In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand
We will understand only what we are taught - Baba Dioum
We will understand only what we are taught - Baba Dioum
Mornington Peninsula VROTS/AROTS
(acronyms for listed vulnerable, rare or threatened species in Victoria or at the federal level)
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Download rare flora and fauna species lists at the bottom of the page
Go to this page to see Australian and Victorian Rare or Threatened Species status codes
Go to this page to see Australian and Victorian Rare or Threatened Species status codes
The following plates are from a presentation to the Nepean Conservation Group by ecologist Gidja Walker
They show only a selection of the threatened species or threatened vegetation communities on the Mornington Peninsula
They show only a selection of the threatened species or threatened vegetation communities on the Mornington Peninsula
Under current IUCN Red Book threat categories and criteria (1994), the Frankston Spider-orchid is Critically Endangered.
Under the Federal EPBC Act, it is listed as Endangered.
The Frankston Spider-orchid is now confined to a small area on the Southern Mornington Peninsula, where much of its habitat and probably many populations have been lost, mainly to urban development (including the population at Frankston from which the species was first described). Only a single wild population, comprising fewer than 50 plants, is currently known
Under the Federal EPBC Act, it is listed as Endangered.
The Frankston Spider-orchid is now confined to a small area on the Southern Mornington Peninsula, where much of its habitat and probably many populations have been lost, mainly to urban development (including the population at Frankston from which the species was first described). Only a single wild population, comprising fewer than 50 plants, is currently known
A rare yellow form of the nationally and state vulnerable (Vv) Leafy Greenhood Orchid - Pterostylis cucullata
This form is only known from a single square metre, "somewhere" on the Nepean Peninsula
This form is only known from a single square metre, "somewhere" on the Nepean Peninsula
Found in several locations on the peninsula e.g. Main Ridge, Merricks North and Dromana
On the verge of extinction? The Purple Eyebright is now known only from the Mornington Peninsula, where in 1991 there were 8 known sites and only one other Victorian location. Of these only one plant, at one site (pictured above) has been seen recently (2010)..... This is a perennial, semi-parasitic herb or sub-shrub, which grows to about 50 cm tall. The flowering stems, which die back annually, branch near ground level. Classed as both nationally and state endangered (Ee)
This plant was presumed extinct in Victoria until a small population was recently re-found at Cape Schanck by SPIFFA's own Gidja Walker. This plant is an important aboriginal cultural resource
Seed was been collected and propagated and enrichment planting and direct seeding, under DSE permits, have taken place at Cape Schanck
Seed was been collected and propagated and enrichment planting and direct seeding, under DSE permits, have taken place at Cape Schanck
Eucalyptus aff. cypellocarpa (Mornington Peninsula) Classed as both nationally and state endangered (Ee)
This tree is found in only one location, a gully in Mt Martha and there are under 500 individuals of various ages
The Peninsula's own Wollemi Pine, it's thought to be related to the Mountain Grey Gum, the closest of which are in the Dandenong Ranges and should have a species name of it's own in due taxonomic course, probably E. caroliniana
This tree is found in only one location, a gully in Mt Martha and there are under 500 individuals of various ages
The Peninsula's own Wollemi Pine, it's thought to be related to the Mountain Grey Gum, the closest of which are in the Dandenong Ranges and should have a species name of it's own in due taxonomic course, probably E. caroliniana
Coastal Dune Grassland, EVC 879, occupies fore-dune areas on both ocean and bay coasts and is usually dominated by Hairy Spinifex. Much of this vegetation, indeed much of the shape of the dunes, has been altered by the weedy Marram and other introduced grasses. More here...
This Ecological Vegetation Class, number 309, had previously only been thought to occur on the isthmus of Wilson's Promontory. However, work by Gidja Walker and Steve Sinclair have established that some of the alkaline sands of the southern peninsula (which was thought to consist almost exclusively of EVC 858 Coastal Alkaline Scrub with the FFG listed subset community, Coastal Moonah Woodland on the higher elevations) featured such grasslands in the lower lying frost hollows such as swales and the "cups" land system with many different grasses such as the red tinged Blady Grass, Kangaroo Grass, Wallaby Grass and Poa tussocks (foreground in the left and at the rear of the right hand photograph) with the occasional Coast Banksia, Drooping Sheoak, Wirilda wattle and Sweet Bursaria
Plains Grassland, EVC 132, endangered in the state, is almost extinct on the Mornington Peninsula
The photograph above shows a house block in Dromana Parade, Dromana, on the black cracking clays of the lower Kangerong valley. This is probably the last and largest intact remnant left. This land is now up for sale and no doubt will be completely covered in units soon. SPIFFA has had no luck in persuading either local or state government to protect this remnant. Business as usual... The insets show character species, Prickfoot and Lemon Beautyheads
The photograph above shows a house block in Dromana Parade, Dromana, on the black cracking clays of the lower Kangerong valley. This is probably the last and largest intact remnant left. This land is now up for sale and no doubt will be completely covered in units soon. SPIFFA has had no luck in persuading either local or state government to protect this remnant. Business as usual... The insets show character species, Prickfoot and Lemon Beautyheads
Snow Gum Grassy Woodland is a type of Grassy Woodland, EVC 175. It was once common over the Moorooduc Plains and also occurs in areas as diverse as Mt Donna Buang and Mooroolbark. Grassy woodland (and grassland) across the whole country have been severely depleted, due to it's suitability for grazing animals
Similarly, Manna Gum Grassy Woodland was once widespread across the northern peninsula, Dominated by Coastal Manna Gum, Eucalyptus prioriana
A feature of the southern Port Phillip Coast, Coast Banksia Woodland, EVC 2, is subject to great pressure from foreshore users and, in some cases, management practices. For more, see this...
Pre-1750 distribution: Widespread along watercourses of the Mornington Peninsula. Present distribution: Scattered and rare. Classed as endangered in the bio-region, Swamp Scrub on the Mornington Peninsula is dominated by Swamp Paperbark and/or Woolly Tea-tree. Clonal research has shown that there can be as few as between 3 and 7 individual plants per hectare of swamp scrub thicket
Morels
Morchella esculentum
An edible, indeed, gourmet fungus, known as the True Morel
This fungi has only been recorded at a few Victorian locations, twice on the peninsula recently. It's one of the hundred target species of the Fungimap project
It's been suggested that it's food value has contributed to it's rare status
Care must be taken to distinguish it from the deadly-poisonous 'false morel', Gyromitra esculenta.
EVCs and bio-regional conservation status explained.pdf | |
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threatened flora and its status in Port Phillip & Westernport.pdf | |
File Size: | 154 kb |
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FFG Act threatened list 2010 | |
File Size: | 233 kb |
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list of rare or threatened plants in victoria.pdf | |
File Size: | 1088 kb |
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Read an SMH article on the issues involved in the prioritisation of threatened species management here...