EVC descriptions

Descriptions of Ecological Vegetation Classes from VicRFASC (1999).

31-01 Central Highlands Cool Temperate Rainforest

Central Highlands Cool Temperate Rainforest is only found in the highest rainfall areas of Wet Forest associated with the most topographically protected sites in the Strzeleckis and Wilsons Promontory. There are also isolated occurences in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range including the headwaters of Freestone Creek and Mount Useful Creek. It typically occupies protected south and south-easterly aspects and gullies of these sheltered streams. On some southern slopes that remain long-unburnt, the community can extend upslope beyond its usual gully refuge, even to minor saddles.

The climate is cool temperate with snowfalls a common event over most winters in the higher altitudes. Elevation varies from 500-1200m above sea level and average annual rainfall is 1000-1200 mm. Parent geologies range from granites, granodiorites and acid volcanics to marine sediments. The soils are formed through colluvial or alluvial processes and may be quite stony and are often red-brown, deep, well-structured krasnozems with an A horizon that is rich in humus (Peel 1999).

Central Highlands Cool Temperate Rainforest is characterised by a low diversity of trees, grasses, sedges, herbs and climbers and a high diversity of shrubs and ferns. The canopy is typically dominated by moss-covered Myrtle Beech Nothofagus cunninghamii and Southern Sassafras Atherosperma moschatum but localised adjoining areas can also be dominated by Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon. Scattered emergent Mountain Ash Eucalyptus regnans which is widespread in the surrounding Wet Forest may also be present.

The fern-dominated understorey is typically open in structure and may include stands of old-growth Soft Tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica with trunks covered with a characteristically high cover and diversity of delicate epiphytic filmy-ferns. These plants are only one cell thick and are extremely sensitive to drought stress. Species such as Austral Filmy Fern Hymenophyllum australe, Narrow Filmy Fern H. rarum and Shiny Filmy Fern H. flabellatum are good indicator species for the group whilst Common Filmy fern H. cupressiforme is also frequently present but less faithful to the group. Rough Tree-fern Cyathea australis often occurs upslope from watercourses, whilst the rare Slender Tree-fern Cyathea cunninghamii and Skirted Tree-fern Cyathea x marcescens are good indicator species for this group occurring closer to the gully floor and being more reliant on moisture.

A number of other epiphytic ferns are present on tree trunks such as Kangaroo Fern Microsorum pustulatum, Weeping Spleenwort Asplenium flaccidum, and Common Finger-fern Grammitis billardieri whilst the climber, Fieldia Fieldia australis, is also frequently present. Rare epiphytic primitive fern allies are sometimes present such as Long Fork-fern, Tmesipteris obliqua. The groundlayer includes a number of “wet fern” species such as Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum as well as Leathery Shield-fern Rumohra adiantiformis and a diversity of Blechnum species including Hard Water-fern B.wattsii, Lance water-fern B.chambersii, Strap Water-fern B pattersonii and Ray Water-fern B fluviatile.

EVC 32 Warm Temperate Rainforest

Warm Temperate Rainforest occurs in the foothills to 700m above sea level, with moderate to high rainfall ranging from 800-1200mm. It occurs on stream flats, drainage lines and gullies. Parent geologies are predominantly marine sandstones or alluviums, with occasional granites and limestones (Peel 1999). Eucalypts do not form a dominant overstorey, with only the occasional emergents present. Rather, other species of tall trees form the canopy, with a ground layer dominated by ferns.

There are five floristic communities of Warm Temperate Rainforest in the study area: Alluvial Terraces Warm Temperate Rainforest, East Gippsland Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest, East Gippsland Foothills Warm Temperate Rainforest, Strzeleckis Warm Temperate Rainforest and Wilsons Promontory Overlap Warm Temperate Rainforest.

Floristic Community:

32-07 Strzeleckis Warm Temperate Rainforest

Strzeleckis Warm Temperate Rainforest is entirely restricted to the lowland valleys of the Strzelecki Ranges in South Gippsland. It is found at elevations between 80 and 240m above see level where it grows on the slopes adjacent to streams and along minor gullies in the vicinity of Damp Forest and Wet Forest. Soils are deep grey to dark greyish-brown friable clay loams derived from Cretaceous feldspathic mudstones and arkose sandstones (Peel 1999).

Structurally, these rainforest stands are low in stature and simple in floristic composition. The overstorey is dominated by Mountain Grey Gum Eucalyptus cypellocarpa, Gippsland Blue Gum E. globulus ssp. pseudoglobulus, Messmate E. obliqua and Yellow Stringybark E. muelleriana. Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon is a common emergent as many sites have been cleared and/or logged in the past. Other more common secondary species include Austral Mulberry Hedycarya angustifolia and Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera which often act as canopy trees. In less disturbed sites, Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum and Muttonwood Rapanea howittiana are well represented as the primary canopy species (Peel 1999).

The canopy is covered with lianes including Forest Clematis Clematis glycinoides, Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana, and to a lesser extent Twining Silkpod Parsonsia brownii. The understorey is characteristically open with only one shrub species, Prickly Currant-bush Coprosma quadrifida ever dominant. Other species recorded from gaps in the community include Musk Daisy-bush Olearia argophylla, Snowy Daisy Bush O. lirata, Elderberry Panax Polyscias sambucifolia, Victorian Christmas Bush Prostanthera lasianthos, Forest Nightshade Solanum prinophyllum, Kangaroo Apple S. aviculare and Scrub Nettle Urtica incisa.

The ground cover is dominated by herbs where more light penetrates through the canopy, or it is sparse and litter-dominated in the shadier areas. Common herbs include Shade Plantain Plantago debilis, Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides, Forest Starwort Stellaria flaccida, Forest Hound’s-tongue Austrocynoglossum latifolium and Yellow Wood-sorrel Oxalis corniculata spp. agg. Other species present are the ferns Necklace Fern Asplenium flabellifolium (indicative of the drier understorey conditions), Sickle Fern Pellaea falcata, Tender Brake Pteris tremula, Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum, Tall Sword-sedge Lepidosperma elatius and Tussock-grass Poa spp.

EVC 30 Wet Forest

Wet Forest is predominantly a tall forest characterised by a layer of broad-leaf shrubs over a dense cover of tree-ferns and ground ferns. It occurs on relatively fertile soils such as deep organic loams and clay loams in the topographically protected high rainfall areas and headwaters of south flowing streams on the south side of the Great Dividing Range in the Avon Wilderness, around Mt Baldhead, Mt Elizabeth and on the southern fall of the Nuniong Plateau. It is also widespread in South and West Gippsland, particularly in the Strzelecki Ranges and at Wilsons Promontory.

This EVC includes a very wide range of structural variation ranging from tall old-growth forest up to 60m in height through to regrowth forest and scrub which has the potential to support tall forest. It also includes treeless areas dominated by wet scrub and even “oldfields” which were once cleared but are now dominated by native vegetation. These areas are typically dominated by broad-leaved shrubs such as Snow Daisy-bush Olearia lirata, Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera, and Three-nerved Cassinia Cassinia trinerva. The native fireweed, Fireweed Groundsel Senecio linearifolius is often present

Wet Forest is dominated by Mountain Ash Eucalyptus regnans but may be dominated locally by Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon or Silver Wattle A. dealbata. A range of other eucalypt species can be present but these tend to be on the periphery of extensive areas dominated by Mountain Ash E. regnans. These include Manna Gum E. viminalis (often occurring along major river flats and on associated slopes), Strzelecki Gum Eucalyptus strzeleckii, Gippsland Blue Gum E. globulus ssp. pseudoglobulus, Messmate E. obliqua, and Mountain Grey Gum E. cypellocarpa which occurs on the edges of Wet Forest stronghold areas immediately before Damp Forest becomes more developed. Tree-ferns are sometimes present, particularly Rough Tree-fern Cyathea australis on the slopes and Soft Tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica along the creek lines as well as some of the “wet-ferns” such as Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum and Hard Water-fern Blechnum wattsii.

Common understorey species are the broad-leaved shrubs such as Snow Daisy-bush Olearia lirata, Musk Daisy-bush O. argophylla, Blanket Leaf Bedfordia arborescens, Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera, Cassinia spp., Tree Lomatia Lomatia fraseri and Austral Mulberry Hedycarya angustifolia. The prickly shrub, Prickly Currant-bush Coprosma quadrifida, and the vines Mountain Clematis Clematis aristata and Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana are also often present. Other shrubs sometimes include Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum, Tree Lomatia Lomatia fraseri and Victorian Christmas-bush Prostanthera lasianthos. At the drier end of this group the understorey becomes very low in stature (less than 2m) and broad-leaved species other than Snow Daisy-bush Olearia lirata are notably absent. This variant tends to occur on the most exposed, drier northerly aspects.

Wet Forest develops extensively around the localised areas of Cool Temperate Rainforest in the study area. At the dry end of its range it changes to Damp Forest and Shrubby Foothill Forest, which tends to first appear on the drier, steeper aspects associated with Wet Forest in the more protected sites.

Areas of old-growth Wet Forest are very localised in the study area. Large patches were observed immediately west of Traralgon Creek Road in the most topographically protected sites.

There are two floristic communities of Wet Forest: Gippsland 1 Wet Forest and Gippsland 2 Wet Forest.

Floristic Community:

30-01 Gippsland 1 Wet Forest

Gippsland 1 Wet Forest occurs across the study area along creeks and on south-facing slopes and gullies. It grows on a variety of geologies, which combine with high rainfall and moist loamy organic soils to provide a fertile environment for tall trees, broad-leaf shrubs and ferns. Average rainfall is high ranging from 700–1200mm, with high effective rainfall on protected southerly slopes. It grows at a range of altitudes from 500-1100m above sea level.

The overstorey may carry a range of eucalypts including Messmate Stringybark Eucalyptus obliqua, Gippsland Peppermint Eucalyptus croajingolensis, Narrow-leaf Peppermint E. radiata in the west of the study area and E. croajingolensis to the east of the study area. Manna Gum Eucalyptus viminalis and E. obliqua may co-dominante in some areas, such as the Nunniong Plateau and the Mount Baldhead areas.

Silver Wattle Acacia dealbata is the ubiquitous understorey tree in this EVC. A diversity of tall broad-leaved shrubs are prominent and often form a complete cover, although this may be broken by an equally dense layer of tree ferns. The most common tall shrubs include Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera, Blanket Leaf Bedfordia arborescens, Musk Daisy-bush Olearia argophylla, and Rough Coprosma Coprosma hirtella. Common Cassinia Cassinia aculeata, Prickly Currant-bush Coprosma quadrifida, Elderberry Panax Polyscias sambucifolia, Snow Daisy-bush Olearia lirata and Dusty Daisy-bush O. phlogopappa form a shorter layer beneath the taller shrub layer.

Tree ferns are often present with Soft Tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica at the wettest sites and Rough Tree-fern Cyathea australis at lower elevations and on slightly drier sites. Ground ferns include Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum, Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum and Fishbone Water-fern Blechnum nudum.

The ground layer is equally rich in species, dominated by large moisture-loving herbs, and graminoids such as the large tussocks of Tasman Flax-lily Dianella tasmanica, Tussock-grasses Poa spp. and Tall-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia. The diverse array of smaller forbs include Ivy-leaf Violet Viola hederacea, Soft Cranesbill Geranium potentilloides, Bidgee Widgee Acaena novae-zelandiae, Hairy Pennywort Hydrocotyle hirta and Common Lagenifera Lagenifera stipitata. Forbs indicative of Wet Forest include Mountain Cotula Leptinella filicula, Scrub Nettle Urtica incisa and Forest Starwort Stellaria flaccida.

The only climber common in this floristic community is Mountain Clematis Clematis aristata.

Floristic Community:

30-06 Gippsland 2 Wet Forest

Gippsland 2 Wet Forest grows in similar environments to Gippsland 1 Wet Forest. Rainfall is very high, ranging from 950–1350mm per annum and effective rainfall extremely high. It ranges in elevation from 700 to 1160m above sea level, thus reaching montane environments.

Gippsland 2 Wet Forest is the wettest of the eucalypt-dominated vegetation types. At higher elevations Alpine Ash Eucalyptus delegatensis dominates the overstorey whislt at lower elevations Mountain Ash E. regnans dominates wetter sites and Manna Gum Eucalyptus viminalis and species of the narrow-leaved peppermint group are prominent (for example, Narrow-leaved Peppermint Eucalyptus radiata s.s., Monaro Peppermint Eucalyptus radiata ssp. robertsonii and Gippsland Peppermint Eucalyptus croajingolensis). The understorey tree layer is well developed with Silver Wattle Acacia dealbata and Blackwood A. melanoxylon dominating.

The shrub layer is usually very dense and may form an almost impenetrable thicket, especially after disturbance. It is most often dominated by Soft Tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica and a mixture of large mesic shrubs including Banyalla Pittosporum bicolor, Mountain Tea-tree Leptospermum grandifolium, Blanket-leaf Bedfordia arborescens, Victorian Christmas Bush Prostanthera lasianthos, Mountain Pepper Tasmannia lanceolata, Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera and Musk Daisy-bush Olearia argophylla. Several smaller shrubs are also common including Common Cassinia Cassinia aculeata, Elderberry Panax Polyscias sambucifolia, White Elderberry Sambucus gaudichaudiana and Dusty Daisy-bush Olearia phlogopappa..

The ground layer is also very dense and is dominated by ferns. Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum, Fishbone Water-fern Blechnum nudum, Hard Water-fern B. wattsii, Ray Water-fern B. fluviatile and Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum commonly form a complete cover.

Common herbs and graminoids including Tussock-grasses Poa spp, Scrub Nettle Urtica incisa, Shade Nettle Australina pusilla and Bidgee Widgee Acaena novae-zelandiae may reach high densities in open patches, often created by local disturbance, or where the substrate is rocky. Other herbs and graminoids include Tall Sedge Carex appressa, Tasman Flax-lily Dianella tasmanica, Small-leaf Bramble Rubus parvifolius, Hairy Pennywort Hydrocotyle hirta, Ivy-leaf Violet Viola hederacea, Mountain Cotula Leptinella filicula, Forest Mint Mentha laxiflora and Forest Starwort Stellaria flaccida. Forest Wire-grass Tetrarrhena juncea is also common.

Mountain Clematis Clematis aristata is the only commonly occurring climber.

EVC 29 Damp Forest

Damp Forest is widespread in Gippsland in moderately fertile areas between Wet Forest, the drier end of Shrubby Foothill Forest and the driest forest types such as Lowland Forest, Herb-rich Foothill Forest, and Heathy Woodland. It develops on the drier sites in Wet Forest or on the margins of Warm Temperate Rainforest. It also occurs on protected slopes associated with Tussocky Herb-rich Foothill Forest, Lowland Forest or even Heathy Woodland, provided topographic protection is sufficient.

In the lowlands and dissected country below 700m Damp Forest favours gullies or eastern and southern slopes. Above this elevation and in higher rainfall zones the effect of cloud cover at ground level and the subsequent fog drip permits this class to expand out of the gullies onto broad ridges and northern and western aspects. It occurs on a wide range of geologies and soils are usually colluvial, deep and well-structured with moderate to high levels of humus in the upper soil horizons (Woodgate et al. 1994). Rainfall is approximately 800-1600 mm per annum and elevation ranges from sea level in South Gippsland to up to 1000m in the montane areas where it merges into Montane Damp Forest.

The dominant eucalypts are commonly Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua and Mountain Grey Gum E. cypellocarpa. A range of other species may be present as well such as Yellow Stringybark E.muelleriana (in South Gippsland with Sticky Wattle Acacia howittii present in the understorey), Silvertop E.sieberi, Gippsland Blue Gum E .globulus ssp. pseudoglobulus, Narrow-leaf Peppermint E.radiata, Gippsland Peppermint E. croajingolensis, Brown Stringybark E. baxteri and Swamp Gum E. ovata in the vicinity of poorer drainage. Trees of Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon and Silver Wattle Acacia dealbata are often present.

The understorey typically includes moisture-dependent fern species such as Common Ground-fern Calochlaena dubia, Gristle Fern Blechnum cartilagineum, Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum and Rough Tree-fern Cyathea australis, and the presence of broad-leaved species typical of wet forest mixed with elements from dry forest types such as Lowland Forest.

Broad-leaved species include Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera, Victorian Christmas-bush Prostanthera lasianthos, Snow Daisy-bush Olearia lirata, Cassinia spp, Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata, Elderberry Panax Polyscias sambucifolia and White Elderberry Sambucus gaudichaudiana. Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum is often present in South Gippsland. The wet forest shrub, Prickly Currant-bush Coprosma quadrifida, and Fireweed Groundsel Senecio linearifolius are also common. Drier shrubby elements include Prickly Moses Acacia verticillata, Prickly Bush Pea Pultenaea juniperina, Narrow-leaf Wattle Acacia mucronata and Varnish Wattle Acacia verniciflua. Other species commonly present are Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum and Forest Wire-grass Tetrarrhena juncea, Broad-leaf Stinkweed Opercularia ovata, Tall Sword-sedge Lepidosperma elatius, Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana and Mountain Clematis Clematis aristata.

At the drier end of Damp Forest a number of species start to appear such as Narrow-leaf Peppermint Eucalyptus radiata, Narrow-leaf Wattle Acacia mucronata, Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cupressiformis, Grey Tussock-grass Poa sieberiana, Prickly Tea-tree Leptospermum continentale and Thatch Saw-sedge Gahnia radula. At Wilsons Promontory, the shrub Blue Olive-berry Elaeocarpus reticulatus is a common species which indicates its close affinities with Wilsons Promontory Overlap Warm Temperate Rainforest.

Riparian habitats in Damp Forest contain indicator species of Riparian Forest such as Soft Water-fern Blechnum minus, Fishbone Water-fern Blechnum nudum, Austral King-fern Todea barbara, Scrambling Coral-fern Gleichenia microphylla, Tall Saw-sedge Gahnia clarkei and Tall Sedge Carex appressa.

Floristic Community:

29-01 Vine-rich Damp Forest

Vine-rich Damp Forest is scattered throughout the study area in areas with high effective rainfall. Although usually associated with lower slopes and gullies ranging between 400-600m in altitude, in protected environments (such as south-facing slopes) it may ascend to elevations in excess of 700m above sea level. The average annual rainfall of 750 mm per annum is relatively low, however the protected nature of the environment and the fertile soils help retain moisture and hence support a suite of ferns and broad leaf shrubs.

Vine-rich Damp Forest forms a moderate to tall open forest. The overstorey trees most commonly include Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua and Mountain Grey Gum E. cypellocarpa, but Gippsland Peppermint E. croajingolensis may co-dominate, especially in valley floors. White Stringybark E. globoidea is also a common co-dominant on middle to upper slopes and in more exposed situations. Silver Wattle Acacia dealbata is a common understorey tree, occurring as a moderately tall, slender tree or large shrub.

Large mesic shrubs are common but smaller-leaved shrubs, tolerant of lower humidity are most prominent. Prickly Currant-bush Coprosma quadrifida, Shiny Cassinia Cassinia longifolia and Bootlace Bush Pimelea axiflora occur most frequently. Broad leaf shrubs are structurally less important and include Blanket-leaf Bedfordia arborescens, Snowy Daisy-bush Olearia lirata and Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera with the occasional Musk Daisy-bush Olearia argophylla.

Rough Tree-fern Cyathea australis, the only tree fern recorded in this EVC, is often scattered amongst the shrub layer. Beneath this, ground ferns are prominent in cover and include the strongly rhizomatous Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum and Common Ground-fern Calocholeana dubia. Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum may dominate some sites.

A diverse array of forbs and graminoids are present but this stratum is not structurally dominant. Tasman Flax-lily Dianella tasmanica, Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia, Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides, Sword Tussock-grass Poa ensiformis and Ivy-leaf Violet Viola hederacea are the most common.

Vines are particularly rich in this community of Damp Forest. Mountain Clematis Clematis aristata is most common with Common Apple-berry Billardiera scandens, Love Creeper Comesperma volubile, Austral Sarsaparilla Smilax australis, Wombat Berry Eustrephus latifolius and Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana often present. Climbers and scramblers are very prominent and the presence of Wombat Berry Eustrephus latifolia and Austral Sarsaparilla Smilax australis emphasises floristic links for Warm Temperate Rainforest.

EVC 16 Lowland Forest

Lowland Forest is a very widespread and floristically diverse dry forest vegetation type that is found across the lowland plains from East Gippsland to the western edge of the study area. It typically develops on Tertiary and Quaternary deposits of clay, sand and gravel of moderate fertility. The understorey varies from shrubby to heathy to sedgy and may even be grassy as fertility increases and the group merges into Gippsland Plains Grassy Woodland. With decreasing fertility the group merges into Heathy Woodland through to Sand Heathland.

It occurs mostly in the low rainfall areas but is also found in areas of intermediate rainfall where it occupies the dry aspects and dry crests where incident radiation is greatest. In these areas Damp Forest develops immediately downslope where sufficient topographic protection is available.

The core type is associated with clay soils but an outlier of sandy surface deposits also occurs.

To aid identification of this group a range of vegetation types need to be described, ranging from where the group floristically approaches Damp Forest (at the wettest end of the group) and Herb-rich Foothill Forest through to the driest forms. A number of other types also need to be described through a drainage gradient ranging from sites with impeded drainage (on the margins of Wetland, Sedge Wetland, Swamp Scrub and Clay Heathland) through to well-drained sites associated with a well-drained, sandy soil form which has affinities with Heathy Woodland.

There are five floristic communities of Lowland Forest: Strzeleckis Lowland Forest, Wilsons Promontory Lowland Forest, Depauperate Lowland Forest, Gippsland Plains Lowland Forest and Latrobe Valley Lowland Forest.

Floristic Community: 16-03 Strzeleckis Lowland Forest

This floristic community occurs on the Tertiary deposits in the Mirboo North area of the Strzeleckis.

Average annual rainfall is in the vicinity of 1000mm and elevation is 200-250m above sea level.

Strzeleckis Lowland Forest is commonly dominated by Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua and Mountain Grey Gum E. cypellocarpa, but a range of other eucalypts may dominate or be present. This includes Yellow Stringybark E.muelleriana, Silver-top E. sieberi, Narrow-leaf Peppermint E.radiata, Yertchuck E.consideniana and Swamp Gum E. ovata in poorer drained areas.

The understorey is typically dry in character and includes a range of shrubby wattle species such as Varnish Wattle Acacia verniciflua, Prickly Moses A. verticillata, Hop Wattle A. stricta and Narrow-leaf Wattle A.mucronata. Other shrubs often present are Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata, Snow Daisy Bush Olearia lirata, Cassinia sp., Bracken Pteridium esculentum, and the prickly-leaved shrubs such as Prickly Tea-tree Leptospermum continentale, Prickly Bush Pea Pultenaea juniperina and Common Heath Epacris impressa. Wire-grass Tetrarrhena juncea and tussocks of Tussock-grass Poa sp. are also present. Thatch Saw-sedge Gahnia radula, is also found and is sometimes locally dominant. Common groundcover species include Ivy-leaf violet Viola hederacea, Common Lagenifera Lagenifera stipitata, and Small St John’s Wort Hypericum gramineum.

Two species with a high fidelity but low overall frequency to the group are Hairpin Banksia Banksia spinulosa var. cunninghamii and Bushy Hakea Hakea decurrens (sensu Willis 1972).

EVC 45 Shrubby Foothill Forest

Shrubby Foothill Forest is restricted to moderate to high rainfall zones, receiving 700-1150 mm. Per annum. It occurs on ridges and on southern and eastern slopes in addition with Damp Forest or Wet Forest and is characterised by a distinctive overstorey, middle strata dominated by a diversity of narrow leafed shrubs and a paucity of ferns, gramminoids and herbs in the ground stratum.

Floristic community 45-04 Strzelecki Shrubby Foothill Forest

Strzelecki Shrubby Foothill forest is found mainly on the northern and western aspects of the higher slopes of the Strzelecki Ranges. It occurs in habitats at the drier ends of Damp Forest extending from Carrajung, on the eastern flank of the Strzeleckis to Loch in the West. Soils are fertile, well drained, grey-brown loams and clay loams of cretaceous origin. This EVC has been even more extensively cleared than Wet forest with some of the few remaining intact remnant patches being found at the Karl Hymann Reserve north east of leongatha and at Dickies Hill near Mirboo North. It is floristically and geographically closely associated with Herb-rich foothill Forests. Elevation ranges from 100 –500 metres above sea level and an annual average rainfall is 900-1100 mm.

The overstorey is dominated by Narrow-leaf Peppermint Eucalyptus radiata , Messmate E. Obliqua, Mountain Grey Gum E. Cypellocarpa, and to a lesser extent Silvertop E. Sieberi. A diverse shrubby understorey characterises this EVC with a limited range of herbs and grasses in the ground layer.

Characteristic shrubs include Narrow Leaf Wattle A. Mucronata, Dusty Miller Spridium Parvifoli7um, Prickly Currant Bush Coprosma Quadrifida, Hazel Pomaderris Pomaderris aspera, Snow Daisy Bush Olearia lirata, Shiny Cassinia Cassinia Longifolia, Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata, Hansome Flat Pea Platylobium Formosan, and Wiry Baueria Baueria rubiodes.

The ground layer is very species poor and helps distinguish this EVC from Herb-rich Foothill Forest. It includes Ivy Leaf Violet Viola hederacea, Forest Wire Grass Tetrarrrhena juncea, Austral Bracken Pteriduium esculentum, and Tall Sword-sedge Lepidosperma elatius.

EVC 23 Herb-rich Foothill Forest

Herb-rich Foothill Forest is not as common to the south as it is to the north of the Great Dividing Range. South of the Great Dividing Range it occurs on the inland margins of stream valleys closer to the Great Dividing Range and in rainshadow valleys of the Wonnangatta, Dargo and the upper reaches of the Tambo Rivers. Within the study area, climatically it occurs in continental locations in rainshadows of the mountain ranges running coastward, where water is taken out of the atmosphere, leaving the valleys drier, in effect, therefore, growing in similar climatic conditions to this EVC north of the Great Dividing Range where rainfall is low over summer.

Moderate to high soil fertility is reflected by the characteristically high diversity and cover of graminoid and herbaceous species in the ground layer of all floristic communities of this EVC. A small tree layer is nearly always present over a few scattered shrubs which form an open understorey.

There are five floristic communities of Herb-rich Foothill Forest: Silurian Limestone Herb-rich Foothill Forest, Splitters Range Herb-rich Foothill Forest, Northern Fall Herb-rich Foothill Forest, Strzeleckis Herb-rich Foothill Forest and Tussocky Herb-rich Foothill Forest.

Strzeleckis Herb-rich Foothill Forest is typically dominated by Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua, Mountain Grey Gum E. cypellocarpa and Narrow-leaf Peppermint E. radiata but may also include Yellow Stringybark E. muelleriana, Gippsland Blue Gum E. globulus ssp. pseudoglobulus, and even Silver-top E. sieberi in extreme cases.

The understorey includes the shrubs Varnish Wattle Acacia verniciflua, Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata, Prickly Currant-bush Coprosma quadrifida, Common Cassinia Cassinia aculeata, Snow Daisy-bush Olearia lirata, Tree Everlasting Ozothamnus ferrugineus and Common Raspwort Gonocarpus tetragynus. The climbers Mountain Clematis Clematis aristata and Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana are often present whilst the ubiquitous Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum is also frequent.

The herb-rich ground cover includes the grasses Common Tussock-grass Poa labillardieri, Short-hair Plume-grass Dichelachne micrantha, Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides, Forest Wire-grass Tetrarrhena juncea, Common Hedgehog-grass Echinopogon ovatus, Stiped Wallaby-grass Austrodanthonia racemosa var. racemosa and Reed Bent-grass Deyeuxia quadriseta. Common herbs are Ivy-leaf Violet Viola hederacea, Common Lagenifera Lagenifera stipitata, Hairy Speedwell Veronica calycina, Bidgee-widgee Acaena novae-zelandiae, Twining Glycine Glycine clandestina, Small St John’s Wort Hypericum gramineum, Small Poranthera Poranthera microphylla, and Yellow Wood-sorrel Oxalis corniculata spp. agg.

Strzeleckis Herb-rich Foothill Forest is on the drier side of Damp Forest and Tussocky Herb-rich Foothill Forest and eventually merges into Lowland Forest as soil fertility decreases. A number of drier species found in this community which are not found in the damper, adjacent EVCs include Thatch Saw-sedge Gahnia radula, Common Heath Epacris impressa, Wattle Mat-rush Lomandra filiformis, Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia and Hyacinth Orchid Dipodium punctatum.

The relatively dry nature of this EVC is reflected in the absence of ‘wet’ ground-ferns such as Common Ground-fern Calochloena dubia and Mother Shield-fern Polystichum proliferum. The group is also closely related, at the drier end, to the dry forest EVCs of South Gippsland Plains Grassy Forest and Lowland Forest.

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