ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Planning and organising is over... it's time to get your hands dirty

Illustration by Nola Mathews, Bossiaea cinerea

EVC notes

We have 30 recognised EVCs in our network area, including 5 mosaics and 1 complex. Many are closely related and often show a continuum from one to the other. EVC classifications are an attempt to best describe the major structural and species differences between each EVC. They are not perfect and few remnants are in pristine condition so it can be difficult to determine which EVC you are looking at, especially when your site occurs in the boundary area between EVCs or in an EVC mosaic (a mixture of 2 EVC's).

We have not included revegetation lists for all the EVCs for a number of reasons:

1. We are blessed in this region to have large tracts of preserved remnant vegetation. This is primarily in the form of reserves, State and National Parks, including the Ramsar Listed Corner Inlet and Nooramunga Marine Parks. These areas include many of the coastal EVCs which can be quite difficult to revegetate due to the influence of near coastal conditions, ie it’s salty. Seed for the species growing in these areas is often difficult to obtain and germinate. Expert advice should be sought for these areas.
2. Grassland EVCs have traditionally been used for primary production (because they grow grass) and are therefore unlikely to be revegetated. This has led to little knowledge being obtained regarding native grasses and their establishment and management. As the importance of native grasslands is being recognised, we look forward to learning more. The biggest threat to these areas appears to be a lack of fire. Grasslands require fire every 3-5 years to maintain their vigour. Removing fire allows a woody understory to develop with species such as acacias and kunzea. Eventually this will alter the composition of the EVC. We do not recommend you reintroduce fire without first consulting with your local DEPI Biodiversity Officer and local CFA.
3. Where an EVC is listed as a mosaic we have not always included this list, rather consult the lists for the individual EVCs and find the common species and additions. These mosaics often exist due to variations in soil type and elevations in the landscape, such as sandy rises and clay bottomed depressions, occurring right next to each other. It can be impractical from a mapping point of view to consider them as separate EVCs. Swamp scrub usually occurs in the wetter depressions. Heathland, woodland and grassland usually occur on the drier rises. Plant species from each list in the appropriate conditions.


Species notes

Species identification is often difficult as some of their characteristics can alter between different locations due to soil conditions and other environmental factors. Some trees have very similar bark, structure and foliage with only minor leaf shape variations or flower/fruit differentiating them. This can be made more complex by plant hybridising.

• Eucalypts can be rather promiscuous and so it is not uncommon to find hybrids. These can be very difficult to properly identify as they carry traits from both parents. If you are collecting seed, these may not be the best tree to collect from, especially if it is a lone specimen. It is unlikely the seed will be viable anyway. If there is a large population of these hybrids, identify them as best you can and take detailed notes on their location. The general rule is to only use this seed in the very near vicinity to prevent contamination of other locations.
• Speciation is a process whereby one species can become two or more. It is a long process of evolution through adaptation to differing conditions. During this process we may recognise that some plants are different enough to be considered sub species. A prime example is Eucalyptus viminalis. In our region we recognise the subspecies viminalis (Manna Gum) and pryoriana (Coast Manna Gum). There is a continuum of occurrence of these subspecies from the hills where viminalis dominates to the coast where pryoriana dominates. In the foothills, both can occur.
  Other examples although recognised as distinct species:-
  Eucalyptus radiata  (drier hills) and Eucalyptus croajingolensis (coastal).
  Eucalyptus angophoroides (eastern end of network) and Eucalyptus bridgesiana (western end)
  Eucalyptus globulus agg. This describes the group of globulus species which readily hybridise and frequently cause some confusion. All three subspecies (globulus, pseudoglobulus and bicostata) can be found in our region. Some natural, some planted. A good field guide can be useful here.

In addition to planting from tubestock or direct seeding many plants can also be reproduced from cuttings.

• Plants usually grown from cuttings:
  Bursaria spinosa.....................................Sweet Bursaria
  Dichondra repens..................................Kidney Weed
  Epacris impressa...................................Common Heath
  Myoporum insulare...............................Boobialla
  Viola hederaceae sensu Willis(1972).....Ivy-leaf Violet
• Acacias and pea plants (family Fabaceae) are nitrogen fixers so always try to include some in your plantings to provide nitrogen for the other species.

There are now an estimated 20,000 vascular and 7700 non-vascular plants, and 250,000 species of fungi in Australia.