In 2012 the Flora and Fauna Committee of the ACT determined a list of plant species that are rare in the ACT. About a dozen of these currently occur on Red Hill and are listed below.
A survey was designed to locate where these plants occur on Red Hill and in what numbers.
The intention is to repeat the vegetation survey which was undertaken in 2001 and 2003 for the Lowland Woodland Conservation Stratey Action Plan No 27, which will ensure that there will be a measure of change between 2001 and 2012.
The 2001 woodland survey divided Red Hill into 34 units or polygons, with each polygon being an area of similar condition vegetation. Woodland surveyors then walked around each polygon and recorded all the plants they saw within the polygon and the relative abundance of each plant species according to the following measures:
- R = 1-3 plants only within polygon
- + = 4- 15 plants in polygon in a few locations
- 1 = numerous/scattered plants within polygon
The results of the 2001 survey are displayed on this spreadsheet.
The rare plants which were surveyed include:
- Burchardia umbellata (Milkmaids)
- Calotis lappulacea (Yellow burr daisy)
- Cheilanthes distans (Bristly cloak fern)
- Desmodium brachypodum (Large tick trefoil)
- Dianella longifolia (Blue berry lily)
- Einadia hastata (Berry saltbush)
- Gonocarpus elatus
- Indigofera adesmiifolia (Tick indigo)
- Lotus australis (Australian trefoil)
- Microseris lanceolata (Yam daisy)
- Plantago gaudichaudii (Narrow plantain)
- Rutidosis leptorhynchoides (Button wrinklewort)
- Senecio hispidulus (Hill fireweed)
- Swainsona monticola (Swainson Pea)
- Swainsona sericea (Silky Swainson-pea)
The 2012-13 survey will build on this and record the number of plants of a rare species within a polygon according to the following classifications
- <3
- 4- 15
- 16-100
- 100-1000
- >1000
In addition, the condition of vegetation will be mapped according to the following categories
- Partially modified lowland woodland – High diversity and cover of native species (80% + native cover 30 + species), including disturbance sensitive species *
- Moderately modified lowland woodland – Moderate diversity and cover of native species (50%+ native cover 20+ species), including disturbance tolerant species* (but none or very few sensitive species
- Substantially modified lowland woodland – Low to very low diversity of native species (mostly disturbance tolerant native grass, usually with a high cover 20-50% of exotic weeds.
The results of the 2012-13 survey can be downloaded here (PDF 1.8Mb).