Threatened Grassy Vegetation Communities of the Goulburn Broken Region

Community Fact Sheets

These fact sheets attempts to address the following questions regarding the vegetation communities:

What is it?
Where is it?
Why is it important?
How can I protect and manage it?

Grey Box and Buloke Grassy Woodlands

Grey Box and Buloke Grassy Woodlands are open woodlands of the Riverina and Murray Darling Depression Bioregions. They are typically found on well drained soils, in areas with < 600 mm p.a. of rainfall and are rarely flooded for long periods.

The canopy typically consists of Grey Box (dominant species) and Buloke, however other trees such as White Box and White-Cypress Pine may occur. The typical density of Buloke in the Goulburn Broken is 1-2 mature trees per hectare. Buloke may not always be present particularly at the patch scale, but will occur in the neighbourhood.

The understorey is open and grassy, typically consisting of native grasses and herbs such as lillies, daisies and saltbushes (chenopods). Shrubs are sparse and typically include Wattles, Sweet Bursaria and Cassinia

Northern Plains Grasslands

Northern Plains Grassland is a distinct type of vegetation, which is naturally treeless. If trees or large shrubs are present, then it is rare. They are a complex community, consisting of native grasses, herbs and groundcovers. The community is floristically very rich and may contain up to 30 native plant species per 100 m² (Foreman P 1996).

Northern Plains Grasslands are distinct from other grasslands such as the Western Basalt Plains Grasslands, in that they typically contain saltbush species, including members of the Maireana and Einadia genus. This suggests close links with the vegetation communities of the semi-arid and arid interior of Australia.

‘Derived’ grasslands are areas of former woodland vegetation, which have been cleared. While these areas may be important because they provide grassland habitat they are not natural grasslands according to the strict legislative definitions.

Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands

Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands (BGGW) is an open woodland which once occurred on the inland slopes of Australia from Victoria through to Queensland. It is considered endangered throughout its range. Many threatened flora and fauna species have a close association with this community.

This ecological community can occur as either a woodland or derived grassland (trees removed). The dominant tree is, or was, one or a combination of White Box Yellow Box and Blakely’s Red Gum. Shrubs if present are generally scattered.

Native herbaceous species dominate the ground cover. Grasses that commonly occur in this community include; Kangaroo Grass, Tussock Grasses, Wallaby Grasses and Spear Grasses.