Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey

RESULTS

VEGETATION N. Neagle1

Background is described in more detail (in the Floristic Vegetation There have been few previous vegetation studies Communities section) later in this chapter, as are conducted within the Marqualpie Land System. Most significant species. studies of this kind in the area have tended to focus on the Cooper Creek and/or Coongie Lakes (e.g. Reid and Gillen 1988). The few exceptions are the:- • 1983 Cooper Creek Environmental Association Biological Survey (Mollemans et al. 1984) – three main sites in the north-west, in the vicinity of Mudcarnie Waterhole, King Lookout and Tooroowatchie Waterhole; • 1989-92 Della and Marqualpie Land Systems Fauna Monitoring Program (Gillen and Reid 1990) – ten sites on the undulating sand plain and low dunes between Leap Year Bore and Bloodwood Bore (Innamincka); and • 1994-96 Biological Survey of the Stony Deserts (Brandle 1998) – three main sites on the periphery of the land system, near Policeman Dam and on Figure 18. Bloodwood (Corymbia terminalis) over Candradecka Creek in the south-east, and south- Curly Wire-grass (Aristida contorta) (Photo: K. east of Cordillo Downs homestead on the northern Graham). boundary (refer Figure 19). These were all site-based surveys and the data Physical Attributes of Sites collected has been included in this report. However, A total of 32 sites were sampled during the Marqualpie they represent minimal coverage of the land system. Land System Biological Survey. Sites were selected to represent the biological and geographical diversity Plant collections lodged with the State Herbarium of of the region and to supplement the 32 sites previously South Australia by private individuals visiting the area sampled (refer to the Introduction and Methods over the years have also made a major contribution to chapters for details of ear lier surveys conducted in the the knowledge of the flora. These collectors include area). A summary of the number of quadrats sampled J.B. Cleland (collections in 1924), N.N. Donner per survey is provided in Table 2 and their distribution (1975), L.D. Williams (1976), F. Badman (1979, 1991 is shown in Figure 19. and 1996), P.E. Conrick (1986), P.J. Lang (1995), R.J. Bates (1997), D.E. Murfet and D.J. Duval (2007) and Table 2. Number of vegetation quadrats surveyed. D.J. Duval (2008). No. of Quadrats Survey Survey Name Year Within For a general description of the flora of the area see Number the Physical Environment section earlier in this report. Marqualpie Cooper Creek The Marqualpie Land System is of botanical Environmental 1983 3 14 significance within South Australia as it contains Association notable variations from other sand dune systems in the Della and state. It contains a number of species and one major Marqualpie Land Systems Fauna 1989 - 92 41 10 community that either occur only here or are of limited Monitoring distribution in SA. This community - Bloodwood Program (Corymbia terminalis) Low Open Woodland over Stony Deserts 1994 - 96 69 8 Curly Wire-grass (Aristida contorta) on sand plains – Marqualpie Land 2008 612 32 occurs more extensively across central and northern System Australia, but most confirmed recordings in this state Total Sites 64 are within the Marqualpie Land System (Figure 18). It

1 Science Resource Centre, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide SA 5001.

11 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey

Figure 19. Location of all 64 survey sites where vegetation has been sampled in the Marqualpie Land System.

The sampling methodology and quadrat size has varied The most sampled landform element was dune/ between these surveys (refer Methods chapter). The consolidated dune with 13 sites (20% of all sites), 1983 Cooper Creek Environmental Association Survey followed by sandy plain, swale and dune crest with 7 sampled at least two 15m x 15m quadrats per primary sites (11%) each (Table 4). site plus a 1km transect. The 1989-92 Della and Marqualpie Survey sampled quadrats of an approximate area of 50m x 80m. More recently both Table 3. Frequency of general soil types and the Stony Deserts and Marqualpie Land System surface soil texture class summary for sites. Surveys have sampled the Biological Survey of SA arid zone standard of 100m x 100m quadrats. General Soil Type Sites Soil Surface Texture Sites sand 41 sand 28 Surface soil textures ranged from sand to medium clayey sand 5 heavy clay (Table 3). Not surprisingly sandy soils are loamy sand 8 by far the most common (64% of sites), with loam loam 13 sandy loam 3 (20%) and clay (16%) accounting for similar sandy clay loam 4 proportions of the remaining sites. clay loam, sandy 2 clay loam 3 While sites with sandy soils are more or less confined silty clay loam 1 to the dunefields and sandy plains, those with loamy clay 10 silty clay 1 sands are mainly located along watercourses, on sand medium clay 6 plains or in swales (Table 4). Sites on clay loam soils medium heavy clay 3 are mainly restricted to playas/pans and plains, while Total Sites 64 64 those on clay soils are in flood outs, playa/pans and in low points between dunes (Table 4).

12 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Table 4. Frequency of general soil types recorded within each landform eleme nt.

Soil Type Landform Total loamy clay Element sand clay Sites sand loam stream channel 1 1 2 stream bank 1 1 2 flood out 1 3 4 swamp 1 1 playa/pan 1 2 3 6 clay plain 2 2 stony plain 2 1 3 plain (incl 1 1 undulating plain) sandy plain 4 3 7 flat 1 1 2 swale 2 4 1 7 Figure 20. Dunes su ch as this with Sandhil l interdune low 1 2 3 Canegrass (Zygochloa parado xa) and Dow ny Loos e- interdune corridor 1 1 flowered Rattle-pod (Crotalaria eremaea ssp. dune/consolidated eremaea) were the most frequently sampled 13 13 dune landform element (Photo: N. Neagle). dune footslope 1 1 dune slope 2 2 dune crest 7 7 No. of Sites 33 11 10 10 64

Vegetation Structure The structural vegetation formations at sites range sampled) (Table 5). These are dominated by Sandhill from an open herbland dominated by the short-lived Canegrass (Zygochloa paradoxa) and/or Hard Spinifex perennial species Buckbush (Salsola tragus) and (Triodia basedowii) and are confined to dunes or Smooth Bindyi (Sclerolaena glabra) on an alluvial undulating sand plains. Also prominent are low plain beside Candradecka Creek, to a River Red Gum woodlands (20% of sites), particularly those (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) Open Forest lining the dominated by Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) on channel of the same watercourse (Table 5). stream channels and flood outs or by Bloodwood (Corymbia terminalis) on broad swales and sand plains.

Figure 21. An ephemeral Open Herbland community dominated by Smooth Bindyi (Sclerolaena glabra) occurring on a sand plain near Figure 22. Low Woodlands such as this one Policeman Dam (Photo: N. Neagle). dominated by Bloodwood (Corymbia terminalis) are one of the most commonly sampled vegetation The most commonly recorded (generalised) structural communities in the Marqualpie Land System community was hummock grassland (28% of sites (Photo: N. Neagle).

13 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey

Figure 23. A hummock grassland community on a Figure 24. Hard Spinifex (Triodi a basedowii) dune crest dominated by Sandhill Canegrass Hummock Grassland on a sand plain near (Zygochloa paradoxa) (Photo: N. Neagle). Bloodwood Bore (Photo: N. Neagle).

Table 5. Vegetation structural formation summary for sites sample d in the Marqualpie Land System.

Generalised Structural Formation Sites Structural Formation Sites Herbland 2 Open Herbland 1 Herbland 1 (Tussock) Grassland 3 Open (Tussock) Grassland 3 Hummock Grassland 18 Very Open Hummock Grassland 2 Open Hummock Grassland 12 Hummock Grassland 4 Low Shrubland 7 Low Very Open Shrubland 4 Low Open Shrubland 3 Shrubland 4 Very Open Shrubland 1 Open Shrubland 3 Tall Shrubland 8 Tall Very Open Shrubland 2 Tall Open Shrubland 6 Very Low Woodland 7 Very Low Open Woodland 6 Very Low Open Forest 1 Low Woodland 13 Low Open Woodland 8 Low Woodland 5 Woodland 2 Woodland 1 Open Forest 1 Total Sites 64 64

Taxonomic Summary Chenopodiaceae (chenopods) and Leguminosae The 64 vegetation survey sites in the Marqualpie Land (wattles and legumes) with 48 taxa each, plus System represent 2199 plant records. A further 1027 Compositae (daisies – 38 taxa) and Gramineae records come from opportunistic sighting s, including (grasses – 35 taxa), were the most common ly recorded 711 specimens held by the State Herbari um of South plant families on the Marqualpie Lan d System Australia. A total of 537 plant ta xa have bee n Biolo gical Survey, comp rising 52.0% of the total plant recorded, of which 521 (97.0%) are native and 1 6 taxa recorded. These four families also comprise by (3.0%) are introduced . far the greatest number of individu al records, representing a total of 87 0 records or 54.5%. The Marqualpie Lan d System Biological Survey alon e sampled 32 sites an d collected 1283 pla nt records. A n Appe ndix 2 provides a full list of a ll plant taxa additional 316 plant records came fro m opportunist ic recorded within the Marq ualpie Land System with sightings. This resulted in a total of 3 22 unique plan t some explanatory taxonomic notes w here needed. taxa from 48 plant fa milies (Table 6) . Of these, 315 Appe ndix 3 provides th e frequency of r ecordings for (97.8%) were native and 7 (2.2%) intr oduced. Durin g each taxon from a ll known reliable sources. the survey 1075 plant specimens were collected and Appe ndices 4a and 4b list all taxa recorded per site lodged with the State Herbarium of SA. This adds (and an estimate of their cover/abunda nce) for this significantly (a 150 % increase) to existing Herbariu m survey. collections from the area.

14 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Table 6. Number of plant taxa per family recorded on the Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey.

Total No. of No. of Native No. of E xotic Total No. of Records % of All Family Name Taxa Taxa Taxa (SU &O P) Records Chenopodiaceae 48 48 259 16.2 Leguminosae 48 48 218 13.6 Compositae 38 37 1 225 14.1 Gramineae 35 33 2 169 10.6 Malvaceae 15 15 82 5.1 Cruciferae 12 10 2 57 3.6 Euphorbiaceae 10 10 39 2.4 Goodeniaceae 9 9 40 2.5 Portulacaceae 8 8 35 2.2 Amaranthaceae 7 7 50 3.1 Myoporaceae 7 7 36 2.3 Zygophyllaceae 6 6 48 3.0 Aizoaceae 5 5 30 1.9 Proteaceae 5 5 26 1.6 Boraginaceae 4 4 13 0.8 Convolvulaceae 4 4 24 1.5 Geraniaceae 4 3 1 9 0.6 Solanaceae 4 4 30 1.9 Chloanthaceae 3 3 3 0.2 Cucurbitaceae 3 2 1 5 0.3 Cyperaceae 3 3 5 0.3 Frankeniaceae 3 3 4 0.3 Haloragaceae 3 3 7 0.4 Loranthaceae 3 3 8 0.5 Sterculiaceae 3 3 4 0.3 Liliaceae 2 2 12 0.8 Marsileaceae 2 2 11 0.7 Myrtaceae 2 2 18 1.1 Polygonaceae 2 2 9 0.6 Rubiaceae 2 2 2 0.1 Sapindaceae 2 2 26 1.6 Scrophulariaceae 2 2 13 0.8 Thymelaeaceae 2 2 6 0.4 Umbelliferae 2 2 15 0.9 Acanthaceae 1 1 2 0.1 Amaryllidaceae 1 1 4 0.3 Asclepiadaceae 1 1 4 0.3 Campanulaceae 1 1 8 0.5 Capparaceae 1 1 5 0.3 Elatinaceae 1 1 2 0.1 Juncaginaceae 1 1 2 0.1 Labiatae 1 1 9 0.6 Meliaceae 1 1 5 0.3 Nyctaginaceae 1 1 4 0.3 Pittosporaceae 1 1 1 0.1 Plantaginaceae 1 1 6 0.4 Ranunculaceae 1 1 1 0.1 Santalaceae 1 1 8 0.5 No. of Taxa 322 315 7 No. of Records 1599 100.0%

15 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Common Species scores when present, and these tend to be the taxa that There were 28 taxa recorded at more than one third of characterise the vegetation of the Marqualpie Land the 32 sites sampled on this survey and ten at 50% or System. The main examples of these are Coolibah more (Table 7). The frequency of occurrence of (Eucalyptus coolabah), Sandhill Canegrass (Zygochloa chenopods and legumes is less evident at an individual paradoxa), Silver Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera ssp. species level than it is at the family level, with only leucoptera) and Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta). one species, the chenopod Buckbush (Salsola tragus), Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) is the only species being recorded at more than half of the sites. that is both widespread (recorded at 17 sites) and relatively abundant (at least plentiful at most sites). The most commonly recorded species were Buckbush at 30 sites (94%), Poached-egg daisy (Polycalymma stuartii) and Fleshy Groundsel (Senecio gregorii) at 22 sites (69%) each, Bristly Love-grass (Eragrostis setifolia) at 19 sites (59%) and Hairy Burr-daisy (Calotis hispidula) at 18 sites (56%).

Several taxa with high site frequencies were mostly only recorded at relatively low densities, particularly Buckbush and Fleshy Groundsel, but also Sand Twinleaf (Zygophyllum ammophilum) at 17 sites, and both Dese rt Spurge (Euphorbia tannensis ssp. eremophila) and Velvet Tobacco (Nicotiana velutina) at 16 sites each. These taxa were rarely recorded as being more than sparsely present. Figure 25. Fleshy Groundsel (Senecio gr egorii) was one of the most commonl y rec orde d plant species By contrast, several taxa that were recorded less on this survey (Photo : K. G raha m). frequently had comparatively high cover/abundance

Table 7. T he most commonly recorded plant taxa at the 32 vegetation surve y sit es sa mpled for the Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey, and their cover/abundance scores at tho se sit es.

Tot % Family Name Species Name Common Name N T 1 2 3 Sites Sites Chenopodiaceae Salsola tragus Buckbush 30 94 2 24 4 Compositae Polycalymma stuartii Poached-egg Daisy 22 69 4 9 7 2 Compositae Senecio gregorii Fleshy Groundsel 22 69 3 14 5 Gramineae Eragrostis setifolia Bristly Love-grass 19 59 7 8 3 1 Compositae Calotis hispidula Hairy Burr-daisy 18 56 9 9 Gramineae Triodia basedowii Hard Spinifex 17 53 1 5 4 6 1 Amaranthaceae Ptilotus polystachyus var. polystachyus Long-tails 17 53 2 10 3 2 Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum ammophilum Sand Twinleaf 17 53 17 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia tannensis ssp. eremophila Desert Spurge 16 50 7 8 1 Solanaceae Nicotiana velutina Velvet Tobacco 16 50 7 9 Compositae Rhodanthe floribunda White Everlasting 15 47 1 9 4 1 Aizoaceae Tetragonia moorei New Zealand Spinach 15 47 2 7 6 Sapindaceae Atalaya hemiglauca Whitewood 15 47 5 6 2 2 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Bindyi 15 47 1 11 3 Crucif erae Lepidium phlebopetalum Veined Peppercress 14 44 7 6 1 Gramineae Aristida holathera var. holathera Tall Kerosene Grass 14 44 1 8 4 1 Leguminosae Senna artemisioides ssp. filifolia Fine-leaf Desert Senna 14 44 4 7 3 Malvaceae Sida fibulifera Pin Sida 14 44 1 11 2 Gramineae Eragrostis dielsii var. dielsii Mulka 13 41 11 2 Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum howittii Clasping Twinleaf 13 41 2 9 2 Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia spinescens Spiny Sal tbush 13 41 8 5 Gramineae Enneapogon polyphyllus Leafy Bottle-washers 12 38 8 4 Portulacaceae Calandrinia remota Round-leaf Parakeelya 12 38 2 7 3 Leguminosae Acacia ligulata Umbrella Bush 12 38 8 2 1 1 Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa Ruby Saltbush 12 38 4 8 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena bicornis var. bicornis Goat-head Bindyi 11 34 1 6 3 1 Zygophyllaceae Tribulus hystrix Spiky Caltrop 11 34 1 6 4 Chenopodiaceae Einadia nutans ssp. eremaea Dryland Climbing Saltbush 11 34 5 6 Note: N = Not many (1-10 plants & <5% cover); T = sparsely present (cover <5%); 1 = plentiful, but of small cover (<5%); 2 = any number of individuals covering 5-25% of area; 3 = any number of individuals covering 25-50% of area.

16 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey These results are mostly consistent with those for all 64 vegetation sites sampled in the study area (Table 8), as may be expected given an equal number of sites being sampled prior to this survey as during it ( 32 each). Ho wever, the 2008 survey was preceded by good winte r rains that resulted in an abundance of annuals, and in particular daisies. As a result numerous annuals and short-lived perennials were recorded m ore frequently than on earlier survey s conducted i n the area, particularly Buckbush, Poached- egg Daisy , Fleshy Groundsel, Long-tails (Ptilotus polystachyu s var. polystachyus), Bristly Love-grass, Desert Spu rge, Hairy Burr-daisy, Velvet Tobacco, Sand Twinleaf and Grey Bindyi (Sclerolaena Figure 26. Good winter rains resulted in an diacantha). abundance of herbs such as Fleshy Groundsel (Senecio gregorii) (Photo: K. G raham).

Table 8. The most commonly recorded plant taxa at all 64 sites sampled in the Marqualpie Land System an d a comparis on for sites sampled prior to, and during, this survey (BS61 2).

Total % No. Sites % Sites No. Sites % Sites Family Name Species Name Common Name Sites Sites Pre-20 08 Pre-20 08 BS612 BS612 Chenopodiaceae Salsola tragus Buckbush 43 67 13 41 30 94 Gramineae Triodia basedowii Hard Spinifex 33 52 16 50 17 53 Compositae Polycalymma stuartii Poached-egg Daisy 32 50 10 31 22 69 Leguminosae Acacia ligulata Umbrella Bush 31 48 19 59 12 38 Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa var. Ruby Saltbush 29 45 8 25 21 66 Sapindaceae Atalaya hemiglauca Whitewood 26 41 11 34 15 47 Compositae Rhodanthe floribunda White Everlasting 26 41 11 34 15 47 Aristida holathera var. Gramineae Tall Kerosene Grass 23 36 9 28 14 44 holathera Compositae Senecio gregorii Fleshy Groundsel 23 36 1 3 22 69 Malvaceae Sida fibulifera Pin Sida 23 36 9 28 14 44 Ptilotus polystachyus var. Amaranthaceae Long-tails 22 34 5 16 17 53 polystachyus Gramineae Aristida contorta Curly Wire-grass 21 33 11 34 10 31 Gramineae Eragrostis setifolia Bristly Love-grass 21 33 2 6 19 59 Euphorbia tannensis ssp. Euphorbiaceae Desert Spurge 21 33 5 16 16 50 eremophila Compositae Calotis hispidula Hairy Burr-daisy 20 31 2 6 18 56 Leafy Bottle- Gramineae Enneapogon polyphyllus 19 30 7 22 12 38 washers Solanaceae Nicotiana velutina Velvet Tobacco 19 30 3 9 16 50 Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum ammophilum Sand Twinleaf 19 30 2 6 17 53 Gramineae Eragrostis dielsii var. dielsii Mulka 18 28 5 16 13 41 Senna artemisioides ssp. Fine-leaf Desert Leguminosae 18 28 4 13 14 44 filifolia Senna Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia spinescens Spiny Saltbush 17 27 4 13 13 41 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Bindyi 17 27 2 6 15 47 Umbelliferae Trachymene glaucifolia Blue Parsnip 17 27 9 28 8 25 Trichodesma zeylanicum var. Boraginaceae Camel Bush 17 27 8 25 9 28 zeylanicum Crotalaria eremaea ssp. Downy Loose- Leguminosae 16 25 6 19 10 31 eremaea flowered Rattle-pod Dodonaea viscosa ssp. Narrow-leaf Hop- Sapindaceae 16 25 10 31 6 19 angustissima bush Dryland Climbing Chenopodiaceae Einadia nutans ssp. eremaea 16 25 5 16 11 34 Saltbush Myrtaceae Eucalyptus coolabah Coolibah 16 25 6 19 10 31

17 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey A number of other taxa t hat were either reco rded very Table 9. Plant taxa recorded rarely or not at all a t rarely or not at all at sites prior to 2008 were found t o sites prior to 2008 that were found to be r elative ly be relatively abundant on this survey (Table 9). Again abundant on this survey. they are all either annuals or short-lived perennials. Pre- Species Name Common Name BS612 2008 New Zealand Tetragonia moorei 0 15 Spinach Veined Lepidium phlebopetalum 1 14 Peppercress Zygophyllum howittii Clasping Twinleaf 0 13 Round-leaf Calandrinia remota 0 12 Parakeelya Tribulus hystrix Spiky Caltrop 0 11 Desert Lantern- Abutilon otocarpum 2 9 bush Calocephalus Western Beauty- 2 9 platycephalus heads Convolvulus clementii 0 9 Evolvulus alsinoides var. 1 9 Figure 27. Round-leaf Parakeelya (Calandrinia villosicalyx Malvastrum americanum remota) was recorded at 12 of 32 sites on this Malvastrum 2 9 survey, but had not previously been listed at any var. americanum Minuria denticulata Woolly Minuria 2 9 site in the Marqualpie Land System (Photo: A. Rhodanthe moschata Musk Daisy 1 9 Robinson). Chamaesyce mitchelliana 0 8

Goodenia lunata Stiff Goodenia 1 8 Sida ammophila Sand Sida 0 8

Plant Species of Conservation Significance Eleven plant species rated as rare or vulnerable in Cyperus dactylotes V – SA South Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife A densely tufted, erect perennial to 1m (Jessop and Act 1972 (2007 update of Schedules 7, 8 and 9) have Weber 1986), this species grows in seasonally wet been recorded within the Marqualpie Land System areas, such as stream banks and roadside drains (Table 10). Two of these were recorded during this (Wilson 1993). survey, Frankenia cupularis and Swainsona oligophylla, the former having not previously been In South Australia, this species is mainly confined to recorded in the study area. All are discussed in detail the far north of the state, in t he Lake Eyre Herbarium below. Region. It has been recorded seven times (at one site and six times opportunistically) in the Marqualpie For definitions of conservation ratings refer to the Land System: at Mudcarnie Waterhole; twice at Brady notes at the bottom of Table 10. The absence of a Waterhole (including site KL00302 during the 1983 common name for any of the following species Cooper Creek Environmental Association Survey) in indicates none exist. Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) Woodland; at the edge of a small waterhole north-east of Brady Bergia occultipetala V – SA Waterhole; twice in a “small dry creek with soaks” Bergia occultipetala is a small prostrate perennial that (possibly Dripie Creek) in River Red Gum (Eucalyptus grows on sandy or clay soils in arid areas and has been camaldulensis), Red Mulga (Acacia cyperophylla var. recorded from lower dune slopes and swamp margins cyperophylla) Woodland; and in Candradecka Creek (Leach 1989). The inconspicuous nature of the (State Herbarium of SA 2010). flowers means it is likely to have been often overlooked by collectors (Leach 1989). Stylidium desertorum V – SA This species is an herbaceous perennial to around This species has been recorded on four occasions 25cm high that has a scattered distribution in semi-arid within the Marqualpie Land System: in red loam soil areas of Queensland, Northern Territory, Western in a depression in the sand plain south-east of Australia (Bean 1999) and the far north-east of South Bloodwood Bore, Cordillo Downs; in Lignum Australia (State Herbarium of SA 2010). (Muehlenbeckia florulenta), Golden Goosefoot (Chenopodium auricomum) Shrubland in an interdune There are only four SA records of this species (all depression south-east of Marmion Bore; in Hard State Herbarium specimens), and all have been Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) Open Hummock collected from within the Marqualpie Land System: Grassland in a red sandy swale north-west of Marmion from south-east of Bloodwood Bore (Cordillo Downs) Bore; and in a clay depression north of Mulga Bore. in red loam soil in a depression in a floodplain; in Hard Spinifex Open Hummock Grassland in a red sandy swale north-west of Marmion Bore; and two 18 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey records from between Marmion Bore and Leap Year Acacia tenuissima (Slender Wattle) R – SA Dam in coarse red sands on the edge of a claypan. Acacia tenuissima is a slender erect shrub to 2.5m high with fine, terete phyllodes commonly 7-8cm long Swainsona viridis (Creeping Darling-pea) V – SA (Whibley and Symon 1992). While it is common in Creeping Darling-pea is a prostrate or decumbent arid tropical Australia (Whibley and Symon 1992) it annual (Weber 1986) that, in South Australia, has has been recorded only five times in South Australia, mostly been recorded in the northern Flinders Ranges four of which are from the Marqualpie Land System (State Herbarium of SA 2010). There is, however, a (State Herbarium of SA 2010). Three of these four are single record from the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region. supported by specimens in the State Herbarium of SA. This was collected in the Marqualpie Land System just These are all from approximately the same locality north of Leap Year Bore in Hard Spinifex Hummock beside the Innamincka-Cordillo Road about 10km Grassland in a red sandy loam swale (F.J. Badman north of Leap Year Bore in Hard Spinifex Hummock 9870, AD). Grassland on a red sandy plain. The fourth is a record from site MA00401 sampled in 1991 as part of the Della and Marqual pie Survey.

The fifth SA r ecord is from the far n orth-west of the state.

Callitriche sond eri (Matted Water St arwort) R – SA Matted Water Starwo rt is a low, spreading or mat- forming annual that occurs in areas subject to inundation (Jacobs 1992). In South Australia it has be en recorded in the South East, Murray lands and far no rth of the state.

There is a single State Herbarium specimen (R.J. Bates 47432, AD) that appears to be from the Marqualpie Land System in the vicinity of Montkeleary Creek, though the collection locality is given as “Cordillo Downs”. It was found growing along creeks in mud and was “widespread after flooding”.

Cyperus concinnus R – SA A tufted perennial sedge to 65cm tall (Wilson 1993), Cyperus concinnus is widespread across eastern Australia and the Northern Territory.

In South Australia it is known from only two collections held in the State Herbarium, both of which are from within the Marqualpie Land System - in red loam soil in a depression in the sand plain south-east of Bloodwood Bore, Cordillo Downs (F.J. Badman Figure 28. Creeping Darling-pea (Swainsona 4939, AD); and on a low sandy bank at the edge of a viridis) has been recorded only once in the Lake clay pan south of Marmion Bore (D.J. Duval 1146, Eyre Herbarium Region, near Leap Year Bore in AD) (State Herbarium of SA 2010). the Marqualpie Land System (Photo: A. Robinson).

Table 10. Plant species with State conservation ratings recorded within the Marqualpie Land System.

Species Name Common Name SA SU Recs ADHERB OP BS612 Tot Recs Bergia occultipetala V 4 4 Cyperus dactylotes V 1 6 7 Stylidium desertorum V 4 4 Swainsona viridis Creeping Darling Pea V 1 1 Acacia tenuissima Slender Wattle R 1 3 4 Callitriche sonderi Matted Water Starwort R 1 1 Cyperus concinnus R 2 2 Frankenia cupularis R 1 1 Neurachne lanigera Woolly Mulga-grass R 2 2 Swainsona oligophylla R 3 1 4 Zygophyllum humillimum Small-fruit Twinleaf R 1 1 SA South Australian status under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (2007 update of Schedules 7, 8 and 9). Status Codes V = Vulnerable; R = Rare. 19 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Frankenia cupularis R – SA In South Australia there are scattered records of this densely branched small shrub in the Southern Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges, the Olary district and Lake Gairdner. However, most records are from the north of the state in the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region (State Herbarium of SA 2010).

The only record of it in the Marqualpie Land System is a collection made on the 2008 survey at site KES00501 in sandy clay loam in a depression between dunes on the Keleary Track (M. Barnett BS612-219). It was recorded as sparsely present in Coolibah Low Open Woodland. Figure 29. Swainsona oligophylla was recorded once during this survey in a small claypan south of Neurachne lanigera (Woolly Mulga-grass) R – SA Marqualpie Bore (Photo: P. Canty). Woolly Mulga-grass is a short tufted perennial that is known from only three records in South Australia Cordillo-Innamincka Road just north of Mulga Bore, (Jessop et al. 2006, State Herbarium of SA 2010), two the second of which was collected from a red cracking of which are from the Marqualpie Land System. It has clay swale (K.C. Holliday 841491, D.J. Duval 876, also been recorded in central Western Australia, but AD); and one opportunistic collection made on the again very infrequently. July reconnaissance trip for the 2008 survey (N. Neagle BS612-109). The latter was found in Coolibah The three SA records are – an 1891 collection from Open Woodland over Lignum on a small claypan in a near Mt Watson in the north-west of the state (R. swale south of Marqualpie Bore. Helms s.n., AD); and two in Hard Spinifex Hummock Grassland on the red sand plain north of Leap Year Zygophyllum humillimum (Small-fruit Twinleaf) R Bore (J. Reid 1376, F.J. Badman 9823, AD). – SA Small-fruit Twinleaf is a small prostrate annual that Swainsona oligophylla R – SA occurs on red-brown cracking clay and sandy loam Swainsona oligophylla is a small perennial herb with with gypsum (Eichler 1986). It is found in the far prostrate or ascending stems to 30cm long that grows north of the state as well as north-west New South in sandy soils (Weber 1986). In South Australia it is Wales. confined to the arid north of the state within the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region. It has been recorded once in the Marqualpie Land System, at site PC00602 on clayey sand on a floodout There are four records from the Marqualpie Land of the Candradecka Creek in Buckbush (Salsola System – one from a swale near Mudcarnie Waterhole tragus), Smooth Bindyi (Sclerolaena glabra) Open (L. Alexander 2381, AD); two records near the Herbland (R. Brandle BS69-29495).

Other Significant Plant Species In addition to those plant species with legislated further six Herbarium specimens – all from an area conservation status there are a number of others for roughly bounded by Leap Year Bore, Bloodwood Bore which the Marqualpie Land System constitutes either a and Marqualpie Waterhole and mainly associated with major portion of their limited distribution in South Hard Spinifex on sand plains or swales (State Australia or a significant outlier from their main areas of occurrence. The distribution of all these species also extends widely interstate.

Acacia adsurgens: seven Herbarium records in Marqualpie Land System are the only records for SA. All are from an undulating sand plain beside the Innamincka-Cordillo Road north of Leap Year Bore (State Herbarium of SA 2010).

Acacia elachantha (Cowle’s Wattle): one Herbarium record for SA (P.E. Conrick 2231, AD) is in the Marqualpie Land System on a sand plain near the Queensland border (State Herbarium of SA 2010). Figure 30. In South Australia Wirewood (Acacia Acacia sericophylla (Wirewood): four site records sericophylla) is confined to the far north-west and from 1989-92 Della and Marqualpie Survey plus a north-east corners of the state (Photo: A. Robinson). 20 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Herbarium of SA 2010). Also known in SA from far of Innamincka to Cordillo Downs in the north, where it north-west corner of state. grows on red sand plains (Nicolle 1997, State Herbarium of SA 2010). It forms a low open Adriana tomentosa var. hookeri (Mallee Bitter- woodland community over grasses, particularly Curly bush): in SA this species is found mainly in the far Wire-grass (Aristida contorta) and, to a lesser extent, north-west of the state and, less commonly, in the Hard Spinifex. Marqualpie Land System, plus isolated occurrences in the Gawler Ranges and Ooldea (State Herbarium of Crotalaria dissitiflora ssp. dissitiflora: restricted to SA 2010). In the Marqualpie Land System it is known the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region in SA with most from eight Herbarium and four survey site records, and records in the far north-east in Innamincka Regional mostly from dune crests. Reserve or Cordillo Downs station. There have been two collections from the Marqualpie Land System (both 1986) from an interdune sand plain and sandhills (P.E. Conrick 1972 and 2017, AD) (State Herbarium of SA 2010).

Dicrastylis costelloi (Sand-sage): mainly restricted in SA to the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region, particularly north of Oodnadatta, with just three known records in the Marqualpie Land System (State Herbarium of SA 2010), two of which were recorded on the 2008 survey in Hard Spinifex Hummock Grassland in a dune swale (J. Reid 1382, N. Neagle BS612-153 and BS612-818).

Figure 31. The occurrence of Mallee Bitter-bush (Adriana tomentosa var. hookeri) in the Marqualpie Land System is very distant to its main distribution in South Australia in the far north-west (Photo: P. Canty).

Bonamia deserticola: the only known SA record (F.J. Badman 4928, AD) was collected south-east of Bloodwood Bore (Cordillo Downs) at the base of a dune.

Bonamia erecta: although mainly restricted to the North-western Herbarium Region in SA, there are also two records from the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region (D.J. Duval 877, T.S. Te 206, AD). Both were collected from sandy clay flats in a swale beside the track between Bloodwood and Marqualpie Bores (State Herbarium of SA 2010).

Figure 33. The first record of Sand-sage (Dicrastylis costelloi var. violacea) for the Marqualpie Land System was recorded during the 2008 survey (Photo: K. Graham).

Dicrastylis lewellinii (Purple Sand-sage): has been recorded at several isolated locations in SA – Figure 32. The only two known records of Bonamia Maralinga, Immarna Railway Siding (near Ooldea), erecta for the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region have Mount Finke and the Marqualpie Land System. The both been collected in the Marqualpie Land System Marqualpie Land System is the only location in the (Photo: A. Robinson). Lake Eyre Herbarium Region where it has been

recorded. Here it was recorded on ten occasions at Corymbia terminalis (Bloodwood): this is a five sites during the 1989-92 Della and Marqualpie distinctive small tree that, in SA, is restricted to the far Survey and once (at site BLO00801) on the 2008 north-east of the state, from the Toolachee area south 21 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey. There Newcastelia cephalantha var. cephalantha: restricted are a further nine Herbarium specimens from the area. in SA to far north-west and north-east of the state plus All the Marqualpie records are from sand plains, one isolated record at Dalhousie (State Herbarium of swales or dune footslopes. SA 2010). Most of the records in the north-east are from the Marqualpie Land System, where it has been Eremophila obovata var. obovata: in SA this species recorded seven times mainly in swales and on sand is mainly restricted to the Marqualpie Land System, plains growing in association with Hard Spinifex and plus one record on neighbouring Cordillo Downs Long-tails (Ptilotus polystachyus var. polystachyus) station and an isolated record at Oodnadatta (State (State Herbarium of SA 2010). Herbarium of SA 2010). It is more common in south- east Northern Territory and south-west Queensland, Owenia acidula (Sour Plum): mainly restricted in SA where it occurs in a wide range of soils (Chinnock to the far north-east of the state (apart from a single 2007). In the Marqualpie Land System it has been record near Port Augusta), and in particular to recorded on sand plains and swales in red sand and Innamincka Regional Reserve and Cordillo Downs sandy loam soils and in association with Mulga station (State Herbarium of SA 2010). In addition to (Acacia aneura), Bloodwood and grasses (State three Herbarium records and one site record from the Herbarium of SA 2010). 1983 Cooper Creek Environmental Association Survey it was recorded a further five times on the 2008 Gyrostemon ramulosus (Bushy Wheel-fruit): this survey. It was recorded on dunes, swales and sand species, usually found on dunes, is widespread in the plains in a variety of communities and is a distinctive, west of the state and on Eyre Peninsula but the only though uncommon, feature of the area. records for the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region are from the Marqualpie Land System (State Herbarium of SA 2010). Here it has been recorded five times in the vicinity of Bloodwood Bore (State Herbarium of SA 2010).

Figure 34. The only known records of Bushy Wheel-fruit (Gyrostemon ramulosus) in the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region are from the Marqualpie Land System (Photo: A. Robinson).

Ipomoea plebeia: the only record of this species in SA is from Dripie Creek in the Marqualpie Land System (F.J. Badman 9900, AD), where it was found in 1996 growing in yellow clay loam on a creek bank in a Figure 35. Sour Plum (Owenia acidula) is a woodland (State Herbarium of SA 2010). distinctive, though uncommon, feature of the dune country in the far north-east of the state (Photo: K. Keraudrenia nephrosperma: restricted in SA to the Graham). far north-east of the state, with all records from within Innamincka Regional Reserve, and most from the Paraneurachne muelleri (Northern Mulga-grass): in Marqualpie Land System (State Herbarium of SA SA this species mainly occurs in the far north-west 2010). Here it has mostly been recorded in red sand plus a single isolated location at Hiltaba (in the Gawler on sand plains or swales in association with Hard Ranges) and seven Herbarium records in the far north- Spinifex and Bloodwood (State Herbarium of SA east which are possibly all within the Marqualpie Land 2010). It was recorded once on the 2008 survey at site System (State Herbarium of SA 2010). It was also BLO00801 near Bloodwood Bore in Hard Spinifex recorded at three sites on the 2008 survey in broad Hummock Grassland in a broad sandy swale (N. swales in either Hard Spinifex Hummock Grassland or Neagle BS612-945). Bloodwood Low Open Woodland over grasses.

22 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Tephrosia supina: restricted in SA to the North- western Herbarium Region near the Northern Territory border and the Marqualpie Land System in the far north-east of the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region (State Herbarium of SA 2010). Here it has been recorded on red sand plains beside the Innamincka-Cordillo Road between Candradecka Dam and the northern boundary of the Innamincka Regional Reserve (State Herbarium of SA 2010).

Figure 36. Northern Mulga-grass (Paraneurachne muelleri) was recorded at three sites during the 2008 survey in association with Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) and/or Bloodwood (Corymbia terminalis) (Photo: A. Robinson).

Unconfirmed Species Records Requiring Further Investigation There are a number of unconfirmed plant taxa records Dysphania rhadinostachya ssp. rhadinostachya in the Marqualpie Land System that require further (Green Crumbweed) investigation (Table 11) either because they have not Green Crumbweed is an erect annual with a single previously been recorded in the Lake Eyre Herbarium main stem copiously branched above the base, that is Region or, if they have, then only very rarely. Most of usually found on rocky slopes in skeletal soils (Wilson these records are not supported by vouchered 1986). In South Australia it is mainly confined to the specimens held in the State Herbarium of SA making north-west of the state though there are two it difficult to verify correct identification. occurrences in the far north-east, one of which is from within the Marqualpie Land System. It was collected Amphipogon caricinus var. caricinus (Long Grey- 6km south-east of Bloodwood Bore on Cordillo beard Grass) Downs growing in red loam soil in a depression in a Long Grey-beard Grass is a perennial tussock grass to sand plain (F.J. Badman 4935, AD). The other nearby 60cm high that occurs in sand, clay or on rocky slopes location is to the north-west on Pandie Pandie Station (Jessop et al. 2006). In South Australia it occurs in Brown Beetle-grass (Leptochloa fusca ssp. muelleri) across much of the Murray Mallee, Mount Lofty Very Open Tussock Grassland in a swamp on a Ranges, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas and the north-west floodplain (H.P. Vonow BS69-25503) (State of the state, plus isolated locations in the Flinders Herbarium of SA 2010). Ranges (State Herbarium of SA 2010). There is, however, only one previous recording of this species These two locations are over 600km from the nearest for the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region (from other SA records and the habitats vary significantly Todmorden Station, near Oodnadatta, R.J. Bates from what the species is known to occur in. As such, 51211, AD) and none from the north-east of the state. these specimens require re-examination to confirm this species’ presence in the area. There are three records of Long Grey-beard Grass from the Marqualpie Land System. All were recorded Evolvulus alsinoides var. decumbens (Tropical during the 1989-92 Della and Marqualpie Survey but Speedwell) in different years:- A perennial sub-shrub with silky hairs (Johnson 1986), • in 1989 at site MA00901 in Bloodwood (Corymbia Tropical Speedwell grows on a variety of soils, except terminalis) Low Open Woodland on a sand plain; heavy clays (Cunningham et al. 1992). It occurs • in 1990 at site MA00101 in Rattlepod Grevillea across northern and eastern Australia, but within South (Grevillea stenobotrya) Tall Open Shrubland on a Australia is restricted to the far north-west and dune; and Gammon and Olary Ranges (State Herbarium of SA • in 1992 at site MA00601 in Umbrella Bush 2010). (Acacia ligulata), Rattlepod Grevillea, Whitewood (Atalaya hemiglauca) Tall Very Open Shrubland There is, however, one record from the Marqualpie on a dune. Land System. It was recorded in January 1989 during the Della and Marqualpie Survey at site MA01001 in All three of these sites are between 10 and 15km north Leafy Bottle-washers (Enneapogon polyphyllus), of Leap Year Bore. Unfortunately it is not known Curly Wire-grass (Aristida contorta) Open Tussock whether specimens were collected (and field Grassland in sandy clay loam soil in a swale about identifications confirmed) on any of these occasions, 12km north of Leap Year Bore. It is not known, and hence the presence of this species cannot be though, if a specimen was collected and the field confirmed in the area. identification confirmed. It is possible it may have 23 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey been confused with Evolvulus alsinoides var. presence in the Marqualpie Land System cannot, villosicalyx, a variety known to occur in the area. therefore, be confirmed.

Keraudrenia sp. North West (J.Z.Weber 6475) (Common Firebush) Common Firebush is a low shrub that has been recorded from dune slopes and sand plains in the North-western Herbarium Region (State Herbarium of SA 2010). It is not confirmed from elsewhere in the state though there are two unvouchered records from within the Marqualpie Land System that were recorded during the 1989-92 Della and Marqualpie Survey at site MA00901 in 1989 and 1992. Both are presumed mis-identifications of Keraudrenia nephrosperma.

Pratia sp. (Pratia) A specimen (F.J. Badman 4938, AD), determined only Figure 37. The single record of Leafless Fanflow er to the genus Pratia, was collected in red loam soil on a (Scaevola basedowii) in the Lake Eyre Herbarium sandplain south-east of Bloodwood Bore on Cordillo Region is a collection (of questionable identificati on Downs station in 1991 (State Herbarium of SA 2010). to species level) made near Leap Year Bore (Pho to: The associated collector’s notes describe it as an erect A. Robinson). herb to 10cm high and 15cm in diameter. The flowers were “blue with a white spot in the throat”. Sida filiformi s (Fine Sida) Fine Sida is a small sprawling perennial shrub to 1 m Most Pratia species are prostrate mat-forming herbs tall with densely tomentose branches that grows in a that grow in swamps or moist depressions. This record wide range of habitats, but especially rocky slopes and is of interest owing to there being no species of this watercourses (Barker and Jessop 1986). In South genus listed as occurring in the Lake Eyre Herbarium Australia it is mainly confined to the North-western Region. Herbarium Region, though there are records from the far north-west of the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region and Scaevola basedowii (Leafless Fanflower) in the Gammon Ranges (Flinders Ranges Herbarium Leafless Fanflower is an undershrub to 60cm high that Region). There are no other confirmed records from grows on red sand dunes and plains, often in the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region. association with Triodia (Cooke and Carolin 1986). In South Australia it appears to occur exclusively in the There is a single unvouchered record for the North-western Herbarium Region, though there is one Marqualpie Land System from the 1983 Cooper Creek record from the Lake Eyre Herbarium Region. This Environmental Association Survey at site KL00301 record (J. Reid 1385, AD) was collected from a clay near King Lookout. This was in a Hard Spinifex lens in a red sand plain 9km north of Leap Year Bore, (Triodia basedowii) Open Hummock Grassland on a where it was growing in a Bloodwood over Spinifex dune. Given the habitat is quite different to that (Triodia sp.) community (State Herbarium of SA described by Barker and Jessop (1986) this record is 2010). However, the determination notes on this possibly a mis-identification. specimen in the State Herbarium of SA indicate that the identification is questionable at species level. It’s

New Species Records for the Marqualpie Land System A total of 87 plant taxa, or 27% of all taxa recorded during the 2008 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey, had not previously been found in the area. Four of thes e species were recorded relatively frequently (Tab le 11). As all area annuals this is most likely a response to the good June rainfall or, in the case of New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia moorei), a change in taxonomy.

However, there were several perennial species that were also recorded for the first time – Jointed Bottle- washers (Enneapogon cylindricus) 5 records, Cottony Goosefoot (Chenopodium curvispicatum) 4 records, Senna phyllodinea 3 records and Willow Wattle Fig ure 38. Clasping Twinleaf (Zygophyllum (Acacia salicina) two records. how ittii) was first recorded in the Marqualpie Land Syst em during the 20 08 surve y (Photo: A. Robinson). 24 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Tab le 11. Fr equencies of the m ost commonly reco rded new records collected on the Marqualpie Lan d System B iological Su rvey.

Species Name Common Name Records Zygophyllum ammophilum Sand Twinleaf 17 Tetragonia moorei New Zealand Spinach 16 Zygophyllum howittii Clasping Twinleaf 14 Calandrinia remota Round-leaf Parakeelya 12 Bulbine alata Winged Bulbine-lily 8 Chamaesyce mitchelliana 8 Atriplex holocarpa Pop Saltbush 7 Stenopetalum lineare Narrow Thread-petal 7 Figure 39. The first records of Desert Daisy Streptoglossa adscendens Desert Daisy 7 (Streptoglossa adscendens) were recorded on the Gnaphalium Diamantina Cudweed 6 2008 Survey - at five sites and twice diamantinense opportunistically (Photo: A. Robinson). Myriocephalus pluriflorus Inland Woolly-heads 6

A full list of the 87 new species recorded is provided in Appendix 5, 81 of which are native and six introduced.

Introduced Species A total of only seven introduced plant species were (6% of the 32 sites sampled). This is an extremely low recorded during the Marqualpie Land System frequency of occurrence and all the more significant Biological Survey, six of which were seen at survey gi ven the good growing conditions provided by the quadrats and one opportunistically. In addition, a major rainfall event prior to the survey. further eight had previously been recorded in the area, either on earlier surveys or lodged as specimens at the Introduced species were recorded at only six of the 32 State Herbarium of SA (Table 12). sites sampled (19%) on this survey and there were never more than two such species recorded at any one On this survey introduced species accounted for only site. In all instances introduced species were recorded eight (0.6%) of all 1283 plant records at sites and nine as either sparsely or very sparsely present at a site. (0.6%) of all 1598 records collected. Of these, only Hence weeds appear to be a relatively minor issue in Smooth Mustard (Sisymbrium erysimoides) and the study area. There was, however, one species found Common Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) were that is of particular concern – Buffel Grass (*Cenchrus recorded more than once, being found at two sites each ciliaris).

Table 12. Frequency of introduced plant species recorded within the Marqualpie Land System.

Marqualpie Land Total Species Name Common Name Pre-2008 System Survey (2008) Records Sites OP *Alopecurus geniculatus Marsh Fox-tail 1 1 *Argemone ochroleuca ssp. ochroleuca Mexican Poppy 1 1 *Brassica tournefortii Wild Turnip 1 1 *Cenchrus ciliaris Buffel Grass 1 2 *Chloris virgata Feather-top Rhodes Grass 1 1 *Citrullus lanatus Bitter Melon 1 1 2 *Dipogon lignosus Lavatory Creeper 1 1 *Erodium aureum 1 1 *Gnaphalium polycaulon Indian Cudweed 2 2 *Setaria verticillata Whorled Pigeon-grass 1 1 *Sisymbrium erysimoides Smooth Mustard 2 2 *Sonchus oleraceus Common Sow-thistle 1 2 3 *Tribulus terrestris Caltrop 1 1 Total Records 9 8 1 19

25 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey *Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel Grass) Buffel Grass is a tufted annual or perennial grass that has been introduced as a pasture grass in central Australia, especially in sandy soils, that has become widely established (Jessop et al. 2006). It has now been recorded from numerous localities across the north of South Australia (State Herbarium of SA 2010) as well as being common along roadsides as far south as the Princes Highway between Port Augusta and Port Pirie. The burrs are readily distribu ted, the root system robust and it is considered one of the most extensive and environ mentally serious alien species in central Austra lia (Jessop et al. 2006). Figure 40. The first record of Buf fel Grass The first and only record of this species in the (*Cenchrus ciliaris) in the Marqualpie Land Marqu alpie Land System was collected in July 2008 System was collect ed on this survey in a floodout on the reconnaissance trip for this survey, in of Montkeleary Creek (Photo: P. Lang). Coolib ah (Eucalyptus coolabah) Open Woodland in a floodou t area of the Montkeleary Creek on the Badman (cited in J essop et al. 2006) repo rts Buff el northern boundary of Innamincka Regional Reserve Grass as being most common (in the north of the (N. Neagle BS612-127). There are also specimens in state) along watercourses. In light of this, the the State Herbarium of SA that have been collected in Montkeleary Creek location represents the possibility the surrounding area – on Cordillo Downs station, of further dispersal south-west through the centre of near Coongie Lakes and at Innamincka (State the Marqualpie Land System. Herbarium of SA 2010).

Species Richness Species richness at the 50 sites in the Marqualpie Land Low Woodland. This site had obviously benefited System (where vegetation was sampled in standard from the good winter rains that produced a flush of 100m x 100m quadrats) ranged from 8 to 90 taxa per diverse annuals. All of the most diverse sites (>65 quadrat. The spread of species richness at sites within species) are associated with heavier soils along stream this range is shown in Figure 42. Just over half of channels or in flood out areas, and all but one of these these sites (56%) had between 21 and 40 species, with were sampled during this survey in 2008. the average for all sites being 34.5. For the Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey alone, species richness ranged from 23 to 90 species and the average was 40.1 species per site. Again a major proportion of sites (65.6%) had between 21 and 40 species present.

The higher average for this survey is most likely due to it being conducted in September following good rainfall in the area in June (76mm recorded at Cordillo Downs - BOM 2010a).

The least species rich quadrats were sampled in very dry conditions in November 1994 during the Stony Plains Biological Survey. These were CD00403 (8 Figure 41. Only nine plant species were recorded at species) and CD00401 (9 species), both on the site CD00401 in Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) northern margin of the study area, approximately Hummock Grassland making it one of the least 13.5km south-east of Cordillo Downs homestead. The diverse in the area (Photo: P. Canty). former is in clay loam on a floodplain in Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) Low Woodland, while the latter An examination of the relative species richness of the is in sand on a dune slope in Hard Spinifex (Triodia Floristic Vegetation Communities identified in the basedowii) Hummock Grassland. Evidence of study area (refer next section) is limited by the low significant cattle and rabbit grazing/browsing was also numbers of sites in some groups (Table 13). However, noted at these sites. some significant observations can still be made. The most species rich community is Coolibah (Eucalyptus The site with the highest species diversity was coolabah) Low Open Woodland occurring on heavier BLO00101 in medium heavy clay on a flood out of the soils associated with stream channels, flood outs and Montkeleary Creek in Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) depressions between dunes that hold water for long periods. 26 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey

40

35 All Sites BS612

30

25

20

Percentage of Sites 15

10

5

0 0 - 10 11 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 No. of Plant Species Per Site

Figure 42. Plant species richness at sites with standard 100m x 100m vegetation quadrats for all surveys in the study area (n = 50) and just for the Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey (BS612, n = 32).

Table 13. Average number and range of plant species recorded per site in each Floristic Vegetation Community.

Veg Grp Floristic Vegetation Community No. Sites Ave. Species Low High 6 Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) Low Open Woodland 8 48.3 8 90 Whitewood (Atalaya hemiglauca) +/- Silver Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera 4 8 39.9 23 81 ssp. leucoptera) Very Low Open Woodland 3 Bloodwood (Corymbia terminalis) Low Open Woodland 6 37.0 22 63 Smooth Bindyi (Sclerolaena glabra), Dese rt Glasswort (Neobassia 5 4 34.3 29 46 proceriflora) Open Herbfield Sandhill Canegrass (Zygochloa paradoxa), Downy Loose-flowered Rattle- 2 pod (Crotalaria ere maea ssp. eremaea) Open Hummock Grassland over 7 30.0 13 41 Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) 1 Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) Open Hummock Grassland 11 28.5 9 53 Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta), Golden Goosefoot (Chenopodium 7 2 27.0 26 28 auricomum) Open Shrubland

Figure 43. Site BLO00101 in Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) Low Woodland in a floodout of the Montkeleary Creek was the most diverse site in the Marqualpie Land System with 90 plant species recorded (Photo: N. Neagle).

27 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Surprisingly, the least diverse community was another that occurs on heavier soils in seasonally wet areas (particularly swamps and open depressions amongst the jumbled dunes) - Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta), Golden Goosefoot (Chenopodium auricomum) Open Shrubland. The low species richness is most likely due to the small number (two) of sites sampled in this community. The two communities associated with deeper sands were also amongst the least diverse. Sites in Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) Open Hummock Grassland on sand plains averaged 28.5 species, while those in Sandhill Canegrass (Zygochloa paradoxa), Downy Loose-flowered Rattle-pod (Crotalaria eremaea ssp. eremaea) Open Hummock Grassland over Hard Figure 45. Flood outs like this one beside the Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) on dunes averaged 30.0 Montkeleary Creek at site MON00401 had the species. highest plant diversity of any landform elements (Photo: N. Neagle).

Figure 44. Those Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta), Golden Goosefoot (Chenopodium Figure 46. Sites on clay plains were some of the auricomum) Open Shrubland that occur in least diverse in terms of plant species recorded. depressions that hold water for comparatively short This is KES00101 on the Keleary Track (Photo: N. periods tend to have lower plant species diversity Neagle). (Photo: N. Neagle). Sites on clay soils were by far the most species rich The most species rich landform element is flood outs, averaging approximately 75% more species than those associated mainly with Montkeleary and Candradecka on sand and 125% more than loam sites (Table 15 and Creeks (Table 14 and Figure 47). Sites here averaged Figure 48). Again these species rich sites are 71.5 species. This is consistent with the findings associated with flood out areas where, particularly in above, as most of these sites were in Coolibah 2008, seasonal conditions allowed for a high diversity (Eucalyptus coolabah) Low Open Woodland. Clay of annual species. plains, generally with herblands, were the least diverse landform element (Table 14 and Figure 47). Table 15. Frequency of sites and average number of plant species per site for each general soil type. Table 14. Frequency of sites and average number of plant species per site for each landform element. Soil No. of Sites Ave. No. of Spp Per Site clay 5 59.4 Landform Element No. of Sites Ave. No. of Spp Per Site clay loam 10 26.7 flood out 4 71.5 loamy sand 10 33.8 stream channel 2 47.0 sand 25 32.9 swale 9 40.8

stony plain 3 30.7 sandy plain 9 28.7 dune 15 27.9 open depression 5 27.8 clay plain 3 23.3

28 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey

80 16

70 Mean # Species per Site 14 No. Sites 60 12

50 10

40 8

30 6 No. of Sites Sampled 20 4 Mean No. of Species Per Site Per of Species Mean No.

10 2

0 0 dune swale plain y plain stream open channel flood out flood clay plain depression ston sandy

Figure 47. Average plant species richness for each landform element.

70 30

60 25 Mean # Species per Site No. Sites 50 20

40

15

30 No. of Species per Site 10 No. of Sites Sampled 20 Mean

5 10

0 0 clay clay loam loamy sand sand

Figure 48. Average plant species richness for each broad soil type.

29 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Floristic Vegetation Communities Vascular plant data from 46 sites supporting 201 The seven floristic groups may be grouped up into four perennial taxa were analysed for similarity of sites broader clusters based on the landforms where they are based on species composition and relative found. cover/abundance classes using the PC-ORD (Version 4.25) hierarchical cluster analysis. This analysis used Cluster 1: Dunes and Sand Plains (2 groups, 18 the Flexible Beta linkage method and Sorensen (Bray- sites, 39.1%). Curtis) distance method. Seven Floristic Vegetation Groups 1 and 2 cover the main communities occurring Communities were chosen that best represent the on the deep red sands of the jumbled dunes and sand diversity of vegetation communities that occur in the plains. These are Open Hummock Grasslands Marqualpie Land System (Table 16). The resultant dominated either by Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) dendrogram is shown in Table 17 including the point or Sandhill Canegrass (Zygochloa paradoxa) in at which it was cut to delineate the seven groups. The association with Downy Loose-flowered Rattle-pod frequency of occurrence of all species (both annual (Crotalaria eremaea ssp. eremaea). and perennial) per Floristic Vegetation Community is shown for the 46 sites in Appendix 6.

In preparation for the data analysis a number of taxa and sites were excluded, while some taxa were combined. All sites from the 1983 Cooper Creek Environmental Association Survey and three from the 1989-92 Della and Marqualpie Survey were excluded due to the absence of cover/abundance data. One 1994 Stony Deserts site was removed as it was located in an atypical community. Most taxa identified to generic level only were excluded. Annuals were excluded from the analysis as they are not present year round and therefore do not consistently define a vegetation community, and would not have been sampled consistently in the dataset. Reference was made to the Figure 50. Hard Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) DEH FLORA database and the Flora of South dominates much of the undulating sand plains of Australia ( Jessop and Toelken 1986) to determine the the Marqualpie Land System that comprise Cluster annual/pere nnial status of plant species. 1 (Photo: N. Neagle).

The lum ping of some taxa up to a broader taxonomic Cluster 2: Swales and Sand Plains (2 groups, 14 entity w as required. This was done in instances where sites, 30.4%). either identification to subspecies level had not Groups 3 and 4 are communities found in swales in the occurred c onsistently, or where changes in taxonomy dunefield or on the extensive sand plain in the n orth- since sa mpling occurred for the other surveys used east of the study area. These are the Bloodwood (1989 fo r the Della and Marqualpie Survey and 1994- (Corymbia terminalis) Low Open Woodland and 96 for the Stony Plains Biological Survey) now makes Whitewood (Atalaya hemiglauca) +/- Silver it difficult to accurately interpret the current name of Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera ssp. leucoptera) Very the taxo n recorded. This process resulted in a total of Low Open Woodland. 1,060 pl ant records of 201 plant taxa from 46 sites being av ailable for the hierarchical cluster analysis.

Figure 49. Sandhill Canegrass (Zygochloa Figure 51. Bloodwood (Corymbia terminalis) Low paradoxa) Open Hummock Grassland, a Cluster 1 Open Woodland occurs on sand plains and swales community, is common on tall dunes (Photo: N. in the north-east of the Marqualpie Land System Neagle). (Photo: N. Neagle).

30 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Cluster 3: Floodplains (margins of the land system) Cluster 4: Creeklines, Flood Outs and Swamps (2 (1 group, 4 sites, 8.7%). groups, 10 sites, 21.7%). Group 5 represents ephemeral herbfields occurring on Groups 6 and 7 comprise the communities found on clay loam to clay soils of floodplains. These are clay loam to medium heavy clay soils of creeklines, mainly dominated by Smooth Bindyi (Sclerolaena flood outs and swamps. These are the Coolibah glabra) and/or Desert Glasswort (Neobassia (Eucalyptus coolabah) Low Open Woodland and proceriflora), but may also feature either of the Pop Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta), Golden Saltbushes (Atriplex holocarpa or A. spongiosa) or Goosefoot (Chenopodium auricomum) Open Western Bindyi (Sclerolaena parallelicuspis). Sites Shrubland. relating to this group are all located near the margin of the land system.

Figure 52. Broad low relief floodplains are mostly confined to the periphery of the land system and feature ephemeral communities often dominated by Figure 54. Areas that tend to catch and hold water Bindyi (Sclerolaena spp.) (Photo: N. Neagle). the longest are dominated by Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) and/or Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) and Golden Goosefoot (Chenopodium auricomum) (Photo: N. Neagle).

Figure 53. Pop Saltbush (Atriplex spongiosa), Desert Glasswort (Neobassia proceriflora) Low Very Open Shrubland on a floodplain, a Cluster 3 Figure 55. Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) Low community (Photo: R. Brandle). Woodland surrounding an ephemeral waterho le on the Montkeleary Creek (Photo: K. Graham).

Table 16. Floristic Vegetation Communities identified in the Marqualpie Land System.

Group No. of Floristic Vegetation Community No. Sites 1 Triodia basedowii (Hard Spinifex) Open Hummock Grassland 11 Zygochloa paradoxa (Sandhill Canegrass), Crotalaria eremaea ssp. eremaea Downy 2 Loose-flowered Rattle-pod) Open Hummock Grassland over Triodia basedowii (Hard 7 Spinifex) 3 Corymbia terminalis (Bloodwood) Low Open Woodland 6 Atalaya hemiglauca (Whitewood) +/- Hakea leucoptera ssp. leucoptera (Silver 4 8 Needlewood) Very Low Open Woodland Sclerolaena glabra (Smooth Bindyi), Neobassia proceriflora (Desert Glasswort) Open 5 4 Herbfield 6 Eucalyptus coolabah (Coolibah) Low Open Woodland 8 Muehlenbeckia florulenta (Lignum), Chenopodium auricomum (Golden Goosefoot) 7 2 Open Shrubland

31 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Table 17. Dendrogram of the 46 sites used in the Floristic Vegetation Analysis using PC-ORD.

Distance (Objective Function) 0.038 3.365 6.692 10.019 13.346 |------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ Information remaining (%) 100.0 75.0 50.0 25.0 0.0 Site Code |------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+ MA00101 |------| MA00601 | |--| MON00601 |------| | | KES00301 | |-| | MON00801 ---|| | |------| Grou p 1 KES00801 ---||------| | | KEN00301 ----| | | MA00401 -|------| | | MA 00501 -| |------| | CD00401 |------| |------| BLO00801 | | | CD00402 ------| | | MON00301 || |------| | | KEN00701 ||------| | | | MON00701 -| |------| Grou p| 2 BLO00201 ------|-----| | | BLO00601 ------| |------| | KEN00801 ------| | MA00201 ------| | BLO00301 |-| |------| | BLO00501 | |------| |------| Grou p| 3 BLO00701 --| | | | MA00301 ------|------| | | MA00701 ------| |------| | PC00601 ------|-| | | | MON00501 ------|------| |----| | | | BLO00401 ------| | | | | | MON00101 ------|------| |------| | | KES00601 ------| | |---| Grou p| 4 KES00201 ---|------| | | | | KES00701 ---| |------| | | | KES00401 ------| | | | PC00501 ------|----| | | | KES00101 ------| |------| | Grou p| 5 PC00602 -----|------| |-----| PC00603 -----| | CD00403 ------|------| | KES00501 ------| | | MON00201 |-| |--| | MON00401 | |------| | | | Grou p 6 BLO00101 --| |--| | | | KEN00501 ------| |------| |------| KEN00101 ------|------| | KEN00201 ------| |

KEN00401 |------| Grou p 7 KEN00601 |

Point at which dendrogram has been cut.

32 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Vegetation Communities Not Sampled While one of the main aims of this survey was to sample all the major habitat types in the study area this was not possible due to their geographical distribution and the time and resources available. The main community not sampled was Mulga (Acacia aneura var. aneura) Very Low Woodland/Very Low Open Woodland. Examples of this were observed in the vicinity of Mulga Bore on an undulating sand plain. Whitewood (Atalaya hemiglauca) and Silver Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera ssp. leucoptera) both occurred as occasional co-dominants while the understorey was sparse, consisting mainly of low shrubs such as Macdonnell’s Emubush (Eremophila macdonnellii) and Grey Bindyi (Sclerolaena diacantha). Figure 57. Cottonbush (Maireana aphylla) Low Open Shrubland in a clay swale on the northern boundary of the Innamincka Regional Reserve (Photo: N. Neagle).

Figure 56. Mulga (Acacia aneura) Very Low Open Woodland on a sand plain west of Mulga Bore (Photo: N. Neagle).

Figure 58. Sturt’s Pigface (Gunniopsis quadrifida) Several other minor communities of limited extent and Low Open Shrubland on a dune footslope near the distribution were also observed but not sampled. Keleary Track (Photo: N. Neagle). These include:- • Cottonbush (Maireana aphylla) Low Shrubland on clay soils in low lying areas between dunes. Goat- head Bindyi (Sclerolaena bicornis var. bicornis) was prominent in the understorey; • Tall Scurf-pea (Cullen australasicum) Low Shrubland in depressions in the dunes receiving local run-off; • Swamp Cane-grass (Eragrostis australasica) Grassland in swamps; and • Umbrella Cane-grass (Leptochloa digitata) Grassland in swamps; • Tall Kerosene Grass (Aristida holathera var. holathera) Open Tussock Grassland with emergent shrubs on low dunes;

• Sturt’s Pigface (Gunniopsis quadrifida) Low Open Figure 59. Red Mulga (Acacia cyperophylla var. Shrubland on the footslopes of dunes near the cyperophylla) Very Low Open Forest on Dripie Keleary Track; Creek (Photo: K. Graham). • Limited areas of Red Mulga (Acacia cyperophylla var. cyperophylla) Very Low Open Forest occur along Dripie Creek.

33 Marqualpie Land System Biological Survey Floristic Vegetation Community Descriptions Detailed descriptions of the 7 Floristic Vegetation Communities are provided in the following format.

Floristic group number as per Table 16. Sites: a list of the site identifier codes for all sites representing a group. All sites are preceded by their Floristic Vegetation Community name is the survey number (41 = Della and Marqualpie Survey, 69 descriptive title that includes the dominant (and = Stony Deserts Biological Survey, 612 = Marqualpie possibly co-dominant and/or subdominant) overstorey Land System Biological Survey). species, the vegetation structural formation cla ssification for South Australia (as per Heard and Group taxa list: provides a list with statistics of all Channon 1997) and, in some cases, the dominant perennial and annual taxa that were recorded at 30% or understorey species. more of sites representing the Floristic Vegetation Community. Description of community: a summary of the most common overstorey, mid-stratum (if necessary) and The statistics provided for each taxon are:- ground layer taxa (perennial and annual), the soil types • frequency of occurrence at sites in the group (Freq), and landforms where it typically occurs. • percentage of all sites in the group at which they occurred (% Freq), Distribution map: displays the location of all sites • frequency of occurrence in each cover/abundance sampled in the Marqualpie Land System (white category (N, T, 1, 2 and 3), circles) and the sites that represent the Floristic • average cov er/a bun dance for sites at which they Vegetation Community (black circles). wer e record ed ( N scored as 0.01 and T as 0.1 ) (C/A Ave), Number of sites in the group as determined in the • total num be r of records at sites used in the analysis analysis. (Tot Recs), • number of records at s ites i n this group as a Total taxa in group: the total numbe r of unique plant perc enta ge o f all sit e record s used in the analy sis (% taxa recorded at sites representing the g roup. Recs),

• total numbe r of flo ristic g roups in which they were Annual: the total number of uniqu e annual taxa reco rded (Tot G rps), and recorded at sites representing the group. • an indicato r value (deriv ed in PC-ORD) for taxa,

repr esen ting the percentag e of p erfect indi cat ion of a Perennial: the total number of unique perennial taxa Flor istic Vegeta tion Grou p, bas ed on each t axon’s recorded at sites representing the group. abundance in a part icular group and the fa ith fulness

of it s occur rence i n that g roup. Values range from 0 Exotic: the total number of unique exotic taxa (no ind ication) to 100 (perf ect ind ication, that recorded at sites representing the group. presence of a t axon point s to t his par ticula r group

without err or, at least with the da ta pr ovided ) Average number of taxa per group and range: the (Mc Cune an d Mefford 1 999). A figure in bold average number of unique taxa per site, plus minimum deno tes tha t th e level of sign ificance (p) of this and maximum, for sites representing the group. indi cator va lue ( based on 1 000 r andomi zation s usin g

the Mon te C arlo tes t) is <0 .05 (Ind Val). Species of conservation significance: taxa with a state conservation rating that were recorded at sites Figure: imag es of sites repres enting the F loristic representing the group. The South Australian ratings Vegetation Co mmunit y. are based on the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972

(2007 update of schedules 7, 8 and 9).

34