Mallee and Mallee-Broombush dominated woodland and shrubland, lacking Triodia, in the NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Mallee and Mallee-Broombush dominated woodland and shrubland, lacking Triodia, in the NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered Ecological Community

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 24 Sep 2010

Profile last updated: 22 May 2024

Description

Mallee and Mallee-Broombush dominated woodland and shrubland, lacking Triodia, in the NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion varies in structure from tall mallee woodland with an open to mid-dense shrub layer and ground cover (sparseness perhaps an artifact of grazing history), to open or very dense mallee shrubland, with or without Broombush (Melaleuca uncinata). Three variants have been described (Benson 2008) as distinct communities, based largely on canopy composition and their tendency to occur on somewhat different landforms. These are 'ID 355: Bull Mallee-White Mallee tall mallee woodland on red sandy loam soils in the central western slopes of NSW'; 'ID 177: Blue Mallee-Bull Mallee-Green Mallee very tall mallee shrubland of the West Wyalong region, NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion', and 'ID 178: Broombush-Green Mallee-Blue Mallee very tall shrubland on stony rises in the NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion'. Benson noted however that these units do intergrade. The floristic composition of shrub layer and ground cover varies widely within, and overlaps between, the variants and the variability in the density and floristic composition of the shrub and ground layers may be partly a consequence of grazing history.

This community typically has a canopy layer co-dominated by the mallee eucalypts Eucalyptus behriana (Bull Mallee) and E. dumosa (White Mallee), with either (on flat land) E. socialis (Red Mallee), or (on low rises) E. polybractea (Blue Mallee) and E. viridis (Green Mallee). More rarely, on higher rocky rises, the dominant species may be E. polybractea and either E. viridis or E. dwyeri (Dwyer's Red Gum), with a tall shrub layer of Melaleuca uncinata. Additional conspicuous tree species may include Casuarina cristata (Belah), Callitris glaucophylla (White Cypress Pine), and C. endlicheri (Black Cypress Pine). The shrub layer may vary strongly from site to site but typically includes Acacia species such as A. hakeoides (Hakea Wattle), A. havilandiorum (Havilands Wattle), A. rhigiophylla (Dagger-leaf Wattle), A. rigens (Nealie), A. tetragonophylla (Dead Finish) and A. homalophylla (Yarran); Eremophila species such as E. deserti (Turkeybush), E. longifolia (Berrigan, Emu Bush) and E. sturtii (Narrow-leaf Emu-bush, Turpentine Bush); Melaleuca uncinata; Alectryon oleifolius subsp. canescens (Western Rosewood); Dodonaea viscosa subsp. cuneata (Wedge-leaf Hopbush); and Myoporum montanum (Western Boobialla). Ground cover is variable but includes daisies, small chenopods, Sida corrugata, Cheilanthes spp. (Rock Ferns) and a variety of other forb and grass species.

Distribution

Mallee and Mallee-Broombush dominated woodland and shrubland, lacking Triodia, in the NSW South Western Slopes has a very highly restricted distribution, with known occurrences falling with a region of less than 4000 km² bounded by Lake Cowal - Temora - Ardlethan - Ungarie. It is estimated that the total area remaining is around 2300 hectares within the local government areas of Bland and Temora. Most remaining areas are on private property or within roadside easements, though small areas are known from the following Natures Reserves: Buddigower, The Charcoal Tank, portions of South West Woodland (former Blue Mallee Flora Reserve and State Forest and Wyalong State Forest) and possibly Big Bush.

Habitat and ecology

The variant of the community dominated by Bull Mallee and White Mallee tends to occur on plains to the east and north of West Wyalong on red earths including the aeolian soil known as parna.
The variant dominated by Blue Mallee - Bull Mallee - Green Mallee tends to occur on low hills and rises in sandy loam soils over substrates including gravel ferricrete (ironstone) and mixed sedimentary, metamorphic and granitic substrates
The third variant, Broombush - Green Mallee - Blue Mallee, occurs in loamy sands on rocky rises of sandstone and other sedimentary rock types, mainly to the south west of West Wyalong.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

NSW South Western Slopes

Threats

Historic and current degradation and fragmentation of remnants for agriculture and road and easement works.
Inappropriate fire regimes, with factors such as frequency, intensity and seasonality potentially having negative impacts on this community.
Deterioration of genetic health and loss of ecosystem function due to small patch size.
Weed invasion.
Over-harvesting for eucalyptus oil production and cut broombush (Broombush - Green Mallee - Blue Mallee variant).
Rubbish dumping, firewood collection.
Grazing and browsing by domestic stock.
Grazing and browsing by native and feral herbivores.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Map the distribution of this community and from this mapping prioritise sites for ongoing management and monitoring.
Reduce agricultural grazing pressures through the adoption of suitable grazing regimes, including exclusion, which allow for regeneration.
Control feral rabbit and goat populations to reduce erosion and grazing pressure.
Identify roadside remnants and protect during roadworks and roadside management activities.
Increase connectivity between remnant vegetation patches were possible to reduce the ecological impact associated with environmental fragmentation.
Rehabilitate the understorey of remnants via weed control.
Involve stakeholders in the management of remnants, and distribute information about this EEC to the community.
Ensure that the fire sensitivity of the community is considered when planning hazard reduction and asset management burning.
Protect sites from inappropriate burning.

Information sources

Benson, J.S. (2008) New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Part 2 Plant communities in the NSW South-western Slopes Bioregion and update of NSW Western Plains plant communities. Version 2 of the NSWVCA database. Cunninghamia 10(4): 599-673.