WETLAND PLANTS OF THE TOWNSVILLE − BURDEKIN Dr Greg Calvert & Laurence Liessmann (RPS Group, Townsville) For Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Incorporated (LBLCA) Working in the local community to achieve sustainable land use THIS PUBLICATION WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF: Burdekin Shire Council Calvert, Greg Liessmann, Laurence Wetland Plants of the Townsville–Burdekin Flood Plain ISBN 978-0-9925807-0-4 First published 2014 by Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Incorporated (LBLCA) PO Box 1280, Ayr, Qld, 4807 Graphic Design by Megan MacKinnon (Clever Tangent) Printed by Lotsa Printing, Townsville © Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc. Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted under the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without prior permission of LBLCA All photographs copyright Greg Calvert Please reference as: Calvert G., Liessmann L. (2014) Wetland Plants of the Townsville–Burdekin Flood Plain. Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc., Ayr. The Queensland Wetlands Program supports projects and activities that result in long-term benefits to the sustainable management, wise use and protection of wetlands in Queensland. The tools developed by the Program help wetlands landholders, managers and decision makers in government and industry. The Queensland Wetlands Program is currently funded by the Queensland Government. Disclaimer: This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The authors and funding bodies hold no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. The uses in this book are often obtained from historical records and the authors make no claim to their effectiveness and/or safety. This information is provided for interest and historical purposes only and the authors accept no liability or responsibility for any persons wishing to engage in experimenting with any of the plant uses described in this book. Contents Acknowledgements 5 Persicaria attenuata – Water pepper 83 Sagittaria platyphylla* – Delta arrowhead 85 Foreword 6 Sesbania cannabina – Sesbania pea 87 Introduction 7 Grasses and sedges 89 Cynodon dactylon* – Couch grass 91 Submerged plants 17 Cyperus alopecuroides – Foxtail flat sedge 93 Cabomba caroliniana* – Cabomba 19 Cyperus involucratus* – Umbrella sedge 95 Ceratophyllum demersum – Hornwort 21 Cyperus polystachyos – Bunchy sedge 97 Hydrilla verticillata – Water thyme 23 Other sedges 98 Myriophyllum verrucosum – Parrot’s feather 25 Diplachne fusca var. fusca – Brown beetle grass 103 Utricularia gibba – Floating bladderwort 27 Echinochloa polystachya* – Aleman grass 105 Vallisneria nana – Ribbonweed 29 Eleocharis dulcis – Bulkuru sedge 107 Hymenachne amplexicaulis* – Olive hymenachne 109 Floating attached plants 31 Leersia hexandra – Swamp rice grass 111 Aponogeton queenslandicus – Queensland lace plant 33 Lomandra longifolia – Spiny-headed mat-rush 113 Caldesia oligococca – Caldesia 35 Oryza australiensis – Native rice 115 Limnocharis flava* – Yellow burr head 37 Paspalidium udum – Spongy swamp grass 117 Marsilea crenata – Nardoo 39 Phragmites australis – Common reed 119 Nelumbo nucifera – Pink lotus lily 41 Pseudoraphis spinescens – Spiny mud grass 121 Nymphaea gigantea – Blue water lily 43 Schoenoplectus subulatus – Bulrush 123 Nymphoides crenata – Yellow fringe lily 45 Typha domingensis – Cumbungi 125 Nymphoides indica – Water snowflake 47 Urochloa mutica* – Para grass 127 Ottelia ovalifolia – Swamp lily 49 Potamogeton tricarinatus – Floating pondweed 51 Glossary 128 Free floating plants 53 Recommendations for constructed wetlands 130 Azolla pinnata – Water fern 55 Eichhornia crassipes* – Water hyacinth 57 References and further reading 132 Lemna aequinoctialis – Lesser duckweed 59 Pistia stratiotes* – Water lettuce 61 Index 138 Salvinia molesta* – Salvinia 63 Herbs and shrubs 65 Aeschynomene indica* – Budda pea 67 Ammannia multiflora – Jerry-jerry 69 Ceratopteris thalictroides – Water fern 71 Eclipta prostrata – White eclipta 73 Ipomoea aquatica – Kang kong 75 Ludwigia octovalvis – Willow primrose 77 Ludwigia peploides – Water primrose 79 Monochoria vaginalis – Bog hyacinth 81 * – Species introduced from another country WETLAND PLANTS OF THE TOWNSVILLE - BURDEKIN FLOOD PLAIN 3 4 Acknowledgements The Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc. their identification of grasses and sedges. (LBLCA) would like to acknowledge and thank Chris Kahler’s water plant ‘cheat sheet’ was an Dr Greg Calvert and Laurence Liessmann of RPS extremely valuable resource. Ruth Martin and Group, Townsville, for preparing this book. Marc Roth have generously allowed access to their wetland plant collections and shared Thanks to Linda Kirk (LBLCA) and Terri valuable information about their cultivation and Buono from the Queensland Department propagation. Jason Rose (Greening Australia) of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) gave his time to provide a tour of their artificial for making the planets align, getting the wetlands and nursery in Townsville. Kath necessary funding and progressing the book’s Salter (Revegetation Contractors) provided development to completion. information on the commercial use of several wetland plants in rehabilitation programmes. Publication funding for this book was made Sarah Swan (JCU) and Leigh Benson (NRM available through the Queensland Wetlands Ranger Lower Burdekin) both provided Program via the Queensland Department of excellent information on the threatened grass Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Wetland in Paspalidium udum. Tim Ryan from Queensland Agriculture Training Extension and Resources Herbarium (DSITIA) provided valuable feedback (WATER), Burdekin Shire Council’s Environmental on taxonomic changes. Levy Fund, NQ Dry Tropics and Wilmar. Sharon King from NQ Dry Tropics provided the The Lower Burdekin Wetland Steering wetland maps of the Townsville–Burdekin flood Committee (LBWSC), comprised of the Burdekin plain region. Bowen Integrated Flood Plain Management Advisory Committee (BBIFMAC), Burdekin River Leonie Mynott provided a brutal and much- Irrigation Area (BRIA) Irrigators Committee, needed initial edit. Document reviewers Burdekin Shire Council (BSC), DAFF, Great included Tim Ryan and Christopher Pennay Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), (DSITIA), Andrea Corby, Carla Wegscheidl and LBLCA, North Burdekin Water Board, NQ Terri Buono (DAFF), Liz Thomas (Qld Wetlands Dry Tropics, South Burdekin Water Board, Program/Department of Environment and TropWATER, and WetlandCare Australia has Heritage Protection – DEHP), Jaymie Rains supported the development of the book and and Chris Kahler (NQ Dry Tropics), Linda Kirk provided input into the publication. (LBLCA), Brooke Corrie and Linda Govan (BSC), Aaron Davis (TropWATER) and Mike Ronan RPS Group provided significant in-kind support (Manager Wetlands, Queensland Wetlands in allowing us the time and resources to bring Program). Rebecca Cayzer (RPS) provided much- this publication to completion. needed assistance with formatting and style. Numerous people have given generously of Thanks particularly to Greg and Laurence’s their time and knowledge of wetland plants families for their support, patience and to make this book possible. Nanette Hooker tolerance – Tiffany and Laura, and Fiona, Emma (James Cook University Herbarium) and and Matthew. Merilyn Thomas were both invaluable with WETLAND PLANTS OF THE TOWNSVILLE - BURDEKIN FLOOD PLAIN 5 Foreword Standing beside a wetland, filled by wet season of different species and, by extension, is critical rain and bursting with life, it is all too easy to be to the management and protection of wetland consumed by your surroundings and distracted plant populations and their habitats. As a clear from the biological complexity that is a wetland. and concise illustrated guide, this book means Wetland plants are an important part of this that wetland plant information is now accessible ecological marvel but, although often the to all stakeholders: students, landholders, most visible or the most colourful or the most ecologists and limnologists alike. emblematic of wetland inhabitants, they can In 1735, Carolus Linnaeus wrote, be overlooked for the water birds and fish as part of the scenic background. This field guide “The first step in wisdom is to know the things will change readers’ perception, unconscious themselves; this notion consists in having a true or otherwise, with a convenient and accurate idea of the objects; objects are distinguished and description of exactly which wetland plants are known by classifying them methodically and giving right before your eyes. them appropriate names. Therefore, classification and name-giving will be the foundation of our For almost three decades as a wetland ecologist, science” (Linnaeus 1735). I have carried an array of field guides and keys with me on my visits to wetlands and rivers This book provides a foundation and it around Australia. From fish to frogs and birds encourages others to observe and monitor and insects, I have always been comforted that part of Australia’s rich wetland flora. I have no nothing will go unnamed or be misunderstood doubt that it will lead to better natural resource while I have