This EVC is usually treeless however may include sparse River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis or Swamp Gum Eucalyptus ovata. The shrub component is usually sparse. The characteristic ground cover is dominated by grasses, small shrubs and herbs. Recruitment is driven by periodic events such as flooding. The cover of organic litter within this EVC is ~20%.
Interesting Fact
The vegetation is typically species-rich on the outer verges but is usually species-poor in the wetter central areas.
White areas are Bare SoilView the virtual quadrat above, using the magnifying glass symbol to see more detail.
Estimate the percentage cover of each life form in the virtual quadrat, using the key and grid tool to assist. (Hint - Most of the life form percentages are multiples of 5%).
Enter the percentage cover of each life form as a whole number, e.g. 5 for 5%, in the table below.
Please note that for some quadrats the total percentage cover will be more than 100% when various life forms overlap one another.
For some quadrats the percentage of bare soil within the quadrat is noted.
When you have completed this task for all life forms, click the ‘Submit your answers’ button.
You may change your estimates and resubmit if you would like to try to improve your estimation skills.
NOTE
If an estimate is correct, the life form details will change to green.
If an estimate is almost correct (within 2%), the field will change to orange.
If an estimate is not within 2% of the correct value the field will change to red.
| Life form | Key | % cover | ||
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| Bryophytes/Lichens (BL) |
 A broad group of small, non-vascular terrestrial plants including bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) and lichens. These expand in height and width after rain, as they absorb moisture. They then dry out until rain falls again. Distinguished from soil crusts by the presence of a vertical structure. Example
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| Ground Fern (GF) |
A fern-like non-flowering plant, typically with several to many fronds growing from a common base, usually growing less than 1 m. The fronds are deeply divided into leaflets or segments. ExamplesCommon Maidenhair - Adiantum aethiopicum Necklace fern - Asplenium flabellifolium |
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| Immature Canopy Tree (IT) |
Woody plants (consisting of tree canopy species) greater than 5 m in height but less than 80% of the mature canopy height. ExamplesGrey Box - Eucalyptus microcarpa Manna Gum - Eucalyptus viminalis |
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| Large Herb (LH) |
More or less erect, non-woody plants with non-grassy leaves, greater than 50 cm tall Examples |
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| Large Non-Tufted Graminoid (LNG) |
A robust grass or sedge, with leaves arranged along single, erect flower stalks, which grow from rhizomes or stolons (creeping above or below ground stems), more than 1 m tall. Example |
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| Large Tufted Graminoid (LTG) |
A robust grass, sedge, rush or similar, usually with more than one flower stalk. Usually have large numbers of leaves growing from a common, often broad base or clump, more than 1 m tall. ExamplesKneed Spear-grass - Austrostipa bigeniculata Supple Spear-grass - Austrostipa mollis Yorkshire Fog - Holcus lanatus |
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| Medium Herb (MH) |
More or less erect, non-woody plants with non-grassy leaves, between 5 cm and 50 cm tall. ExamplesCat’s Ear - Hypochaeris radicata Sheep's Burr - Acaena echinata Small St John’s Wort - Hypericum gramineum |
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| Medium Shrub (MS) |
Woody plants between 1 m and 5 m in height. ExamplesAfrican Box-thorn - Lycium ferocissimum Golden Wattle - Acacia pycnantha Hedge Wattle - Acacia paradoxa |
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| Medium to Small Tufted Graminoid (MTG) |
A grass, sedge, rush or similar, usually with more than one flower stalk. Usually have large numbers of leaves growing from a common base or clump, between 10 cm and 1 m tall. ExamplesShort-crest Spear-grass - Austrostipa curticoma Large Quaking-grass - Briza maxima Lesser Quaking-grass - Briza minor |
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| Medium to Tiny Non-tufted Graminoid (MNG) |
A grass, sedge, rush or similar with leaves arranged along single, erect flower stalks, which grow from rhizomes or stolons (creeping above or below ground stems). Grows less than 1 m tall. Includes plants with a few grass-like leaves arising from a common base (e.g. some lilies and orchids). ExamplesWeeping Grass - Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides Capitate Rush - Juncus capitatus Rough Dog’s-tail - Cynosurus echinatus |
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| Prostrate Shrub (PS) |
Woody plants with stems and branches that often trail along the ground and do not exceed 20 cm in height. ExamplesCranberry Heath - Astroloma humifusum Creeping Bossiaea - Bossiaea prostrata |
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| Scrambler or Climber (SC) |
Woody or non-woody plants that rely upon other plants (dead or alive) or other structures (rocks or logs) for support, by leaning on or climbing up them. They can form dense colonies. ExamplesPink Bindweed - Convolvulus angustissimus Running Postman - Kennedia prostrata Twining Fringe Lily - Thysanotus patersonii |
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| Small or Prostrate Herb (SH) |
More or less erect, non-woody plants with non-grassy leaves, less than 5 cm in height. Many are ephemerals (i.e. germinate, reproduce and die within a few weeks). This group includes prostrate and carpet-forming herbs. ExamplesSmooth Solenogyne - Solenogyne dominii Pussy Tails - Ptilotus spathulatus Kidney-weed - Dichondra repens |
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| Small Shrub (SS) |
More or less erect, woody plants that are between 20 cm and 1 m in height. ExamplesCommon Rice-flower - Pimelea humilis Ruby Saltbush - Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa |
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| Soil Crust (S/C) |
A thin hard ‘crust-like’ layer formed on the soil surface by a combination of algae, crustose cryptogamic life forms (including crust forming lichens and mosses) and soil particles. Often there is no vertical structure. Example
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| Tiny Tufted Graminoid (TTG) |
A grass, sedge, rush or similar, usually with more than one flower stalk. Usually a number of leaves growing from a common base or clump, less than 10 cm in height. ExamplesShort Wallaby-grass - Rytidosperma carphoides |
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| Understorey Tree or Large Shrub (T) |
Woody plants greater than 5 m in height, with single stems. They never form part of the tree canopy. ExamplesDrooping Sheoak - Allocasuarina verticillata Blackwood - Acacia melanoxylon |
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