Fecund #Fecund Adul #Fecund Adul #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adult but often with small cone number and and light cones immature. Fr (weakly) not Fl #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Adults Adults Adults g g Fl (100%) & S Fl Fl (100%) & S Fl #Fl (100%) & S #Fl Germinants Fl (100%) & S Fl Resproutin (100%) (100%) - now (100%) - Dead Adults (100%) and Germinants & Germinants (100%) - now (100%) - Dead Adults Resproutin Brush Heath Daisy Variable Daisy Hard-head Bursaria Sweet Purslane Small Scrub Cypress-pine Snow Myrtle subsp. subsp.

spinosa

daphnoides daphnoides Brachyloma ericoides ericoides Brachyscome ciliaris Brachyscome lineariloba Bursaria spinosa subsp. Calandrinia eremaea Callitris verrucosa Calytrix alpestris

Calytrix tetragona Common Fringe- Germinants Fl & S (weakly) Fecund Adult Fecund Adults Seed G? I? c.7 c.45 ~ myrtle but some regenerator senescing Carpobrotus Inland Pigface Germinants Seed G T? >1.5 ~ modestus regenerator Cassytha glabella Slender Dodder- Fl & S Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed D R <7 ~ laurel Adults regenerator (parasitic) Chrysocephalum Common Fl (100%) & S Fecund Adult Seed G T 1-2 1-2 ~ apiculatum s.l. Everlasting (100%) regenerator (annual form?) v Comesperma Broom Milkwort Fl G? I? c.7 scoparium Conospermum Slender Smoke- Resprouting Adults not Fl #Fecund Adults Seed G V g I >7? #>23 ~ patens bush & Germinants regenerator and Resprouter Correa reflexa var. Common Correa Fl (100%) & ?S Fl #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G V g I? <7 >45 ~ scabridula and Resprouting regenerator Adults and Resprouter Crassula closiana Stalked Crassula Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed Seed short T 1 1 ~ (100%) - now Adults regenerator lived and Dead Adults sporadic, continuing germinatio n without fire Crassula colorata Dense Crassula Fl (100%) & ?S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed Seed short T 1 c.1 ~ Adults regenerator lived and sporadic, continuing germinatio n without fire Cryptandra Prickly Cryptandra Germinants & Fl & S Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Seed Seed V g T <7 >45 ~ tomentosa Resprouting Adults regenerator production (close to Fl) and sporadic, Resprouting continuing germinatio n without fire Cyphanthera Small-leaf Ray- Germinants #Fecund Adults Seed G I? >1 #>23 ~ myosotidea flower regenerator Dampiera marifolia Velvet Dampiera Germinants and not Fl #Senescing Seed G #V #g I >7? #<23 ~ #Resprouter but regenerator fire rarely frequent

52 enough for this Dianella revoluta Black-anther Flax- Resprouting Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Resprouter G? V g? I >1 #>23 ~ s.l. lily and #<7 Dillwynia hispida Red Parrot-pea Germinants & Fl & S Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Seed G V? g? I <7 >45 ~ ?Resprouting regenerator Adults (80%) & ?Resprouter (20%) Drosera macrantha Climbing Sundew #Resprouter Fl & S #Fecund Adults #Resprouter #G #V #g I #c.2 #>23 ~ usually flowering and Seed in one year and Regenerator Germinants Drosera whittakeri Scented Sundew Resprouting Adults Resprout V T? #c.1 ~ subsp. aberrans and #Fl Eucalyptus Desert Stringybark Resprouting Adults first Fl in 6th #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed C V g? I c.7 #>100 #>100 arenacea & Germinants year & now S Adults regenerator (weakly) and Resprouter (base) Eucalyptus Dumosa Mallee Resprouting Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed C V g? I #c.15 #>100 #>100 dumosa & Germinants Adults regenerator and Resprouter (base) Eucalyptus Yellow Mallee Germinants (some budded (weakly) Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed C V g? I #c.15 #>100 #>100 incrassata adult foliage Adults regenerator present) and Resprouter (base) Eucalyptus Slender-leaf Red Germinants (some Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed C V g? I #c.15 #>100 #>100 leptophylla Mallee adult foliage Adults regenerator present) and Resprouter (base) Eutaxia Common Eutaxia Resprouting Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Seed G V g I #<7 #>23 ~ microphylla & Germinants regenerator and Resprouter Exocarpos Broom Ballart Germinants budded #Adults #Soil seed Seed G I c.7 #c.25 #>100 sparteus senescing store only regenerator Gahnia lanigera Desert Saw-sedge Fl (100%) #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Resprouter G? V g? I >1 #>23 ~ and #<7 Glischrocaryon Golden Pennants Resprouts that #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Resprout G V g I? c.2 #>45 ~ behrii have Fl (100%) & but decreasing (90%) & Seed ?S and Germinants regenerator

53 (10%) Euchiton sp. aff. Annual Cudweed Germinants #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed S T 1 1 >100 sphaericus regenerator Goodenia Bent Goodenia Resprouters that #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Largely Seed G V g I 1-2 ~ geniculata were Fl (100%) & but decreasing absent regenerator S (100%) and a and small number of Resprouter Germinants Goodenia robusta Woolly Goodenia Resprouters that Fl & S #Fecund Adults #Very #Largely Seed G V g I 1 ~ were Fl (100%) & but decreasing uncommon absent regenerator S (100%) and and Germinants Resprouter Goodenia varia Sticky Goodenia Resprouters and #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Seed G V g I >1 ~ Germinants regenerator and Resprouter Goodenia willisiana Sandhill Goodenia Fl (100%) & ?S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Resprout V I c.2 #>45 ~ Grev lleai ilicifolia Holly Grevillea Resprouting Adults Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Seed G? V g I? <23 >45 ~ and Germinants regenerator and Resprouter Grevillea Lavender Grevillea no evidence of Germinants #Seed G? T? >23 ~ lavandulacea reproduction (recruiting in regenerator? inter-canopy gaps) Grevillea Desert Grevillea Germinants and Fl & S Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Seed G? #V #g I c.7 #>45 ~ pterosperma #weak Resprouter (Resprouts only) but senescing regenerator and #Resprouter Gyrostemon Wheel Fruit Germinants Fr #Largely #Soil seed store #Soil seed store #Soil seed Seed G I c.2 #c.10 ~ australasicus (20%) senescing only only store only regenerator Hakea mitchellii Desert Hakea Germinants Fl & S (very few) Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G I c.10 >45 ~ regenerator (Adults killed)

Halgania cyanea Rough Halgania Germinants and #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adult #Fecund Seed G? #V #g I? #c.7 >45 ~ #Resprouter Adults regenerator and #Resprouter Helichrysum Branched Fl (100%) & S #Soil seed store #Soil seed store #Soil seed store Seed G I 1 c.3 ~ adenophorum var. Everlasting (100%) only only only regenerator adenophorum Helichrysum Satin Everlasting Fl (100%) & S Fl & S Fecund Adult #Fecund Adults #Fecund Resprouter G? V g? T? 1 >23? ~ leucopsideum (100%) Adults Hibbertia riparia Erect Guinea- Resprouting Adults Fl & S Fecund Adult Fecund Adults Resprouter G V g I <7 >45 ~ flower and Germinants Hibbertia virgata Twiggy Guinea- Germinants #Fl #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G? I <23 >45 ~

54 var. crassifolia flower regenerator * Hypochoeris glabra Smooth Cat's-ear Fecund Adults Seed D T <1 >100 Regenerator Hypolaena Tassel Rope-rush #Resprouting Fecund Adult Resprouter V <45 ~ fastigiata Adults Isolepis marginata Little Club-sedge Fl (100%) & S Seed G I <1 1 ~ (100%) - now regenerator Dead Adults Kunzea pomifera Muntries Resprouting Adults Fecund Adults #Fecund Resprouter D? V Δ T? <45 >45 >100 and #Germinants Adults and Seed Regenerator * Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce Fl (100%) & S REVIEW ABOVE Seed G I? <1 1 ~ (100%) - now FOR regenerator Dead Adults CATEGORIES (not part of these 2 EVCs) Lasiopetalum Pink Velvet-bush Germinants Seed G I? >1 ~ behrii regenerator and #<8? Laxmannia Dwarf Wire-lily Germinants #Fecund Adults Seed G/S? I >1 #c.20? ~ orientalis regenerator Lepidobolus Scale Shedder Resprouting Adults Fl & ?S Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Resprouter V I c.7 >45 ~ drapetocoleus & #very rarely Germinants Lepidosperma Black Rapier-sedge Fl (100%) & S (c. Fl & S Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Resprouter G (weakly) V g I c.1 >45? ~ carphoides 10%) and Seed Regenerator (5%) Lepidosperma Sticky Sword- Fl (20%) & Fl & S Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Resprouter G V g I c.2 >45 ~ viscidum sedge Germinants (80%) and Seed Regenerator Leptospermum Mallee Tea-tree Resprouting Adults Fl & S Adults but with Fecund Adult Fecund Adults Resprouter but C V g? T? <7 >100 >100 coriaceum and #rarely very short-lived regenerates Germinants canopy seed from seed store (<1 year) rarely post-fire Leptospermum Heath Tea-tree Resprouting Adults Fl & S Adults but with Adults but with #mostly Seed Seed short V g I <7 c.45 #c.50- myrsinoides & Germinants very short-lived very short-lived eliminated by regenerator lived and 100 canopy seed canopy seed this age and sporadic, store (<1 year) store (<1 year) Resprouter continuing germinatio n without fire Leucopogon Heart-leaf Beard- Germinants Fl Fecund Adult Fecund Adults Seed Seed short T? c.7 >100 cordifolius heath regenerator lived and sporadic, continuing germinatio n without

55 fire Leucopogon rufus Ruddy Beard- #Germinants Fl & ?S Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Seed short T? c.7 ~ heath lived and sporadic, continuing germinatio n without fire r Leucopogon Nodding Beard- Fl Seed short I? c.7 ~ woodsii heath lived and sporadic, continuing germinatio n without fire Lobelia gibbosa Tall Lobelia Present - unknown #Fecund Adults Not known but V? I? 1 ~ var. gibbosa response (1 plant probably FL and FR) resprout Logania linifolia Flax-leaf Logania Germinants #Fecund Adults #Largely absent #Largely absent Seed G I >1 #c.7- ~ above-ground above-ground regenerator 10 Logania nuda Bare Logania Resprouting Adults Fecund Adults Resprouter V? I? >1 ~ Lomandra collina Pale Mat-rush Resprouting Adults Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Resprouter G (weakly) V g? I c.2-3 >45 ~ Fl (10%) & (70%) / Seed Germinants regenerator (30%) Lomandra juncea Desert Mat-rush Resprouting Adults Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Resprouter V I <23 >45 ~ Lomandra Woolly Mat-rush Fl (100%) Fecund Adult Fecund Adult Resprouter V I c.2 >45 ~ leucocephala subsp. robusta Lomandra Small-flower Mat- Resprouting Adults #Fecund Adults Resprouter V I >1 ~ micrantha var. rush teretifolia Maireana sedifolia Pearl Bluebush Germinants Seed D? T >1 ~ regenerator (rare blow in - not part of these 2 EVCs) Melaleuca Creamy Honey- Resprouting Adults Seed G V g I >1 ~ acuminata subsp. myrtle & Germinants regenerator acuminata and Resprouter Melaleuca Moonah Resprouting Adults Seed G V g I ~ lanceolata subsp. & Germinants regenerator lanceolata and Resprouter Melaleuca uncinata Broombush Resprouting Adults #Immature #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Resprouter G (weakly) V g I #>7 #>45 ~ & Germinants Adults (90%) & Seed and

56 regenerator <23 (10%) Micromyrtus ciliata Heath Myrtle Germinants Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed G T <23 >45 ~ Adults regenerator Millotia Broad-leaf Millotia Fecund Adults #Seed D? T #<1 #c.1 >100 myosotidifolia regenerator Muehlenbeckia Weeping Lignum Germinants #Adults but Seed G I c.2 #c.5-8 ~ diclina subsp. (Budding 20%) senescing regenerator diclina Neurachne Fox-tail Mulga- Fl (100%) & S Fl & S Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Fecund Resprouter V T 1 ~ alopecuroidea grass (100%) Adults Olearia ciliata Fringed Daisy-bush Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults #Largely #Absent Seed G I 1 #c.5- ~ (100%) senescing except for soil regenerator 10 seed store Olearia Club-moss Daisy- Germinants #Fecund Adults #Largely #Absent Seed G I >1 #c.5- ~ lepidophylla bush senescing except for soil regenerator 15 seed store Olearia rudis Azure Daisy-bush Germinants #Senescing #Absent except #Absent except #Absent Seed G I >1 #<7 ~ for soil seed- for soil seed- except for soil regenerator store store seed-store (fire ephemeral) Opercularia turpis Twiggy Stinkweed Resprouting Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Seed G V g I? >1 ~ but mostly regenerator Germinants and Resprouter (rarely) Ozothamnus Scaly Everlasting Germinants Fl & S Seed S I <7 #c.15 ~ pholidotus regenerator *? Papaver aculeatum Bristle Poppy Germinants #Absent except #Absent except #Absent except Seed G I >1 #c.2 #>70 for soil seed for soil seed for soil seed regenerator store store store (annual) Pelargonium Austral Stork's-bill Fl (100%) & S #Absent except #Absent except #Absent except Seed G I 1 #c.3-4 ~ australe (100%) for soil seed for soil seed for soil seed regenerator store store store * Pentaschistis False Hair-grass #Germinants #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G? T <1 <1 >100 airoides subsp. Regenerator airoides (annual) Phebalium Desert Phebalium Germinants budding & S #Fecund Adults #Rare #Absent -?soil Seed G I <7 #<45 ~ bullatum (weakly) seed store regenerator Phyllota Heathy Phyllota Resprouting Adults Fl & S Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Absent -?soil Resprouter V I <7 #<45 ~ pleurandroides seed store r Phyllota remota Slender Phyllota Germinants not Fl (1 plant Seed G I ~ seen) regenerator Pimelea flava Diosma Rice- Germinants #Fecund Adults #Absent - ?soil #Absent - ?soil Seed G I >1 #c.5-8 ~ subsp. dichotoma flower seed store seed store regenerator Pimelea octophylla Woolly Rice-flower Germinants #Absent - ?soil #Absent - ?soil #Absent - ?soil Seed G I >1 #<5 ~ seed store seed store seed store regenerator

57 (fire ephemeral) Podotheca Sticky Long-heads Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed D T <1 <1 >100 angustifolia (100%) regenerator Polycalymma Poached-eggs Germinants (may Seed D T <1 <1 ~ stuartii Daisy only have recently regenerator emerged in last (disturbance few months at 16 ephemeral month old site) from other EVCs) Prostanthera Small-leaf Mint- Germinants #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Seed G? I #c.5 ~ serpyllifolia subsp. bush regenerator microphylla Pterostylis Banded Greenhood Fl (new most Resprouter D? V T? <7 ~ sanguinea northerly record in Vic) Santalum Sweet Quandong Resprouting Adults Resprouter V T? >1 ~ acuminatum Scaevola aemula Fairy Fan-flower Fl (100%) #Absent - soil #Absent - soil #Absent - soil Seed G I c.1 #c.2-3 ~ seed store seed store seed store regenerator Schoenus Matted Bog-sedge Resprouting Adults Fl & S Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Resprouter V I? <7 >45? ~ breviculmis Schoenus Desert Bog-sedge Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Resprouter G V g I? 1 ~ subaphyllus (100%) (60%) & Seed regenerator (40%) Scleranthus Cushion Knawel #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Seed G I? <1 <1 ~ minusculus regenerator (annual) Senecio Variable Groundsel Germinants Fecund Adults Seed D? T? #c.1 #c.3-5 >100 pinnatifolius regenerator Solanum simile Oondoroo Germinants #Fecund Adults #Absent - soil #Absent - soil Seed G I #c.3 #c.4-9 ~ seed store seed store regenerator Spyridium Velvet Spyridium Resprouting Adults Fl & S #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G V g T? c.2 ~ subochreatum var. (budding) and regenerator & subochreatum Germinants Resprouter k Stackhousia Rough-nut Resprouting Adults Resprouter V I? >1 ~ aspericocca s.l. Stackhousia Stenanthemum White Cryptandra Resprouting Adults Fl & S Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G V g I <7 ~ leucophractum & Germinants regenerator & Resprouter Stenopetalum Narrow Thread- Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G T <1 <1 ~ lineare petal (100%) regenerator (annual) v Stenopetalum Velvet Thread- Fl (100%) & S Seed G I 1 ~ velutinum petal (100%) regenerator (c. 12 plants

58 recorded) Thysanotus Twining Fringe-lily #Resprouting #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed S? V g? T? #c.2 >100 patersonii Adults and Regenerator Germinants and Resprouter Trachymene pilosa Dwarf Trachymene Fl (100%) & S #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G T <1 c.1 >100 (100%) - now regenerator Dead Adults (annual) Tricoryne tenella Mallee Rush-lily Germinants and #Fecund Adults #Fecund Adults Fecund Adults #Fecund Seed G V (weakly) g I? >1 ~ Resprouting Adults Adults regenerator (80%) / Resprouter (20%) Triodia scariosa Porcupine Grass Resprouting Adults Fl & S Fecund Adults Senescent Adults #Absent from Resprouter S? V g? I <7 <45 ~ in Sandplain Sandplain and # Seed (Sandp Heathland but Heathland Regenerator lain longer lived in Heathl Heathy Mallee and), EVC >45 (Heath y Mallee ) Vittadinia cuneata Fuzzy New Holland Germinants Seed D I >1 ~ s.l. Daisy regenerator Vittadinia dissecta Dissected New Germinants Seed D I >1 ~ s.l. Holland Daisy regenerator * Vulpia bromoides Squirrel-tail Fescue #Fl (100%) & S Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed D T #<1 <1 >100 (100%) regenerator (annual) Wahlenbergia Annual Bluebell Fl (100%) & S Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Fecund Adults Seed G T <1 <1 >100 gracilenta s.l. (100%) - now regenerator Dead Adults

59