Robyn Beckett
This article is written to describe the natural regeneration of more than 80 species on a 2 ha site over three years.
The site is located between 100 and 300 metres north of the South Pine River at Draper in the Pine Rivers Shire, approximately 20 km north-west of Brisbane CBD. Most of the land has a southerly aspect. It has one gully going through it and another short gully linking into the first. Over most of the site the original soil is intact. There is a group of mature Hoop Pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) around the gully and a few trees on fence lines and isolated paddock trees.
The land was grazed by beef cattle before the developer subdivided it, put in culverts and cut and filled across the gully near the entrance. For a year or so the land was regularly mown to look like rolling parkland.
Approximately 20% of the land had indigenous trees/shrubs when we took possession in late 1994. We didn't get the land slashed, but we had earthworks done for a house and driveway and eventually a dam. We also had a horse grazing some of the land for about a year.
As slashing and grazing stopped, other species suckered or regenerated from seed. Seedlings grew under the remnant shade trees, either dropped by the parent tree and by visiting birds.
A huge setback after a year of our new regime was coming home one evening to find nearly an acre of regenerating Silky Oaks (Grevillea robusta) had been slashed! This area is also known as "The Golden Valley" after the indigenous Silky Oaks, and these young trees were the progeny of a tree cut down to make room for our house. They, along with several Hickory Wattles (Acacia aulacocarpa) and a Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi) were about half a metre tall. We traced the tractor driver, who appeared to think that even if he had strayed off the land of those who were paying him, he would be doing someone a favour. He apologised, but I often see him next door demolishing any brave little tree or shrub.
Acacia aulacocarpa (Hickory Wattle) is the most numerous regeneration tree. Growing quickly, and close together, it forms a windbreak and provides some shade for other plants. I have heard that this species can live for 60 to 100 years. On this site, after three years, the tallest is about 5 metres. It is said by many in the area that these wattles, along with the similar looking Acacia melanoxylon, prevent natural regeneration, but I have many plants growing under their protection. It varies, and there is usually bare soil in a ring around the large trees under the edge of the canopy. I have killed some in the house garden, which is primarily for growing food. The fruit trees and grass nearby have flourished, and I think this is the release of nitrogen from the root nodules when the wattles die.
The fastest growing regenerating species is Acacia irrorata. Germination has been triggered in most cases after earthworks. The tallest is about 6 metres.
Lantana and other weeds have proliferated after slashing stopped. After clearing some, I realised that the small rainforest seedlings needed the protection of the Lantana; so in most places it was kept and gradually cut back or killed in situ to keep a little protection for wildlife as well as small plants.
I did plant several trees around the fencelines for privacy and near the house originally, but the thickets of fast growing Acacia aulacocarpa have provided privacy as quickly as planted Eucalypts. Near the house the tallest and bushiest trees are naturally regenerated Acacia irrorata, growing with planted trees.
| To simplify, I will list the regenerating plants and indicate with symbols further details. | ||
| F | = | Regenerated under cover of Jagera pseudorhus (Foambark) |
| H | = | Regenerated under Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop Pine) |
| W | = | Regenerated under Acacia aulacocarpa (Hickory Wattle) |
| E | = | Regenerated after earthworks |
| L | = | Regenerated under Lantana |
| S | = | Regenerated in open paddock from seed |
| Su | = | Re-sprouted from suckers |
| (w) | = | Regenerated from wind-blown seed |
| (b) | = | Regenerated from bird-spread seed. |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | COMMON NAME | DETAILS |
| Acacia aulacocarpa | Hickory Wattle | Su |
| Acacia complanata | Flat-stem Wattle | S |
| Acacia irrorata | Fern-leaf Wattle | E |
| Acacia maidenii | Maiden's Wattle | |
| Acacia melanoxylon | Blackwood | |
| Adiantum hispidulum | Rough Maidenhair | H |
| Alchornea ilicifolia | Native Holly | Su F |
| Alphitonia excelsa | Red Ash | Su S |
| Alyxia ruscifolia | Chain Fruit | Su |
| Aristida queenslandica v. disimilis | A grass | S |
| Arundinella nepalensis | A grass | S |
| Arytera foveolata | Pitted Coogera | F |
| Arytera distylis | Twin-leaf Coogera | F |
| Arytera divaricata | Rose Tamarind | (b) |
| Araucaria cunninghamii | Hoop Pine | F E H L |
| Bothriochloa decipiens | Pitted Blue Grass | S |
| Breynia oblongifolia | Coffee Bush | S (b) F |
| Canthium coprosmoides | Coast Canthium | H |
| Capparis arborea | Native pomegranate | |
| Cayratia clematidea | Slender Grape | H |
| Centella asiatica | Gotu | S H W |
| Coelospermum paniculatum | Coelospermum | |
| Cheilanthes sieberi | Mulga Fern | |
| Chenopodium pumilo | Saltbush | |
| Cissus antarctica | Kangaroo Vine | H |
| Cissus opaca | Small-leaf Water Vine | S |
| Clerodendrum tomentosum | Hairy Lolly Bush | F H |
| Commelina cyanea | Scurvy Weed | |
| Commersonia bartramia | Brown Kurrajong | E |
| Convolvulus erubescens | Australian Bindweed | S |
| Cupaniopsis parvifolia | Small-leaf Tuckeroo | W H F (b) |
| Cheilanthes species | Ferns | |
| Cymbopogon refractus | Barbwire Grass | S |
| Dianella caerulea | Blue Flax Lily | |
| Dianella species | Flax Lilies | |
| Denhamia celastroides | Orange Boxwood | Su |
| Diploglottis cunninghamii | Native Tamarind | H |
| Doodia aspera | Prickly Rasp Fern | H |
| Doodia caudata | Small Rasp Fern | |
| Dodonaea triquetra | Hop Bush | S |
| Dioscorea transversa | Native Yam | H |
| Embelia australiana | Embelia | |
| Einadia species | Saltbush | F H |
| Emilia sonchifolia | Little Emily | |
| Entolasia species | A grass | S |
| Eustrephus latifolius | Wombat Berry | S |
| Ficus coronata | Creek Sandpaper Fig | H L (b) |
| Flindersia australis | Crows Ash | S (w) |
| Geitonoplesium cymosum | Scrambling Lily | S F |
| Glochidion ferdinandi | Cheese Tree | |
| Glycine clandestina | Twining Glycine | F E W |
| Glycine tomentella | Woolly glycine | S |
| Grevillea robusta | Silky Oak | S |
| Guioa semiglauca | Wild Quince | S L |
| Hibbertia dentata | Toothed Guinea Flower | F |
| Hibiscus heterophyllus | Native Rosella | E |
| Hovea acutifolia | Pointed-leaf Hovea | E S |
| Hydrocotyle species | Pennywort | |
| Hydrocotyle species | Pennywort | |
| Hypericum gramineum | Small St. John's Wort | |
| Imperata cylindrica | Blady Grass | S |
| Indigofera australis | Australian Indigo | E |
| Jagera pseudorhus | Foambark | F L (b) W S H |
| Kennedia rubicunda | Dusky Coral Pea | S E |
| Lomandra species | Mat rush | |
| Leucopogon juniperinum | Prickly Beard Heath | |
| Lobelia purpurascens | White Root | |
| Lophostemon confertus | Brush Box | |
| Lophostemon suaveolens | Swamp Box | S Su |
| Macaranga tanarius | Macaranga | S |
| Malaisia scandens | Burny vine | H |
| Mallotus philippensis | Red Kamala | |
| Microlaena stipoides | Rice Meadowgrass | S |
| Melia azedarach | White Cedar | (b) |
| Ottochloa gracillima | Shade Grass | F H |
| Oplismenus aemulus | Creeping Beard Grass | |
| Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. imbecillus | ||
| Oxalis corniculata | ||
| Pandorea pandorana | Wonga Vine | F H (w) S W |
| Parsonsia straminea | Monkey Rope | F (w) W |
| Persoonia cornifolia | Geebung | S |
| Pilidiostigma rhytispermum | Small-leaf Plum Myrtle | |
| Pimelea species | Rice Flower | |
| Pittosporum revolutum | Brisbane Laurel | S (b) |
| Platycerium superbum | Staghorn | |
| Plectranthus graveolens | Native Coleus | F H |
| Portulaca oleracea | Purslane | |
| Pseuderanthemum variabile | Love Flower | W H F |
| Pyrrosia sp. | ||
| Rapanea variabilis | Muttonwood | H |
| Rhodamnia rubescens | Brown Malletwood | H (b) |
| Rubus rosifolius | Native Raspberry | (b) |
| Rumex brownii | Swamp dock | |
| Seringia arborescens | Seringia | E |
| Sigesbeckia orientalis | Indian Weed | H |
| Smilax australis | False Sarsaparilla | S |
| Stephania japonica | Tape Vine | F H |
| Tabernaemontana pandacaqui | Banana Bush | Su |
| Themeda triandra | Kangaroo Grass | S |
| Trema tomentosa | Poison Peach | S (b) |
| Wahlenbergia gracilis | Bluebells | S |
| Wikstroemia indica | Bootlace Bark | S |
| Zieria minutiflora | Twiggy Zieria | |
| Zieria smithii | Sandfly Zieria | S |
Top |Home | You & SGAP | Getting Involved with SGAP | SGAP Qld Region | SGAP Publications
Local Branches | Study Groups | Study Group List | Queensland Nurseries | Special Articles