The vegetation of the south-eastern Riverina, New South Wales. I. The climax communities

Abstract

The results of an ecological survey of the south-eastern Riverina are presented. The general features of the environment (climate, geology, physio- graphy, and soils) are described.

Twenty-three plant associations are recognized and described and these are grouped into seven alliances and two formations. The distribution of the alliances is shown on the vegetation map of the region.

The relationships between the vegetation and environmental factors are discussed. There is little correlation between the vegetation and geological formations. The distribution of the communities does not appear to be closely related to climatic factors, chiefly owing to the over-riding effects of soil and topography.

Evidence is presented to show that the grasslands in the Narrandera, Urana, Jerilderie area are disclimax corninunities developed from the Acacia pendub-Atriplex nummularia Alliance.

The life-form spectra of each alliance and of the whole region are given and briefly discussed. There is a preponderance of henlicryptophytes and therophytes except in the Eucalyptus dealbata-E. sideroxylon Alliance which is strongly nanophanerophytic.

The appendix gives a species list for each alliance, together with notes on the occurrence of species rarely found in the region.