Stonehaven, Fyansford and Western Basalt Plains indigenous plants

This information sheet details the indigenous plants found in Stonehaven, Fyansford and the Western Basalt Plains.

Zone 11 Consists of fertile clay to clay loam soils with basalt rock usually present. It includes hills, plains and stony rises that are mostly poorly drained. The average rainfall is 45 - 60 centimetres.

The Stonehaven, Fyansford and Western Basalt Plains would have been low open woodland consisting mainly of Drooping Sheoke, Swamp Gum and Blackwood while the Western Plains were predominantly grassland.

Stands of denser vegetation would have been found along rivers, creeks and drainage lines. Here River Red Gum, Silver Wattle, River Bottlebrush and Tea-tree species would be found.

On the drier slopes Cherry Ballart, Sweet Bursaria and Sheoke species would be found growing amongst Berry Saltbush, Silver Banksia and Wattle species. Species once found in the area but are now no longer present include the Golden Spray.

Tree species
Common name Botanical name Size
(height by width in metres)
1 2 3 4
Lightwood Acacia implexa 5-15 4-7 Y Y - -
Black Wattle Acacia mearnsii 8-25 6-10 Y Y - X
Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon 5-30 4-15 Y Y Y Y
Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha 3-10 2-5 Y Y - -
Drooping Sheoke Allocasuarina verticillata 4-11 3-6 Y - - -
Black Sheoke Allocasuarina littoralis 4-8 2-5 X - - -
River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis 15-35 15-35 - - Y Y
Yellow Gum Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp connata 10-20 6-20 - YR - -
Swamp Gum Eucalyptus ovata 8-30 8-20 - YO Y Y
Manna Gum Eucalyptus viminalis 10-20 8-15 YL - - YA
Yarra Gum Eucalyptus yarraensis 1-20 5-10 - - X -
Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cupressiformis 3-8 3-5 Y Y - -
Shrub species
Silver Wattle Acacia dealbata 6-30 5-10 - - - Y
Hedge Wattle Acacia paradoxa 2-4 2-5 Y Y - -
Prickly Moses Acacia verticillata 2-6 3-5 - - - X
Silver Banksia Banksia marginata 1-10 1-5 Y Y - -
Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa var macrophylla 2-6 2-3 Y Y Y Y
River Bottlebrush Callistemon sieberi 3-10 2-10 - - - Y
Grey Parrot-pea Dillwynia cinerascens 0.6-1.5 0.5-1.5 - Y - -
Pale-fruit Ballart Exocarpos strictus 1-2.5 1-3 - - - Y
Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata 1-2.5 1-3 - - - Y
Hemp-Bush Gynatrix pulchella 2-4 1.5-3 - - - Y
Shrub Violet Hymenanthera dentata 2-4 1-2.5 - Y Y Y
Woolly Tea-tree Leptospermum lanigerum 2-6 1-3 - - Y Y
River Tea-tree Leptospermum obovatum 2-4 1.5-2 - - Y Y
Tangled Ligum Muehlenbeckia florulenta 1-2.5 1-2 - - Y Y
Common Boobialla Myoporum insulare (plains form) 1-6 3 - X - -
Shrub Everlasting Ozothamnus ferrugineus 2-6 1-3 - - - Y
Kangaroo Apple Solanum laciniatum 1-3 1-3 Y Y - YU
Golden Spray Viminaria juncea 2.5-5 2 - - X X
Groundcover and tussock species
Berry Saltbush Atriplex semibaccata 0.3 1-3 Y Y - -
Common Everlasting Chrysocephalum apiculatum 0.3 1-2 - Y - Y
Small-leaf Eutaxia Eutaxia microphylla 0.5 1.5 - Y - -
Tussock Grass Poa labillardieri 0.8 0.8 - - Y Y
Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra 0.3 0.3 Y - - -
A - alluvial deposits
L - lighter soils
R - in higher rainfall areas
O - in higher rainfall areas only
U - uncommon
X - species once occurred in this area
Y - species is present in areas of remnant vegetation

1=Volcanic cones and drier slopes; 2=Plains (prone to seasonal waterlogging); 3=Low-lying areas and depressions; 4=Drainage lines


Further Contacts


Acknowledgements: David Perry DSE and Mark Trengove

This information sheet is also available in PDF format.





Page last updated: Wednesday, 16 August 2023

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