Southwest Australian Vegetation
Plant Formations in the Southwest Australian BioProvince Peter Martin Rhind Southwest Australian Jarrah Forest Unlike most of the World’s hardwood forests this type of forest is almost exclusively dominated by a single species the Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), which can form almost pure stands in certain areas especially where laterite soils predominate. The only other commonly associated trees are Eucalyptus calophylla (marri), E. patens (blacknut) and E. wandoo (wandoo). Commonly associated under storey species include the strange Casuarine fraserana and various banksias (Proteaceae) such as Banksia grandis, B. menziesii and B. attenuata. However, in addition there are various arborescent monocots such as the endemic Dasypogon hookeri, Kingia australis and Xanthorrhoea gracilis (Xanthorrhoeaceae). The most common liana is the endemic Kennedia coccinea (Fabaceae) and, in fact, both lianas and creepers are common features of these forests. The shrub layer, unlike the canopy, is also rich in species with many endemics. The most common of these is Stirlingia latifolia (Proteaceae), while other species include Acacia alata, Adenanthos barbigerus, Conospermum glumaceum, Dryandra praemorsa, Grevillea willsoni, Hakea lissocarpha, Isopogon sphaerocephalus (Proteaceae), Andersonia axilliflora, Astroloma ciliatum (Epacridaceae), Anigozanthos preissii (Haemodoraceae), Chorizema dicksonii, Daviesia cordata, Gastrolobium villosum (Fabaceae), Darwinia carnea, Hypocalymma robustum (Myrtaceae), Hemiandra linearis (Lamiaceae), Hibbertia hypericoides
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