Conservation Science W. Aust. 8 (3) : 277–294 (2013) Flora and vegetation of greenstone formations of the Yilgarn Craton: the northern Forrestania Greenstone Belt (Mount Holland area) WENDY A THOMPSON AND JESSICA ALLEN Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia, 6946. Email:
[email protected] ABSTRACT A quadrat-based survey recorded the flora and associated environmental parameters in the northern portion of the Forrestania Greenstone Belt. A total of 312 taxa were identified, representing 47 families and 121 genera. Twelve taxa of conservation significance were recorded, including two declared rare flora (Banksia sphaerocarpa subsp. dolichostyla and Eucalyptus steedmanii). Three new taxa were identified, including two shrubs, a Hibbertia sp. and Labichea rossii (Priority 1), and a single grass species, Austrostipa sp. The two undescribed new taxa are proposed for conservation listing. The 50 quadrats were classified into eight community types. Topography and edaphic factors were influential in delineating community groups. Only five weed taxa were identified, despite the history of mining in the area. Only a small portion of the Forrestania Greenstone Belt belongs to the conservation estate. Based on the survey findings, expansion of the secure tenure is recommended to incorporate a more comprehensive representation of the vegetation and landforms of the greenstone belt. Keywords: classification, Coolgardie, florsitic diversity, mallee, vegetation patterns, ultramafics INTRODUCTION 85 km north east of Hyden (Fig. 1). The Forrestania Greenstone Belt trends north to south, and is c. 100 km Historically, the greenstone belts of the Yilgarn Craton in length and c. 15 km west to east.