Wetland Plants Trees Shrubs Sedges and Rushes Grasses of the Central Riverina Region, New South Wales This brochure has been prepared to aid in the identification of a selection of plants found in wetlands in the Central Riverina Region of NSW (see map at back). The photos may assist in identifying some of the more common wetland plant species. Both common and scientific names have been provided. Photos show plants in flower and colours may vary depending on location. Photos are not to scale. Why are wetlands important? Wetlands play a key role in the landscape of Australia; they are our natural water regulators and filters. They catch floodwaters and slow them down, filtering out excess nutrients and heavy metals. Wetlands support diverse and dynamic plant and animal populations, which enhance the surrounding environment. Many wetlands dry out periodically. This process creates a Plants Wetland broad range of habitats, which change over the cycles of flooding and drying. River Red Gum Spiny Mud Grass Common Swamp Wallaby-grass Healthy wetlands also contribute to agricultural production and are socially Bark (JR), Leaves (SH), Nuts (DC) Pseudoraphis spinescens Amphibromus nervosus important for education, research, recreation and tourism. Eucalyptus camaldulensis NC DC The vegetation in a wetland depends on several factors, including: • Wetland shape and how it was formed (i.e., geomorphology) • Water source and the pattern of flooding and drying (i.e., hydrology) • Water depth Lignum Giant Sedge Rush Sedge • Water quality Duma florulenta Cyperus exaltatus Carex tereticaulis MDFRC DC • Salinity JR DC Wetland plants provide the basic food for a wide range of wildlife. Each type of wetland plant provides different habitat for native animals. The more plant species, the more diverse the range of habitats for wildlife. of the Central Riverina, New South Wales How can you help? The two most common threats to wetlands in the Central Riverina are over-grazing and altered water regimes. The following steps can be taken to manage these threats, improve your wetland’s health and help conserve wetland plants: Black Box Water Couch Bark (JT), Leaves/Flowers (JR), Buds (DC) Paspalum distichum • Control stock access, including using fencing to provide a good buffer Eucalyptus largiflorens JR DC zone (e.g., 30 metres) • Sustainably graze areas to allow plants to grow and regenerate • Control rabbits and other pests • Develop a water management plan for your wetland • Contact Murray LLS to talk about managing and enhancing native wetland vegetation For further information contact: Murray Local Land Services www.murray.lls.gov.nsw.au Albury (02) 6051 2200, Deniliquin (03) 5880 1400 Nitre Goosefoot Common Spike-rush Tall Spike-rush Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group Ltd. Chenopodium nitrariaceum Eleocharis acuta Eleocharis sphacelata www.murraydarlingwetlands.com.au, [email protected] DC DC JR Atlas of Living Australia www.ala.org.au WetlandCare Australia www.wetlandcare.com.au/index.php Wetland Plants The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre www.mdfrc.org.au Grey Box Cane Grass NSW Office of Water www.water.nsw.gov.au Bark (SH), Leaves (SH), Nuts (DC) Eragrostis australasica NSW Office of Environmental and Heritage www.environment.nsw.gov.au of the Central Riverina Region, Eucalyptus microcarpa JR Acknowledgements: Photographs supplied by: DC Damien Cook & Elaine Bayes (Rakali Ecological Consulting), JR Jane Roberts, SW Skye Wassens, SH Scott Hartvigsen, NC New South Wales Natasha Childs, NL Natasha Lappin, SR Shanna Rogers, SD Simon Dallinger, NB Nicky Bruce, EM Emma Millewa, JT John Tann (Encyclopedia of Life An Identification Guide Images – Flickr Group), MDFRC (The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre), DW David Woods. The initials of the photographer are listed below each image. Cover photograph: Drumsticks (Pycnosorus globosus) by Simon Dallinger Published by MLLS and MDWWG © Copyright of content owned by MLLS and MDWWG, 2017 The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing August 2017. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that the information upon which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of Local Land Yellow Box Native Liquorice Narrow-leaved Cumbungi Common Reed Southern Cane-grass Services or the user’s independent adviser. Bark (SH), Leaves (SH), Buds (DC) Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa Typha domingensis Phragmites australis Eragrostis infecunda Eucalyptus melliodora SR DC JR DC DC PRINTING & DESIGN BY ACADEMY GRAPHICS © Groundcover and Herbs Groundcover and Herbs Groundcover and Herbs Aquatic Five broad types of wetland plant communities Blue Devil River Bluebell Water Plantain Common Sneezeweed River Buttercup Water Ribbons Common Nardoo Eryngium ovinum Wahlenbergia fluminalis Alisma plantago-aquatica Centipeda cunninghamii Ranunculus inundatus Triglochin procera Marsilea drummondii SR NB JR DC DC SW DC DC Fairy Aprons Yam Daisy Creeping Knotweed Common Cotula Swamp Buttercup Floating Pondweed Red Pondweed Utricularia dichotoma Microseris lanceolata Persicaria prostrata Cotula australis Ranunculus undosus Potamogeton tricarinatus Potamogeton cheesemanii DC DC DC SD DC NC DC Fringing woodlands surrounding the wetland, Fringing usually occur on slightly higher ground than the Woodlands reeds, rushes and sedges (e.g., River Red Gum or Black Box trees) Fringing reeds are rushes and/or sedges around Fringing Reeds the edge of the wetland Emergent plants grow up through the water and Emergent Plants stand above the water surface when full (e.g., rushes and sedges) Submergent plants are rooted to the bottom of Submergent Plants the wetland and may have floating leaves (e.g., Wavy Marshwort Water Primrose Broughton Pea Drumsticks Upright Water-milfoil Common Water-milfoil water ribbons and water lilies) Nymphoides crenata Ludwigia peploides Swainsona procumbens Pycnosorus globosus Myriophyllum crispatum Myriophyllum papillosum Open water throughout the wetland without DC DC DC DC NL EM DC DC MDFRC plants standing above the water surface when Open Water full, but sometimes free-floating plants or submerged plants may be present References Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group Ltd. 2013, Wetlands Watch: A Field Guide for Monitoring Wetlands in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, 3rd ed., Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group Ltd., East Albury, NSW. Sainty, G.R. and Jacobs S.W.L. 2003, Waterplants in Australia, 4th ed., Sainty and Associates Pty Ltd, Potts Point, NSW. Wetlands in the NSW Central Riverina Region Nias, D. 2002, ‘Managing Wetlands’, Native Vegetation Guide for the Riverina - notes for land managers on its management and revegetation, Kent et al. (eds.), Johnstone Centre, Charles Sturt University, NSW, 2002. Swamp Starwort Small White Sunray Smooth Darling Pea Early Nancy Pa c i fi c A zo l l a Common Duckweed Stellaria angustifolia Rhodanthe corymbiflora Swainsona galegifolia Wurmbea dioica A z o l l a fi l i c u l o i d e s Lemna disperma DC SD DC DC DW DC.