Now, nine years further into the restoration process new species have emerged when favourable seasonal conditions have presented. The landcare group has also learnt more about inter-competition between native species, particularly when local indigenous species have been introduced to grassy woodlands, which may not have been present prior to .European settlement and the importance which geo-morphology features (aspect, drainage, slope and elevation) have on species dominance.
Emergent species: Bower spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma), Cut-leaf Goodenia (Goodenia pinnatifidi), Plains joyweed (Alternanthera sp.1), Small vanilla lily (Arthropodium minus), Sticky everlasting (Xerochrysum viscosum), Smooth Solenogyne (Solengyne dominii).
Indigenous Plants of Pinkerton Forest
Cut-leaf Goodenia (Goodenia pinnatifida)
https://www.pinkertonforest.com/images/stories/pinkertonforest/DSC_0452.JPG
Sticky Everlasting (Xerochrysum viscosum)
https://www.pinkertonforest.com/images/stories/pinkertonforest/DSC_0453.JPG
Basalt Daisies (Brachyschome basaltica)
https://www.pinkertonforest.com/images/stories/pinkertonforest/DSC_0489.JPG
Bower spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma)
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Many existing plants have flourished, the grasses and wildflowers occupying previous degraded patches, the spreading wildflowers are Small-leaved Clematis, Variable Glycine and Common New Holland Daisy.
It was disappointing to see the introduced Fragrant Saltbush spreading into large clumps and smothering the native grasses, also to see Golden Wattle seedlings appearing in their hundreds. Both environmental invaders are being incrementally removed. One possible explanation is that as Eynesbury Woodland is located on a relatively flat site with two drainage lines traversing it; this situation doesn’t appear to be favourable to native grass, but is favourable to Fragrant Saltbush and Golden Wattle. On the other hand Pinkerton Forest is located on the western flank of Mt. Cottrell, has a higher elevation and is drier than Eynesbury, and the slope drains towards the Werribee River, these combined factors appear to favour the native grasses and flowers in Pinkerton Forest.
Frances Overmars 15 March 2015