Below is a brief background to indigenous flora as noted by myself at Kakeraboite Creek (Melway reference 101J11) and at Tangenong Creek (Melway reference 101K10). The latter is Baden Powell Bushland Reserve, South Frankston and the former, is my own home & that of my son, 3 & 4 Kakeraboite Court, Mt. Eliza.
At these sites, I deal with 3 plant communities: Grassy Woodland, Gully Woodland and Swamp Scrub. Some of the more iconic plant species are as follows:
Grassy Woodland
Rich in grasses, orchids and lilies.
| Trees | |
|---|---|
| Eucalyptus pryoriana (predominant) | Eucalyptus radiata |
| Exocarpos cupressiformis | Allocasuarina littoralis |
| Acacia mearnsii | Acacia melanoxylon |
| Shrubs | |
| Bursaria spinosa | Leptospermum continentale |
| Hibbertia riparia | Correa reflexa |
| Platylobium obtusangulum | Acacia verticillata |
| Goodenia ovata | Ozothamnus ferrugineus |
| Dillwynia cinerascens | |
| Ground Covers | |
| Gonocarpus tetragynus | Goodenia ovata |
| Ozothamnus ferrugineus | Dillwynia cinerascens |
| Lomandra filiformis | Lomandra longifolia |
| Acrotriche serrulata | Gahnia radula |
| Tricoryne elatior | Xanthorrhoea minor |
| Lepidosperma laterale var. laterale | Lepidosperma gunnii |
| Dichondra repens | Arthropodium strictum |
| Viola hederacea | Acaena novae-zelandiae |
| Dianella revolute | Dianella longifolia |
| Wahlenbergia spp. | Carex breviculmis |
| Senecio spp. | Kennedia prostrate |
| Grasses | |
| Themeda triandra | Microleana stipoides |
| Poa morrisii | Deyeuxia quadriseta |
| Austrostipa pubinodis | Austrostipa Mollis |
| Ferns | |
| Pteridium esculentum | Adiantum aethiopicum |
| Climbers, parasites | |
| Billardiera scandens | Comesperma volubile |
| Clematis aristata microphylla | Glycine clandestina |
Gully Woodland
Distinguished by dominance of ground layer and ferns (in this area, predominantly Weeping Grass & Maidenhair Fern)
| Trees | |
|---|---|
| As for Grassy Woodland | |
| Shrubs | |
| Goodenia ovata | Cassinia aculeate |
| Leptospermum continentale | Bursaria spinosa |
| Ozothamnus ferrugineus | Correa reflexa |
| Hibbertia riparia | |
| Ground Covers | |
| Gahnia radula | Gonocarpus tetragynis |
| Senecio spp. | Dicondra repens |
| Lepidosperma laterale | Arthropodium strictum |
| Lomandra filiformis | Lomandra longifolia |
| Tricoryne elatior | Dianella longifolia |
Swamp Scrub (riparian)
Distinguished by dominance by Swamp Paperbark, Melaleuca ericifolia
| Trees | |
|---|---|
| Eucalyptus pryoriana | Exocarpos cupressiformis |
| Shrubs | |
| Melaleuca ericifolia | Acocia verticillata |
| Leptospermum continentale | Ozothamnus ferrugineus |
| Solanum laciniatum | Ground Covers |
| Lepidosperma laterale var. majus | Acaena novae-zelandiae |
| Dicordra repens | Gonocarpus tetragynus |
| Juncus pallidus | Viola hederacea |
| Carex breviculmis | Carex appressa |
| Drosera whittakeri | Epilobium billardierianum |
| Lobelia anceps | Lomandra longifolia |
| Mazus pumilio | |
| Grasses | |
| Microleana stipoides | Poa morrissii |
| Ferns | |
| Pteridium esculentum | Climbers |
| Comesperma volubile | |
I believe I have seen nearly all these plants on Kackeraboite Creek and would be very confident that they are all present. However, there will be additional indigenous plants at Kackeraboite Creek (different geology). Also, it must be noted that I have never been off the established pathways.
I would like to make one comment about the Kackeraboite Creek area (Erang Drive/Mann Road Reserve). Unlike the areas where I work, there are highly significant quantities of Exocarpos cupressiformis (Cherry ballarts) in this reserve. In particular, there are striking quantities at the Council burn site. This plant cannot be propagated and, because it has a symbiotic relationship with the vegetation around it, is often destroyed by poisoning and/or the removal of, or even change to, the vegetation in its general vicinity. From my perspective, this makes the reserve highly significant!
Ann Scholes