Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs of Eastern Queensland Oil and Gas Fields

Field Guide to Treesand Shrubs ofEastern QueenslandOil and Gas Fields

Santos

First Edition 2007

Text © Santos Ltd

Santos House

60 Flinders Street

Adelaide South Australia 5000

Photographs © Craig Eddie unless otherwise acknowledged

Text by: Craig Eddie (BOOBOOK Wildlife Consulting Roma Qld)

Coordination by: Tony Rutter and Steve Tunstill, Santos Ltd

Photographs by: Craig Eddie (BOOBOOK Wildlife Consulting) unless otherwise acknowledged

Design by: Santos Graphic Design

Printed by: Finsbury Green Printing

Front Cover: Brachychiton rupestris

Other Field Guides by Santos Ltd:Santos (2003) Field Guide to the Common Plants of the

Cooper Basin. South Australia and Queensland. Fourth Edition. Santos Ltd, Adelaide

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. USER GUIDE 32.1 Size and form 3

2.2 Scientific names 3

2.3 Habitat 3

2.4 Common habitats of the Eastern Queensland oil and gas field 4

2.5 How to identify a plant 6

2.6 Eastern Queensland oil and gas fileds 7

3. THREATENED HABITATS 123.1 Bluegrass Grassland 14

3.2 Brigalow Woodland 16

3.3 Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket 18

3.4 Artesian Springs 20

4. RARE AND THREATENED PLANTS 224.1 Thomby Range Wattle; Acacia wardellii 26

4.2 Sandstone Prickle-Bush; Apatophyllum teretifolium 28

4.3 Ooline; Cadellia pentastylis 30

4.4 Shiny-Leaved Ironbark; Eucalyptus virens 32

4.5 Sturt's Desert Rose; Gossypium sturtianum 34

4.6 Whorl-leaved Heath; Leucopogon grandiflorus 36

4.7 Carnarvon Fan Palm; Livistona nitida 38

4.8 Curly Zamia; Macrozamia fearnsidei 40

4.9 Grove’s Paperbark; Melaleuca groveana 42

5. COMMON TREES 445.1 Mulga; Acacia aneura 44

5.2 Miles Mulga; Acacia aprepta 46

5.3 Bendee; Acacia catenulata 48

5.4 Ironwood; Acacia excelsa 50

5.5 Brigalow; Acacia harpophylla 52

5.6 Slender-flowered Wattle; Acacia longispicata 54

5.7 Womal; Acacia maranoensis 56

5.8 Bowyakka; Acacia microsperma 58

5.9 Yarran; Acacia omalophylla 60

5.10 Nelia; Acacia oswaldii 62

5.11 Myall; Acacia pendula 64

5.12 Doolan; Acacia salicina 66

5.13 Lancewood; Acacia shirleyi 68

5.14 Currawong; Acacia sparsiflora 70

5.15 River Cooba; Acacia stenophylla 72

5.16 Boonaree; Alectryon oleifolius 74

5.17 Thready-bark She-oak; Allocasuarina inophloia 76

5.18 Bull Oak; Allocasuarina luehmannii 78

5.19 Forest She-oak; Allocasuarina torulosa 80

5.20 Red Ash; Alphitonia excelsa 82

5.21 Bitter Bark; Alstonia constricta 84

5.22 Rough-barked Apple; Angophora floribunda 86

5.23 Smooth-barked Apple; Angophora leiocarpa 88

5.24 Eastern Dead Finish; Archidendropsis basaltica 90

5.25 Whitewood; Atalaya hemiglauca 92

5.26 Broad-leaved Bottle Tree; Brachychiton australis 94

5.27 Kurrajong; Brachychiton populneus 96

5.28 Narrow-leaved Bottle Tree; Brachychiton rupestris 98

5.29 Prickly Pine; Bursaria incana 100

5.30 Weeping Bottlebrush; Callistemon viminalis 102

5.31 Black Cypress Pine; Callitris endlicheri 104

5.32 White Cypress Pine; Callitris glaucophylla 106

5.33 Wild Orange; Capparis canescens 108

5.34 Narrow-leaf Bumble Tree; Capparis loranthifolia 110

5.35 Bumble Tree; Capparis mitchellii 112

5.36 Leichhardt Bean; Cassia brewsteri 114

5.37 Belah; Casuarina cristata 116

5.38 River She-oak; Casuarina cunninghamiana 118

5.39 Limebush; Citrus glauca 120

5.40 Spotted and Lemon-scented Gum; Corymbia citriodora 122

5.41 Clarkson's Bloodwood; Corymbia clarksoniana 124

5.42 Dallachy’s Gum; Corymbia dallachyana 126

5.43 Red Bloodwood; Corymbia erythrophloia 128

5.44 Carbeen; Corymbia tessellaris 130

5.45 Brown Bloodwood; Corymbia trachyphloia 132

5.46 Large-fruited Yellow Jacket; Corymbia watsoniana 134

5.47 Bat's Wing Coral Tree; Erythrina vespertilio 136

5.48 Baker’s Mallee; Eucalyptus bakeri 138

5.49 River Red Gum; Eucalyptus camaldulensis 140

5.50 Dawson Gum; Eucalyptus cambageana 142

5.51 Baradine Red Gum; Eucalyptus chloroclada 144

5.52 Coolibah; Eucalyptus coolabah 146

5.53 Narrow-leaved Ironbark; Eucalyptus crebra 148

5.54 Gum-topped Ironbark; Eucalyptus decorticans 150

5.55 Queensland Peppermint; Eucalyptus exserta 152

5.56 Dusky-leaved Ironbark; Eucalyptus fibrosa nubila 154

5.57 Grey Gum; Eucalyptus major 156

5.58 Silver-leaved Ironbark; Eucalyptus melanophloia 158

5.59 Gum-topped Box; Eucalyptus microcarpa 160

5.60 Mountain Coolibah; Eucalyptus orgadophila 162

5.61 Poplar Box; Eucalyptus populnea 164

5.62 Narrow-leaved White Mahogany; Eucalyptus tenuipes 166

5.63 Queensland Blue Gum; Eucalyptus tereticornis 168

5.64 Mountain Yapunyah; Eucalyptus thozetiana 170

5.65 Native Cherry; Exocarpos cupressiformis 172

5.66 Sandpaper Fig; Ficus opposita 174

5.67 Crows Ash; Flindersia australis 176

5.68 Scrub Leopardwood; Flindersia dissosperma 178

5.69 Leopardwood; Flindersia maculosa 180

5.70 Wilga; Geijera parviflora 182

5.71 Beefwood; Grevillea striata 184

5.72 Corkwood Oak; Hakea lorea 186

5.73 Weeping Tea-tree; Leptospermum lamellatum 188

5.74 Budgeroo; Lysicarpus angustifolius 190

5.75 Red Bauhinia; Lysiphyllum carronii 192

5.76 Black Tea-tree; Melaleuca bracteata 194

5.77 Bush House Paperbark; Melaleuca tamariscina 196

5.78 Western Tea-tree; Melaleuca trichostachya 198

5.79 White Cedar; Melia azedarach 200

5.80 Emu Apple; Owenia acidula 202

5.81 Quinine Tree; Petalostigma pubescens 204

5.82 Cattle Bush; Pittosporum angustifolium 206

5.83 Myrtle Tree; Psydrax oleifolius 208

5.84 Sandalwood; Santalum lanceolatum 210

5.85 Yellow Wood; Terminalia oblongata 212

5.86 Vine Tree; Ventilago viminalis 214

5.87 Woody Pear; Xylomelum cunninghamianum 216

6. COMMON SHRUBS 2186.1 Bancroft's Wattle; Acacia bancroftiorum 218

6.2 Flat-stemmed Wattle; Acacia complanata 220

6.3 Crowded-leaf Wattle; Acacia conferta 222

6.4 Deane’s Wattle; Acacia deanei 224

6.5 Pretty Wattle; Acacia decora 226

6.6 Mimosa Bush; Acacia farnesiana 228

6.7 Rush-leaf Wattle; Acacia juncifolia 230

6.8 Early Flowering Black Wattle; Acacia leiocalyx 232

6.9 Zig Zag Wattle; Acacia macradenia 234

6.10 Queensland Silver Wattle; Acacia podalyriifolia 236

6.11 Glory Wattle; Acacia spectabilis 238

6.12 Gundabluey; Acacia victoriae 240

6.13 Broom Bush; Apophyllum anomalum 242

6.14 Hair Plant; Astrotricha cordata 244

6.15 Coffee Bush; Breynia oblongifolia 246

6.16 White Fringe Myrtle; Calytrix tetragona 248

6.17 Currant Bush; Carissa ovata 250

6.18 Wait-A-While; Capparis lasiantha 252

6.19 Cough Bush; Cassinia laevis 254

6.20 Lolly Bush; Clerodendrum floribundum 256

6.21 Silver Croton; Croton insularis 258

6.22 Sticky Hopbush; Dodonaea viscosa 260

6.23 Ellangowan Poison Bush; Eremophila deserti 262

6.24 Emu Bush; Eremophila longifolia 264

6.25 Spotted Fuchsia Bush; Eremophila maculata 266

6.26 False Sandalwood; Eremophila mitchellii 268

6.27 Red Spider Flower; Grevillea longistyla 270

6.28 Dysentery Bush; Grewia latifolia 272

6.29 Flame Hakea; Hakea purpurea 274

6.30 Purple Bush-pea; Hovea longipes 276

6.31 Dogwood; Jacksonia scoparia 278

6.32 Zamia; Macrozamia moorei 280

6.33 Yellow-berry Bush; Maytenus cunninghamii 282

6.34 Prickly-leaf Paperbark; Melaleuca nodosa 284

6.35 Boobialla; Myoporum montanum 286

6.36 Heath Everlasting; Ozothamnus diotophyllus 288

6.37 Butterfly Bush; Petalostylis labicheoides 290

6.38 Wallaby Apple; Pittosporum spinescens 292

6.39 Butter Bush; Senna artemisioides 294

6.40 Spring-pod Cassia; Senna circinnata 296

6.41 Bean Bush; Senna pleurocarpa 298

6.42 Forest Grass Tree; Xanthorrhoea johnsonii 300

7. FURTHER READING 302

8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 304

9. INDEX OF PLANTS BY COMMON NAME 305

10.INDEX OF PLANTS BY SCIENTIFIC NAME 311

Santos is committed to conducting all of its exploration and production activities in an

environmentally responsible manner. Our environmental vision is that “We will lighten

the footprint of our activities”.

This field guide has been produced for Santos employees and contractors to promote

more informed environmental management, and to foster an appreciation of the plants

and environment in which the Eastern Queensland oil and gas fields are situated.

The first steps in realising these aims are becoming familiar with the names (refer to

Eastern Queensland oil and gas fields map on page 2) and appearance of the most

common plants in the region, and understanding why it is important to avoid clearance

of certain species.

As oil and gas exploration and production activities increase, so does the likelihood that

significant species or sensitive habitats will be encountered. This guide has been

prepared to aid the identification of 129 of the most common trees and shrubs found in

the oil and gas fields of Eastern Queensland. In addition, profiles have been included for

a selection of rare and threatened plants (section 4) and endangered habitats (section 3).

By doing so, the profile of significant species and ecosystems will be raised, helping to

minimise potential impacts on significant species.

This is a companion guide to another Santos publication “Field guide to the common

plants of the Cooper Basin,” which covers a selection of plants in the southwest corner

of Queensland and the northeast corner of South Australia.

1

1.0

INTR

OD

UC

TIO

N

2

Santos acreage(as at June 2007)

Gas pipeline

Oil pipeline

East

ern

Que

ensla

nd

oil a

nd g

as fi

elds

The common plants described in this Feild Guide (sections 5 and 6) have been classified

according to: (a) size and form, (b) scientific name, and (c) habitat.

2.1 Size and formBased on size and form, the plants are divided into two groups: trees and shrubs. Trees are

greater than 5 metres tall and generally have a single trunk, whereas shrubs are less than

5 metres tall and are often multi-stemmed from the base. Both are perennial (long-lived)

plants, although trees often live considerably longer than shrubs. Note that the growth

form of plants is highly dependant on landform and substrate, hence some species can

grow as either trees or shrubs.

2.2 Scientific namesWithin each of the above groups, plants are listed alphabetically according to their

scientific name. Scientific names are composed of two parts; first their generic name

(genus), followed by the specific name (species). Plants from the same genus are closely

related and therefore usually of similar appearance. Knowing the general appearance of

plants from a particular genus enables one to identify a great number of plants to at least

the level of genus. The precise identity of a plant within a genus is provided by the species

name. For example, poplar box and silver-leaved ironbark are both from the genus

Eucalyptus, but are differentiated by their species name; ie. Eucalyptus populnea

(poplar box) and Eucalyptus melanophloia (silver-leaved ironbark).

The botanical names used in this publication are up to date at the date of printing. Many

species have recently undergone name changes, and where this is the case, the old name

is listed under ‘Notes’. Common names selected for use in this publication are those most

frequently used in the region. However, many plants are known by several common names

(even within the same district) and where this is the case, a range of common names has

been included. Note that one common name is frequently applied to more than one species.

Common examples include ‘dogwood’, ‘rosewood’ and ‘black wattle’.

2.3 HabitatDescriptions of habitat relate to the environment (including soil and topography) in which

a particular plant grows. Due to the great variation in climate, elevation, topography,

geology and soils found within the coverage area, there is a corresponding high diversity

of habitats present. Twelve broad habitat types are recognisable in the coverage area.

Colour codes have been used to designate these habitats and they are included within the

habitat descriptions. Many plants occupy more than one habitat type, and in these

instances, more than one colour has been used.

3

2.0

USE

R G

UID

E

4

HABITAT DESCRIPTION HABITAT KEY

Eucalypt woodland on Common species include mountain

basalt hills and ranges coolibah, narrow-leaved ironbark

and red bloodwood.

Eucalypt woodland on Often dominated by ironbarks,

sandstone hills/ranges bloodwoods, stringybarks

(Eucalyptus spp.), grey gum,

spotted/lemon-scented gum,

budgeroo, woody pear and thready-

bark she-oak. Understorey is often very

species rich and dominated by wattles.

Eucalypt woodland Usually dominated by poplar box and/

on lowlands or silver-leaved ironbark.

Cypress pine woodland/ White cypress pine forms thickets on

open forest the vast sand plains occurring

throughout much of the coverage area.

Riparian woodland Riparian vegetation means the plants

occurring on the banks and channels

of watercourses, which typically

include river red gum, Queensland

blue gum, rough-barked apple, river

she-oak, black tea-tree, western

tea-tree, weeping bottlebrush,

doolan and river cooba.

Floodplain woodland/ Coolibah, poplar box, river red gum and

open woodland Queensland blue gum form open

woodlands on the alluvial plains

associated with watercourses. A variety

of wetland types may be associated with

floodplains, including swamps, lagoons

and gilgais or melonholes.

2.4

Com

mon

hab

itats

of E

aste

rnQ

ueen

sland

oil

& g

as fi

elds

5

Mitchell grass/blue Rolling clay plains are sometimes

grass grassland vegetated by grasslands dominated by

Queensland bluegrass (Dichanthium

sericeum) and/or curly Mitchell grass

(Astrebla lappacea). Grasslands are

locally referred to as ‘downs’ country.

Heathland/spinifex Shrubby heathlands and spinifex

(Triodia spp.) communities communities

occur patchily in the coverage area on

sand plains, sand ridges and areas of

rock pavement. They usually have many

plant species and often contain rare,

threatened and localised plant species.

Brigalow woodland/ Stands of brigalow occur on clay plains

open forest and hill slopes and were extensive prior

to broad-scale clearing. Brigalow may

occur on its own or it may occur with

other trees, for example, belah,

poplar box, Dawson gum and

mountain yapunyah.

Mulga woodland/ Stands of mulga occur on loamy red

open forest earths and hard ridges in the southern

parts of the coverage area. Associated

trees include poplar box and silver-

leaved ironbark.

Acacia woodland/open Hard rocky ridges are often dominated

forest on residual ridges by bendee, lancewood or bowyakka.

Semi-evergreen vine Semi-evergreen vine thicket is also

thicket known as bottle tree scrub, dry

rainforest or softwood scrub. It occurs

on hill slopes, sheltered gorges and clay

plains in central and northern parts of

the coverage area.

2.5 How to identify a plant

When attempting to identify a plant the following steps are recommended:

1. Decide whether the plant is a tree or shrub; go to the relevant section of the

handbook.

2. Note the type of country (habitat) in which the plant is growing; narrow down the

choice of plants to those from the relevant habitat by using the colour code.

3. Compare the photographs of the most likely plants with the plant in question, taking

particular note of the shape of the plant, the form, colour and texture of the trunk or

stem, and the colour and shape of leaves, fruit, buds and flowers.

4. Finally, if uncertain, compare the descriptions of bark, leaves, flowers and fruit with

those of the plant in question.

Botanical terminology can be difficult, confronting and hard to remember for those who

just want to know the name of a particular plant. Technical botanical terms have been

deliberately avoided in this publication and they are covered in detail by numerous plant

books (see section 7 Further Reading).

Descriptions are based on locally occurring forms of plants, hence they may vary slightly

or significantly from descriptions in other publications. Some plants vary greatly across

their range, and even within the coverage area some species may exhibit considerable

variation in growth form and the size, shape and colour of leaves, flowers, buds and fruit.

Flowering times listed for each species represent the period in which that species has been

observed flowering most frequently. Note that flowering times can vary significantly. For

widespread species, flowering times may vary in different parts of that species range (for

example, north vs south). Prevailing seasonal conditions greatly influence the timing and

intensity of flowering in some species, including mulga, bendee, false sandalwood and

wilga. Flowering intensity also varies annually. Budgeroo, ooline and woody pear are

examples of species that produce little flower in some years and masses of flower in others.

Fruiting times have not been included as they are even more variable and unpredictable

than flowering times and many plants do not necessarily produce fruit each time that

they flower.

6

Further advice should be sought before making management decisions based on

identifications using this guide. Positive plant identifications can be obtained by sending

samples to the Queensland Herbarium (phone 07-38969326 for guidelines or refer to

Santos EHS Management System Environmental Hazard Standard EHS09).

2.6 Eastern Queensland Oil and Gas Fields

The gas and oil fields of relevance to this publication occur in the Surat and Bowen Basins

of Eastern Queensland. They are aligned in a series of fields between Emerald in the north

and Moonie in the south. For the purposes of this publication, key geographic regions

containing significant petroleum resources have been grouped as follows (refer to

bioregion map on page 23)

Denison

This area lies between Emerald and Rolleston and is part of the Brigalow Belt North

biogeographic region. The landscape is predominantly undulating or rolling clay plains

with bluegrass downs or eucalypt and/or brigalow woodland. The major watercourse is the

Comet River. Several plants occur only or predominantly in this part of the coverage area;

for example, Dallachy’s gum, Leichhardt bean, Dawson gum and eastern dead finish.

7

Denison landscape

8

Nor

th M

ap

(Eas

tern

Que

ensla

nd)

9

Santos permit(as at May 2007)

Reserve

State land

State forest

National park

Freehold

Sout

h M

ap

(Eas

tern

Que

ensla

nd)

FairviewFairview comprises the gas fields centred around Injune. The landscape is characterised

by elevated sandstone ranges, the most conspicuous being the Carnarvon and Expedition

Range, but also containing parts of the Mount Hutton and Kongabula Range. Vegetation

is predominantly eucalypt or white cypress pine woodland with areas of brigalow and

semi-evergreen vine thicket (softwood or bottle tree scrub). The area is drained by the

Dawson River and

numerous smaller

watercourses including

Moolayember, Hutton

and Baffle Creeks.

RomaThis is a large area covering interests in the vicinity of Roma, Surat and St George.

There is a small intrusion of the Mulga Lands biogeographic region southwest of Roma.

Dominant vegetation types include eucalypt and/or brigalow woodlands and bluegrass

or Mitchell grass downs with smaller areas of white cypress pine and mulga. The area is

characterised by

undulating or rolling

terrain with small

elevated areas

including the Thomby

and Grafton Range.

The major watercourse

is the Balonne River.

10

Fairview landscape

Roma landscape

Moonie

Several outlying areas occur in the vicinity of Moonie and Alton. The area is drained by

the Moonie River which has floodplains vegetated by eucalypt open woodland.

Other vegetation includes mulga, brigalow and white cypress pine woodlands.

Extensive sand plains are also present which contain areas of spinifex and shrubland.

Scotia

Scotia includes interests in the vicinity of Taroom and Wandoan. This area is predominantly

undulating or rolling terrain with brigalow or eucalypt woodland, but also includes parts of

the Expedition Range.

11

Moonie landscape

Scotia landscape

12

The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

has provision for the listing of vegetation types or habitats (ecological communities) as

being critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. Hence a particular plant may be a

common species (for example, brigalow); however, it may

grow in an ecological community that is threatened.

Four threatened ecological communities are listed as endangered within Eastern

Queensland gas and oil fields (refer the threatened habitats location map on page 13),

including:

> bluegrass grasslands

> brigalow woodland

> semi-evergreen vine thicket (softwood scrubs/dry rainforest)

> artesian springs and their associated ecosystems.

Listing of these ecological communities has been on the basis that they currently face

a very high risk of extinction in the near future. These communities cannot be cleared

without approval from the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage.

Some of the component regional ecosystems* of these communities are also listed as

endangered under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999 (State legislation).

*Vegetation communities have been classified into regional ecosystems by the Queensland Environmental

Protection Agency. Regional ecosystems are defined as vegetation communities that are consistently associated

with a particular combination of geology, landform and soil. Detailed information relating to the regional

ecosystem framework and their descriptions can be found by referring to Sattler and Williams (1999) or the

Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD).

www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/biodiversity/regional_ecosystems.

3.0

THRE

ATEN

ED H

ABI

TATS

13

Santos permit(as at June 2007)

Gas pipeline

Oil pipeline

Semi - evergreen vine thicket

Bluegrass - grasslands

Brigalow - woodland

Spring locations

Thre

aten

ed H

abita

ts

Loca

tion

Map

3.1 Bluegrass grassland

DESCRIPTIONGrassland communities in the Brigalow Belt Bioregion dominated by bluegrass

(Dichanthium spp.), particularly Queensland bluegrass (Dichanthium sericeum).

COMPONENT SPECIES Grasses include Queensland bluegrass (D. sericeum), curly Mitchell grass (Astrebla lappacea),

wild oats (Themeda avenacea), kangaroo grass (T. triandra), wire grasses (Aristida spp.) and

native millet (Panicum decompositum). Herbage includes fox-tails (Ptilotus spp.), flannel

weeds (Sida spp.) and members of the pea (Fabaceae) and daisy (Asteraceae) families.

Scattered trees and shrubs may be present including belah (Casuarina cristata), brigalow

(Acacia harpophylla), spring-pod cassia (Senna circinnata), false sandalwood (Eremophila

mitchellii), limebush (Citrus glauca), mimosa bush (A. farnesiana), emu apple (Owenia

acidula), black tea-tree (Melaleuca bracteata), boonaree (Alectryon oleifolius), whitewood

(Atalaya hemiglauca), red bauhinia (Lysiphyllum carronii), mountain coolibah (Eucalyptus

orgadophila), poplar box (E. populnea), silver-leaved ironbark (E. melanophloia), coolibah

(E. coolabah) and red bloodwood (Corymbia erythrophloia).

LANDFORMSAlluvial plains, and undulating or rolling clay plains.

REASON FOR LISTINGLess than 20% of the original extent of bluegrass grasslands remains intact due to

extensive clearing. They occur on productive soils and are extensively cultivated, cropped

and replaced with improved pasture. Bluegrass grasslands have a naturally restricted

distribution.

THREATSInvasion by weeds, particularly parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus),

and exotic pasture species; continued clearing for cropping and improved pasture;

inappropriate grazing management; changed fire ecology; drought effects;

encroachment by woody plants (trees and shrubs).

14

THREATENED FLORAToadflax (Thesium australis), Austral cornflower (Stemmacantha australis), king blue

grass (Dichanthium queenslandicum).

THREATENED FAUNAGrassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla), rough collared-frog (Cyclorana

verrucosa).

OTHER ECOLOGICAL VALUESHabitat for grassland fauna including birds (quails, raptors), mammals (marsupial-mice,

native rodents), reptiles, frogs and numerous invertebrates. Soil cracks are used for

shelter by many ground dwelling animals.

GAS/OIL FIELDConfined to the northern part of the coverage area (Denison), mainly in the vicinity

of Rolleston.

COMPONENT REGIONAL ECOSYSTEMS11.3.21, 11.8.11

15

Bluegrass grassland in the Denison gas field

3.2 Brigalow woodland

DESCRIPTIONWoodland or open forest communities dominated by brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) in the

Brigalow Belt Bioregion.

COMPONENT SPECIES Canopy and emergent trees include brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), belah (Casuarina

cristata), poplar box (E. populnea), Dawson gum (E. cambageana),

red bauhinia (Lysiphyllum carronii), emu apple (Owenia acidula), whitewood (Atalaya

hemiglauca), yarran (Acacia melvillei) and boonaree (Alectryon oleifolius). Shrubs include

false sandalwood (Eremophila mitchellii), wilga (Geijera parviflora), scrub boonaree

(Alectryon diversifolius), currant bush (Carissa ovata) and limebush (Citrus glauca).

Herbage is often dominated by chenopods.

LANDFORMSAlluvial plains, undulating or rolling clay plains and hill slopes; sometimes occurs on flats

with gilgais or melonholes.

REASON FOR LISTINGLess than 10% of the original extent of brigalow woodlands remains intact due to

extensive clearing for cropping and improved pasture development.

THREATSInvasion by weeds and exotic pasture species; degradation by fire.

THREATENED FLORAA daisy (Rutidosis lanata), a waterplant (Aponogeton queenslandicus).

THREATENED FAUNAPainted honeyeater (Grantiella picta), glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami),

brigalow scaly-foot (Paradelma orientalis), yakka skink (Egernia rugosa), golden-tailed

gecko (Strophurus taenicauda), common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), little pied

bat (Chalinolobus picatus), imperial hairstreak butterfly (Jalmenus evagoras eubulus).

16

17

OTHER ECOLOGICAL VALUESBrigalow communities provide numerous habitat opportunities including dense foliage,

logs, leaf litter, shrubby understorey, dead trees and loose bark. It is a favoured

habitat of the black-striped wallaby (Macropus dorsalis). Declining woodland birds are

often present including speckled warbler (Chthonicola sagittata) and grey-crowned

babbler (Potamostomus temporalis). Mistletoe is often abundant along roadside

remnants and shadelines.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

COMPONENT REGIONAL ECOSYSTEMS6.4.2, 11.3.1, 11.4.3, 11.4.7, 11.9.1, 11.9.5

Brigalow woodland in the Fairview gas field

3.3 Semi-evergreen vine thicket

DESCRIPTION Semi-evergreen vine thickets (dry rainforest/softwood scrub) of the Brigalow Belt (north

and south) and Nandewar Bioregions.

COMPONENT SPECIESCanopy and emergent trees include brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), belah (Casuarina

cristata), red bauhinia (Lysiphyllum carronii), narrow-leaved bottle tree (Brachychiton

rupestris), broad-leaved bottle tree (B. australis), bonewood (Macropteranthes

leichhardtii), small-leaved coondoo (Pouteria cotinifolia), crow’s ash (Flindersia

australis), leopard ash (F. collina), native olive (Notelaea microcarpa) and native ebony

(Diospyros humilis). Shrubs include myrtle trees (Psydrax spp.), wilga (Geijera

parviflora), turkey bush (Acalypha eremorum), currant bush (Carissa ovata) and silver

croton (Croton insularis).

LANDFORMSUndulating or rolling clay plains and hill slopes, including rocky hill sides and scree;

rarely on alluvial plains.

REASON FOR LISTINGThere has been a massive reduction in the extent of vine thickets due to extensive

clearing for cropping and improved pasture development.

THREATSInvasion by weeds and exotic pasture species; inappropriate grazing; degradation of

remnants by fire; fragmentation.

THREATENED FLORARainforest cassia (Senna acclinis), ooline (Cadellia pentastylis).

THREATENED FAUNACommon death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), short-necked worm-skink (Anomalopus

brevicollis).

18

OTHER ECOLOGICAL VALUESVine thickets in the Brigalow Belt provide habitat for animals that are virtually confined

to this habitat, for example, wonga pigeon (Leucosarcia melanoleuca), varied triller

(Lalage leucomela), regent bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus), emerald dove

(Chalcophaps indica), Lewin’s honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii) and Australian brush turkey

(Alectura lathami). They typically have high invertebrate diversity and often contain

endemic or restricted range species. The number of plant species is usually significantly

higher than surrounding vegetation types.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Fairview, Roma, Scotia.

19

Semi-evergreen vine thicket in the Fairview gas field

3.4 Artesian springs

DESCRIPTIONThe community of native species dependent on natural discharge of groundwater from

the Great Artesian Basin (also described as mound springs, soaks and boggomosses).

COMPONENT SPECIESHighly variable but can include sedges (Cyperus gymnocaulos, C. laevigatus), common

reed (Phragmites australis), couch grass (Cynodon dactylon), bulrushes (Typha

domingensis) and sometimes ferns.

LANDFORMSAlluvial plains or associated with sandstone gorges.

REASON FOR LISTINGExcessive extraction of artesian groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) has led

to both the extinction of springs and a reduction in water flow of many remaining

springs. Between 70 – 90% of springs within the Queensland component of the GAB are

now extinct.

THREATSContinued extraction of artesian ground water; excavation; invasion by weeds;

inappropriate grazing; fouling and trampling by feral pests; inundation by water

impoundments.

THREATENED FLORASalt pipewort (Eriocaulon carsonii), a grass (Arthraxon hispidus), swamp fern (Thelypteris

confluens).

THREATENED FAUNABoggomoss snail (Adclarkia dawsonensis).

20

21

OTHER ECOLOGICAL VALUESSprings provides habitat for a suite of fauna and flora that specialise in this habitat

including wetland plants and aquatic animals (for example, snails, crustaceans, insects).

They sometimes contain endemic or species with restricted distributions. Springs provide

a water source for mobile animals (for example, water birds) and are particularly

important as watering points during drought.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Fairview, Scotia.

COMPONENT REGIONAL ECOSYSTEMS11.3.22, 11.10.14 both the Commonwealth and State.

Boggomoss spring in the Scotia gas field

Governments have enacted legislation to protect rare species of plants.

The Commonwealth legislation is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

Act 1999 (hereafter EPBC) and the Queensland legislation is the Nature Conservation Act

1992 (hereafter NCA).

Each Act contains lists of species (schedules) that are categorised according to how rare

or threatened those plants are. Each category has legislative responsibilities which have

been developed to ensure the protection of these species. The two categories of

relevance to species in this publication are vulnerable (EPBC and NCA) and rare

(NCA only).

Under the EPBC Act vulnerable means “a species that is not critically endangered or

endangered and is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future,

as determined in accordance with prescribed criteria”. Under the NCA a vulnerable species

is one whose population (a) is decreasing because of threatening processes, or (b) has

been seriously depleted and its protection is not secured, or (c) its population, while

abundant, is at risk because of threatening processes, or (d) its population is low or

localised or depends on limited habitat that is at risk because of threatening processes.

Examples of vulnerable species in this book are ooline, Thomby Range wattle, curly zamia

and shiny-leaved ironbark. These species cannot be cleared without approval under both

State and Federal legislation.

Rare species are those that may have relatively large populations within a restricted

range, or species with small populations spread over a wide range, but which may be at

risk and require monitoring. Examples included within this guide are Carnarvon fan palm

Livistona nitida, whorl-leaved heath Leucopogon grandiflorus, Grove’s paperbark

Melaleuca groveana, sandstone prickle bush Apatophyllum teretifolium and Sturt’s desert

rose Gossypium sturtianum.

There are 27 scheduled rare and threatened species occurring in the Eastern Queensland

oil and gas fields (Table 1). Nine of the most distinctive rare trees and shrubs are

described and illustrated in this section.

22

4.0

RARE

AN

D T

HRE

ATEN

EDPL

AN

TS4.

0 RA

RE A

ND

TH

REAT

ENED

PLA

NTS

23

Sanot permit(as at April 2007)

BBN- Brigalow Belt North

BBS- Brigalow Belt South

DRP- Darling Riverine Plains

ML- Mulga Lands

NAN- Nandewar

SEQ- South East Queensland

23

Bior

egio

n M

ap

(Eas

tern

Que

ensla

nd)

24

Table 1. Rare and Threatened Flora Found In Santos Eastern Queensland Oil and Gas Fields

Key to Abbreviations: NCA = Nature Conservation Act 1992; EPBC = Environment Protection

and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; E = endangered; EX = extinct; PE = presumed

extinct; R = rare; V = vulnerable.

Scientific Name Common Name NCA EPBC Oil/Gas Field

Acacia calantha A Wattle R Fairview

Acacia gittinsii A Wattle R Denison

Acacia spania Western Rosewood R Roma

Acacia wardellii Thomby Range Wattle V V Roma

Amphibromus whitei A Grass PE EX Roma

Apatophyllum teretifolium Sandstone Prickle Bush R Fairview

Aponogeton A Waterplant R Denison queenslandicus

Babingtonia brachypoda A Shrub R Denison

Cadellia pentastylis Ooline V V Fairview, Roma, Scotia

Dichanthium King Bluegrass V V Denisonqueenslandicum

Eleocharis blakeana Blake’s Spike-rush R Moonie

Eriocaulon carsonii Salt Pipewort E E Fairview

Eucalyptus rubiginosa A Eucalypt R Fairview

Eucalyptus virens Shiny-leaved Ironbark V V Fairview

Gossypium sturtianum Sturt’s Desert Rose R Fairview

Grevillea cyranostigma Carnarvon or R Fairview Green Grevillea

Homoranthus decasetus Red Mouse-bush R Fairview

Leucopogon grandiflorus Whorl-leaved Heath R Fairview, Scotia

25

Livistona nitida Carnarvon FanPalm R Fairview, Scotia

Logania cordifolia Cordate-leaved Logania R Fairview

Macrozamia fearnsidei Curly Zamia V V Fairview

Melaleuca groveana Grove’s Paperbark R Fairview

Senna acclinis Rainforest Cassia R Fairview

Swainsona murrayana A Darling-pea V V Roma

Thelypteris confluens Swamp Fern V Scotia

Wahlenbergia islensis Cliff Bluebell R Fairview

Zornia pallida A Pea R Roma

Other scheduled rare and threatened species found in areas immediately adjoining

Santos leases include Acacia islana (R), Acacia sp. (Gwambagwine F.Carter 2) (V), Acacia

tenuinervis (R), Actinotus paddisonii (R), Calocephalus sonderi (R), Calytrix islensis (R),

Cryptandra ciliata (R), Cyperus clarus (V), Dichanthium setosum (NCA: R; EPBC: V),

Eucalyptus curtisii Plunkett mallee (R), Gonocarpus urceolatus (V) Grevillea singuliflora

(R), Macarthuria ephedroides (R), Myriophyllum artesium (E), Notelea pungens (R),

Pseudanthus pauciflorus arenicola (R), Rutidosis crispata (R) Rutidosis glandulosa (R)

and Rutidosis lanata (E). With further field investigation these species may be found

within Santos interest areas.

4.1 Thomby Range Wattle Acacia wardellii

OTHER COMMON NAMESWardell’s Wattle.

HABITAT Occurs on ridge crests and slopes with loamy and gravelly soil along the edges of

woodlands or in clearings; occurs with dusky-leaved ironbark, narrow-leaved ironbark,

Queensland peppermint, brown bloodwood, white cypress pine, smooth-barked apple,

quinine tree, bull oak and other wattles.

DESCRIPTION Slender shrub or small tree to 6m high.

Bark: Smooth grey trunk, becoming rough at base with age; trunk and branches often

with white, pink or silvery powder giving a shiny appearance

Leaves: Dark green, glossy, curved, 110 – 170mm long x 20 – 25mm wide, with smooth

margin or toothed along edge; younger leaves broader; 2 prominent veins

Flowers: Cream to pale yellow balls, perfumed

Fruit: Flat pod, to 80mm long x 6mm wide, with bulges over the seeds

Flowering Period: April – July

NOTES Confined to the Thomby Range, southeast of Surat, and a series of ridges east of

Condamine. It readily colonises disturbed areas; for example, seismic lines, pipeline

easements and gas wells but it is apparently short lived.

LEGISLATIVE STATUS Vulnerable (Nature Conservation Act 1992 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity

Conservation Act 1999)

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma

26

27

Fruit (photo: Len Hubbard)

FlowersTrunkLeaves

Acacia wardellii(photo: Bindy Warby)

4.2 Sandstone Prickle-bush Apatophyllum teretifolium

HABITAT Grows on coarse sandy soils among rock or along cliff edges on sandstone ridges; occurs

with ironbarks, narrow-leaved white mahogany, budgeroo, white and black cypress pine,

Henderson’s bloodwood (Corymbia hendersonii), brown bloodwood, spotted gum, large-

fruited yellow jacket, tea-trees and rush-leaf wattle.

DESCRIPTION Distinctive compact shrub, rounded or prostrate, to 0.4m high.

Leaves: Lime green, cylindrical, about 10mm long x <1mm wide, in opposite pairs, each

ending in a sharp point

Flower: Greenish cream, 0.5 – 1mm diameter, in leaf axils, on stalk to 1mm long

Fruit : Pear-shaped, flattened capsule, 5 – 7mm long x 2 – 4mm wide, with 2 lobes and

ending in a sharp point; turns brown and woody and splits in half

Flowering Period: Flowers have been observed in autumn, winter and spring

NOTESWidely scattered in the Carnarvon and Expedition Range with an additional record from

Barakula State Forest. Until recently this plant was known from a handful of herbarium

specimens but detailed field surveys have located new populations. Found with other

rare species including whorl-leaved heath and shiny-leaved ironbark.

LEGISLATIVE STATUS Rare (Nature Conservation Act 1992)

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview

28

29

Apatophyllum teretifolium

Fruit with seed

Leaves Unripe fruit

4.3 Ooline Cadellia pentastylis

OTHER COMMON NAMESBeechwood, solidwood, ironwood, scrub myrtle.

HABITAT Occurs on clay plains, sandstone slopes and residual ridges where it forms pure stands

or associates with brigalow, belah, bendee, red bauhinia or vine thickets.

DESCRIPTION Distinctive tree with bushy crown to at least 25m high.

Bark: Dark grey, hard and fissured into small rectangular pieces

Leaves: Glossy, dark green above, lime green below, broadest at the middle, 20 – 50mm

long x 20 – 35mm wide, small notch out of tip, veins prominent on both sides

Flowers: Greenish-cream, straw coloured or reddish, star-shaped, 20mm diameter,

5 petals

Fruit: Segmented cluster of 3 – 5 balls at the centre of the old flower, each segment

containing a single, hard-coated seed

Flowering Period: October – November but intensity and timing varies between years

NOTES Vulnerable due to extensive clearing and its restricted range. Used for ornamental

plantings but slow growing. Timber has been used for wood turning and woolshed

stumps. Trees in northern part of the coverage area grow much taller than those in the

south. Hollows frequently develop in older trees, which often contain black orchids

(Cymbidium canaliculatum). Roadside remnants are easily degraded by fire.

LEGISLATIVE STATUS Vulnerable (Nature Conservation Act 1992 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity


GAS/OIL FIELDRoma, Fairview, Scotia.

30

31

Cadellia pentastylis

Leaves and fruit Trunk Flowers

Flowering branches

4.4 Shiny-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus virens

HABITAT Rocky slopes of sandstone ridges where it is associated with budgeroo, thready-bark

she-oak, smooth-barked apple, brown bloodwood, tumbledown ironbark

(Eucalyptus panda), inland white mahogany (Eucalyptus mediocris) and Queensland

peppermint.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 25m high.

Bark: Greyish black, deeply furrowed and reddish brown underneath; smallest branches

smooth or with soft, corky bark; branchlets reddish

Leaves: Glossy (including when juvenile), bright green, same colour both sides,

60 – 115mm long x 10 – 20mm wide, on stalk 10 – 15mm long

Flowers: White, 6-7mm diameter, in clusters of up to 7, at branch tips; buds with rounded

or cone-shaped cap, to 6mm long x 4mm wide

Fruit: Green, turning brown when dry, cup-shaped, to 5mm long x 4 – 7mm wide,

with 4 – 6 chambers

Flowering Period: November – February

NOTES Very patchy distribution with highly localised populations about the upper Maranoa and

Dawson Rivers. A very distinctive ironbark readily identified by its extremely glossy leaves.

CONSERVATION STATUS Vulnerable (Nature Conservation Act 1992 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity



32

33

Eucalyptus virens

Leaves Trunk Fruit

FlowerBuds

4.5 Sturt's Desert Rose Gossypium sturtianum

OTHER COMMON NAMESSturt’s rose, desert rose.

HABITAT Occupies a wide range of habitats across its range; in the coverage area, it occurs in

silver-leaved and narrow-leaved ironbark woodland on ridges and undulating terrain

with loamy soil.

DESCRIPTION Rounded, woody, multi-stemmed shrub to 2m high; branchlets often pinkish and covered

in tiny black glands; hairless.

Leaves: Green, rounded, covered in tiny black spots, 20 – 60mm long x 20 – 40mm wide

Flowers: Hibiscus-like, 5 large pink petals with dark purplish-red centre, 40 – 60mm long

x 20 – 40mm wide

Fruit: Hairless, egg-shaped capsule, covered in black dots and enclosing many hairy

seeds; splits open into 4 or 5 segments when dry

Flowering Period: Spring – summer and sporadically at other times of the year

NOTES Occurs throughout the coverage area but it has a very patchy distribution and is recorded

from only a handful of locations. It is the floral emblem of the Northern Territory and an

attractive ornamental plant. It can grow prolifically after ground disturbance.

CONSERVATION STATUS Rare (Nature Conservation Act 1992)


34

35

Gossypium sturtianum

Trunk

Leaves Flowers(photo: Jenny Milson)

Fruit

36

4.6 Whorl-leaved Heath Leucopogon grandiflorus

HABITAT Slopes and crests of sandstone ridges, including cliff edges; occurs with Bancroft’s wattle,

rush-leaf wattle, ironbarks, smooth-barked apple, budgeroo, Henderson’s bloodwood

(Corymbia hendersonii), thready-bark she-oak and black and white cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Rounded or untidy prickly shrub to 2m high; small branches reddish-brown and covered

in short, white hairs.

Bark: Grey, rough at base and smooth on branches

Leaves: Fine, green, 8 – 10mm long x 1 – 3mm wide, with sharp point at tip, paler and

with short hairs on underside; stalkless

Flowers: Cream and tubular, 12 – 15mm long, on stalk 2mm long

Fruit: Egg-shaped, fleshy berry, orangey-brown when ripe, about 10mm long

Flowering Period: Winter – spring

NOTESWidespread throughout the Central Highlands Sandstone Belt. It can be locally common

but it occupies a specific habitat type. It has the largest flowers of all Leucopogon species.


GAS/OIL FIELDScotia, Fairview.

Leucopogon grandiflorus

37

Plant

Flower Fruit

4.7 Carnarvon Fan Palm Livistona nitida

OTHER COMMON NAMESDawson River fan palm, cabbage tree palm.

HABITAT Watercourses, swamps, floodplains and gorges with sandy, clay or gravelly substrates;

occurs with Queensland blue gum, coolibah, river she-oak, spotted gum, silver-leaved

ironbark and rough-barked apple or forms pure stands.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 30m high; girth to about 40cm at breast height; straight trunk gradually

becoming thinner towards crown.

Bark: Grey, tight and vertically fissured or armoured with old leaf stubs

Leaves: Fan-like, hanging downward, glossy, bright green; flattened or triangular stem

to 2m long with sharp, curved prickles; fine thread at the end of each leaf segment

Flowers: Sprays of yellowish-cream flowers, on arching stem to about 2m long, emerging

from the base of living leaves

Fruit: Glossy, dark, rounded berry

Flowering Period: September – October

NOTES Confined to the Comet and upper Dawson River catchments, including Carnarvon,

Robinson, Palm Tree and Delusion Creeks and Nathan Gorge. The fruit is eaten by many

native birds. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and is possibly the tallest of all

Australian cabbage tree palms.

CONSERVATION STATUS Rare (Nature Conservation Act 1992).

GAS/OIL FIELDScotia, Fairview.

38

39

Livistona nitida

Leaves and flowers

Trunk

4.8 Curly Zamia Macrozamia fearnsidei

HABITAT Occurs on ridge slopes and undulating terrain among sandstone ranges; associated with

ironbarks, spotted gum, smooth-barked apple, budgeroo, thready-bark she-oak, brown

bloodwood and white cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Cycad to 1m high; trunk below ground level.

Leaves: Tough, light to dark green leaves to 1.5m long, composed of 55 – 120 leaflets

on the twisted stem

Fruit: Male cones cylindrical, often curved, 150 – 300mm long; female cones oblong,

120 – 180mm long on stalk 180 – 270mm long containing hard, glossy, orange to red

egg-shaped seeds; seeds with flattened sides and a small sharp point at their tip, 35mm

long x 25mm wide

NOTESCurly zamia has a patchy distribution with populations restricted to the Carnarvon,

Expedition and Bigge Ranges. It sometimes occurs with another cycad, Macrozamia

moorei; however, this species has an above-ground trunk, flat leaves and bigger seeds.

CONSERVATION STATUS Vulnerable (Nature Conservation Act 1992 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity



40

41

Macrozamia fearnsidei

Female cone

Leaves FruitMale cone

4.9 Grove’s Paperbark Melaleuca groveana

HABITAT Occurs on crests of sandstone ridges with loamy or sandy soil, often overlying rock;

grows with ironbarks, budgeroo, thready-bark she-oak, wattles, red spider flower,

spinifex (Triodia spp.) and other tea-trees and paperbarks (Melaleuca spp.).

DESCRIPTION Small tree, usually 2 – 6m high; often stunted or twisted.

Bark: Grey and papery

Leaves: Green, broadest in the middle and tapered at both ends, 20 – 50mm long

x 10 – 15mm wide, with pointed tip and on short stalk

Flowers: White, bottlebrush-like, cylindrical spike, 20 – 35mm long, at ends of the

branches

Fruit: Woody, grey, round or barrel-shaped capsule, 4 – 7mm diameter, singly spaced

along the branches


NOTESThis species is known from several populations that are confined to the Carnarvon Range.

Flowering events vary in timing and intensity.



42

43

Melaleuca groveana

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.1 Mulga Acacia aneura

HABITATConfined to southern parts of the coverage area on flats and undulating terrain with

loamy red earths or on stony residual ridges; forms pure stands or is associated with

poplar box, silver-leaved ironbark and kurrajong.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 10m high, with upright branches and umbrella-like crown.

Bark: Dark grey to brown, hard and fissured

Leaves: Greyish-green, covered in minute hairs giving silvery appearance, variable in size

and shape, 30 – 50mm long x 9 – 13mm wide; veins are hard to see

Flowers: Short, bright yellow short spikes, 20 – 30mm long

Fruit: Green, flat pod, brown when dry, to 40mm long x 15mm wide

Flowering Period: Often November/December but can flower at any time following

substantial rain

NOTESSeeds and ‘mulga apples’ (insect galls on the leaves and stems) are edible. The wood is

extremely hard; however, it is prone to termite attack. Furniture, fence posts and stock

yard rails are made from the timber. During drought, mulga is extensively lopped or

dozed to feed livestock. Mulga country on loamy red earths is described as ‘soft mulga’

while that on stony ridges is called ‘hard mulga’.

GAS/OIL FIELD Moonie, Roma.

44

5.0

CO

MM

ON

TRE

ES

45

Acacia aneura

Trunk

Leaves and fruit Flowers

5.2 Miles Mulga Acacia aprepta

HABITAT Patchy distribution in southern half of coverage area on slopes of rocky ridges with loamy

or gravelly soils; forms pure stands or grows in association with Queensland peppermint,

narrow-leaved ironbark, dusky-leaved ironbark, bull oak, white cypress pine, currawong,

lancewood, bendee and other wattles.

DESCRIPTION Small tree or shrub to 8m high with short trunk; branches pointing upward.

Bark: Dark brown or grey and furrowed at the base; smooth branches and stems

Leaves: Dull green, 35 – 55mm long x 5mm wide, fairly straight with pointed tip,

veins obscure

Flowers: Short, bright yellow spike, to 25mm long, perfumed

Fruit: Flat pod with bulges over seeds, greyish-green, turning brown when dry,

25 – 60mm long x 7mm wide

Flowering Period: Usually November or December but at other times following rain

NOTES Miles mulga forms very dense thickets that provide excellent habitat for small birds.

It is often host to grey mistletoe (Amyema quandang).

GAS/OIL FIELDMoonie, Roma.

46

47

Acacia aprepta

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.3 Bendee Acacia catenulata

HABITAT Plateaus and slopes of residual ridges with shallow rocky or gravelly soil or on deeper red

or brown loams and earths; grows in pure stands or associated with poplar box, narrow-

leaved ironbark, mountain yapunyah, Queensland peppermint, Baker’s mallee and ooline.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 15m tall; older trees often with fluted trunk.

Bark: Dark grey and fissured; small branches smooth, brown and covered with tiny,

pale bumps

Leaves: Dull grey-green, dimensions and shape variable; either long and thin or short,

broad and curved, 30mm – 85mm long x 3 – 9mm wide

Flowers: Short, bright yellow spike, to 30mm long

Fruit: Brown pods, flat, thin, to 80mm long x 3 – 6mm wide, with marked constrictions

between seeds

Flowering Period: Flowers throughout the year in response to rain

NOTES Common throughout the southern half of the coverage area with a more patchy

distribution in the north. Timber used for fence posts and wood turning. Similar in

appearance and easily confused with mulga; bendee can be distinguished by its poorer

form (usually stunted and having a gnarled appearance), fluted trunk and narrow seed

pods. Although browsed by stock, bendee is of lower forage value than mulga. Bendee

woodlands provide useful fauna habitat, particularly for birds and significant reptile

species, including yakka skink (Egernia rugosa) and woma python (Aspidites ramsayi).

GAS/OIL FIELDMoonie, Roma, Denison.

48

49

Acacia catenulata

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

5.4 Ironwood Acacia excelsa

OTHER COMMON NAMES Gap axe, bunkerman.

HABITAT Found throughout the coverage area on undulating terrain, banks of watercourses and

levees with sandy or loamy soils; often occurs with white cypress pine, Baradine red gum,

poplar box, Clarkson’s bloodwood, quinine tree and carbeen.

DESCRIPTION Usually a shrub or low tree, but capable of growing into a sizable tree to at least 16m tall

with a girth to 0.6m.

Bark: Hard, dark grey or brown and deeply fissured

Leaves: Dark or light green, with dull sheen, to 90mm long x 10 – 20mm wide, straight or

crescent-shaped, broadest around mid-section, short point at tip, 5 – 7 distinct parallel

veins; new growth bright yellowish green

Flowers: Cream to pale yellow balls, on stalks about 7mm long, sweetly perfumed

Fruit: Flat pod, 70 – 100mm long x 6 – 9mm wide, constricted between the seeds

Flowering Period: April – July

NOTES Extremely hard timber which is used for wood turning, fencing, and parts for musical

instruments and fishing rods. Historically used for bullock yokes. Foliage is browsed

by livestock. Often host to northern mistletoe (Lysiana subfalcata).

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

50

51

Acacia excelsa

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Branches with flowers

5.5 Brigalow Acacia harpophylla

OTHER COMMON NAMES Queensland lucerne, brickalow.

HABITAT: Occurs throughout the coverage area on clay plains and ridge slopes; forms pure stands

or occurs with belah, poplar box, red bauhinia, ooline, Dawson gum, yellow wood,

mountain yapunyah, false sandalwood and wilga.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 25m high with dense crown; trunk usually tall and fairly straight, but can be

stunted on some soil types.

Bark: Very dark brown or grey, deeply furrowed, hard and thick; branchlets orangey brown

Leaves: Sickle-shaped, silvery-green to grey green, 80 – 200mm long x 5 – 15mm wide

(different foliage forms may occur side by side); reflective in strong sunlight

Flowers: Bright yellow balls, unperfumed

Fruit: Lime green, bean-like, cylindrical pods, to 90mm long x 7mm wide; small bulges

around the seeds; hanging downwards in clusters on branches; rarely sets seed

Flowering Period: Mainly Autumn – Spring but sporadic at other times; flowering events

are irregular being ‘heavier’ in some years than others

NOTES Hard timber is useful for wood turning and yard rails. Bark used for tanning and dyes.

Foliage is browsed by stock, especially when young. Suckers profusely when roots are

disturbed. The caterpillars of the vulnerable imperial hairstreak butterfly (Jalmenus

evagoras eubulus) eat the leaves.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

52

53

Acacia harpophylla

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.6 Slender-flowered Wattle Acacia longispicata

HABITAT Occurs throughout the northern half of the coverage area on sandy or stony soils in

undulating terrain or on ridge slopes; often growing with white cypress pine, smooth-barked

apple, thready-bark she-oak, bulloak, budgeroo, zigzag wattle and weeping tea-tree.

DESCRIPTION Small tree to 8m high.

Bark: Dark brown, rough and with fissures at the base of older plants; branchlets angled

with tiny reddish to greenish-brown hairs

Leaves: Sickle-shaped, greenish-grey to silver, with 3 prominent veins, 90 – 250mm long

x 10 – 40mm wide

Flowers: Bright golden yellow spikes, 50 – 120mm long, perfumed

Fruit: Green, bean-like, almost cylindrical, to 90mm long x 3mm wide, with bulges over

each seed, in drooping clusters along the stem

Flowering Period: August – October

NOTES Forms dense groves in parts of the coverage area. Often heavily laden with grey mistletoe

(Amyema quandang). Golden-tailed geckoes (Strophurus taenicauda) shelter under

peeling bark of larger plants.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Fairview, Scotia, Roma.

54

55

Acacia longispicata

Trunk

Fruit FlowersPlant in full flower

5.7 Womal Acacia maranoensis

HABITAT Occurs on alluvial flats, undulating plains, along watercourses and less frequently on

residual ridge slopes, usually with clay soils or loamy red earths; forms dense groves or

is associated with poplar box, myall, brigalow, belah, boonaree, whitewood, false

sandalwood and wilga.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 8m high with rounded canopy.

Bark: Hard, dark grey and furrowed; yellowish, angled branchlets

Leaves: Straight, narrow, 110 – 150mm long x 4 – 7mm wide, much longer than broad,

veins indistinct with 1 – 3 veins more prominent than the rest

Flowers : Pale yellow balls

Fruit: Flat, light brown or straw-coloured pods, 30 – 60mm long x 5mm wide


NOTES An attractive tree that occurs patchily and is restricted to central and southern parts

of the coverage area. It is readily browsed by livestock. Often heavy laden with grey

mistletoe (Amyema quandang).

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma

56

57

Acacia maranoensis

Trunk

Fruit FlowersGrove of young plants

5.8 Bowyakka Acacia microsperma

HABITAT Usually occurs on slopes of residual ridges in pure stands or with mountain yapunyah;

also occurs with black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) on flooded clay plains in southern

Queensland.

DESCRIPTION Erect tree to 10m tall; leaves bunched and branches upright giving distinctive appearance.

Bark: Hard, dark grey and fissured; small branches smooth and grey; branchlets

orangey-brown

Leaves: Grey or greyish-green, narrow, stiff, 70 – 140mm long x 2 – 4mm wide, with hook

or point at tip, covered in short hairs giving silvery appearance

Flowers: Bright yellow balls, perfumed

Fruit: Narrow, brown pods, 60mm long x 1 – 3mm wide, similar to a string of beads

Flowering Period: August – November

NOTES Mature trees are cut for fence posts and yard rails, and the wood is used for turning.

The foliage is browsed by livestock. In EQ GAS/OIL FIELDs, bowyakka patches have

conservation significance as they are rare and isolated.


58

59

Acacia microsperma

Tree top with flowers Trunk Flowers(photo: Len Hubbard)

5.8 Yarran Acacia omalophylla

OTHER COMMON NAMESSpearwood

HABITAT Found on alluvial flats, clay plains and undulating loamy hills; usually associated with

myall, poplar box, silver-leaved ironbark, belah, narrow-leaved ironbark, coolibah,

brigalow or among open, grassy downs.

DESCRIPTIONTree to 8m tall.

Bark: Grey or dark brown, hard and fissured; smooth upper limbs; yellowish or orange-

brown branchlets

Leaves: Green, usually straight, narrow, 50 – 80mm long x 5 – 7mm wide, much longer

than broad, with short spike at tip

Flowers: Bright yellow balls, perfumed

Fruit: Flat, brown pods, to 90mm long x 3 – 4mm wide, slightly raised over the seeds

Flowering Period: July – October

NOTES Yarran usually occurs in small groves or as scattered trees, particularly along roadsides and

stock routes. Acacia melvillei is a similar species which tends to replace A. omalophylla in

eastern parts of the coverage area. A. melvillei has larger and brighter yellow flower

heads, wider leaves (7-12mm wide) and broader seed pods (about 10mm wide).

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

60

61

Acacia omalophylla

Grove of young trees Trunk Flowers

5.10 Nelia Acacia oswaldii

OTHER COMMON NAMES Miljee, ram's horn wattle, umbrella wattle.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area in woodlands and open woodlands on flats, alluvial

plains, edges of clay pans and low undulating stony hills; usually associated with poplar

box, river red gum, myall, coolibah, black box, wilga and false sandalwood and in open

grassy downs.

DESCRIPTION Small, stunted tree, or sometimes a shrub, usually about 2 – 6m high, with short trunk

which is sometimes twisted.

Bark: Very dark, fissured on trunk; smooth, shiny brown, grey or yellowish branchlets

Leaves: Light or dark green, straight or curved, stiff, variable in shape and size,

15 – 60mm long x 3 – 5mm wide, short brown point on tip, numerous parallel veins

Flowers: Yellow balls positioned along the branches; mildly perfumed

Fruit: Woody, dark grey, flat, curly pods, 40 – 170mm long x 6 – 10mm wide

Flowering Period: October – November

NOTES A widespread but generally uncommon species, usually with scattered individuals or small

clumps in any one area; often overlooked unless in bloom. Heavily browsed and often

shaped by livestock giving bonsai-like appearance. Dry pods can persist on the plant

for over 12 months.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

62

63

Acacia oswaldii

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

5.11 Myall Acacia pendula

OTHER COMMON NAMESWeeping myall, boree (in NSW).

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats, undulating plains and low hills with clay

soils, often on floodplains of watercourses; can form pure stands but usually associated

with poplar box or in open grassy downs in association with boonaree, lime bush,

brigalow, belah and emu apple.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 12m tall with rounded canopy; branches frequently pendulous.

Bark: Hard, dark brown or grey and fissured; branchlets reddish-brown

Leaves: Crescent-shaped, greyish-green with silvery appearance due to covering of short

hairs, many parallel veins, 50 – 100mm long x 4 – 8mm wide

Flowers: Pale gold balls

Fruit: Pods, flat, brown when dry, 30 – 100mm long x 10mm wide

Flowering Period: March – May but intensity and timing is variable between years

NOTESUseful stock fodder tree during drought. Readily suckers from roots forming small

groves. Sometimes heavily laden with grey mistletoe (Amyema quandang), an important

food resource for the rare painted honeyeater (Grantiella picta). Timber has a sweet rose

or violet smell when cut and is used for wood-turning and manufacture of small fancy

items. Bag-moth caterpillars build their nests on the branches and can strip entire trees

of their foliage.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

64

65

Acacia pendula

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

5.12 Doolan Acacia salicina

OTHER COMMON NAMES Sally wattle, cooba, broughton willow, willow wattle, native willow.

HABITAT Abundant and widespread throughout the coverage area along watercourses with loamy,

sandy or clay soils; also on alluvial plains and in undulating terrain; often associated with

poplar box, myall, river red gum and silver-leaved ironbark.

DESCRIPTION Grows into a sizeable tree to over 15m high with girth to 1m, but often much smaller;

drooping branches give large trees a willow-like appearance.

Bark: Furrowed and dark brown on old plants; smooth and light grey on branches and

trunks of saplings

Leaves: Green, thick, usually long and thin, 45 – 160mm x 5 – 25mm wide; young plants

often have broader and shorter leaves

Flowers: Pale yellow or yellowish-cream balls

Fruit: Green, bean-like pods, turning brown when dry, containing shiny, black seeds

surrounded by bright red ‘flesh’

Flowering Period: Peak between February and May but can flower throughout year

NOTES Wood is used for turning and furniture. Used historically for manufacture of bullock

yokes. Suckers profusely and very fast growing; often regarded as a woody weed. It is a

useful tree for wildlife providing shelter, nest sites and food; seeds and flowers are eaten

by birds and possums.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

66

67

Trunk

Fruit and seeds Flowers

Acacia salicina

5.13 Lancewood Acacia shirleyi

HABITAT On slopes and crests of rocky ridges and plateau tops with deep reddish earthy soil; forms

pure stands or grows in association with spotted gum, ironbarks, bloodwoods,

stringybarks, smooth-barked apple, black cypress pine and thready-bark she-oak.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 18m often with straight trunk and upward pointing branches.

Bark: Dark grey or brown, fissured into long strips

Leaves: Stiff, greyish-green with a fine point on tip, single vein prominent, 100 – 150mm

long x 3 – 7mm wide

Flowers: Bright yellow spikes to 40mm long

Fruit: Woody pods, 120mm long x 45mm wide, wrinkled and sticky

Flowering Period: Flowers at any time of year, particularly following rain

NOTESOccurs in the central and northern half of the coverage area. Frequently used for

stockyard rails and wood turning. Timber has a rose perfume when freshly cut.

Foliage is browsed by livestock.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Fairview, Roma.

68

69

Acacia shirleyi

Fruit (photo: Russell Cumming)

Trunk Flower

5.14 Currawong Acacia sparsiflora

OTHER COMMON NAMES Currawang

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on stony ridges and undulating terrain with sandy,

loamy stony soils; often occurs with narrow-leaved ironbark, dusky-leaved ironbark,

white cypress pine, smooth-barked apple, red ash and quinine tree.


Bark: Dark grey or brown and fissured

Leaves: Dull, grey green, curved, long and thin, 95 – 160mm x 5 – 8mm wide

Flowers: Bright yellow spike, 20 – 45mm long

Fruit: Greyish-green flat pods, 90mm long x 3mm wide

Flowering Period: Peak in April – May but also at other times after good rains

NOTES Browsed by livestock and sometimes cut for fodder during drought.

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma, Fairview, Scotia, Denison.

70

71

Acacia sparsiflora

Branches Trunk Flowers

5.15 River Cooba Acacia stenophylla

OTHER COMMON NAMESBelalie, river myall, eumong.

HABITAT Confined to banks of watercourses, swamps and alluvial floodplains, particularly on clay

soils; often with river red gum, river she-oak, poplar box, coolibah and black box

(Eucalyptus largiflorens).

DESCRIPTION Tree to 8m tall with weeping branches.

Bark: Hard, dark brown and furrowed; branchlets smooth, green or yellowish

Leaves: Long and slender, 150 – 300mm long x 3 – 5mm wide, strap-like and with

numerous parallel veins

Flowers: Pale or lemon yellow balls to 10mm diameter, perfumed

Fruit: Slender, grey or brown pods, 90 – 140mm long x 7mm wide, with bulges over

the seeds

Flowering Period: December – June

NOTES Occurs throughout the coverage area but it is less widespread and has a more patchy

occurrence than doolan which often occupies similar habitat. Timber used for wood

turning. Foliage browsed by livestock but it is not highly regarded as forage.

Important habitat tree for wildlife along watercourses. Seeds are edible.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

72

73

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia stenophylla

Tree in flower

5.16 Boonaree Alectryon oleifolius

OTHER COMMON NAMES Red heart, western rosewood, cattlebush, bullock bush, inland rosewood.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on alluvial and undulating clay plains, red earth

plains, mulga ridges, sandy ridges and levees; associated with many species including

poplar box, wilga, brigalow, belah, coolibah, black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), white

cypress pine and mulga.

DESCRIPTION Erect tree, often crooked, to at least 15m high; old trees develop hollows.

Bark: Hard, dark grey and fissured into rectangular blocks, very thick on older plants

Leaves: Dull greyish green, long and narrow, 70 – 160mm long x 5 – 10mm wide,

prominent midvein, arranged alternately; new growth has yellowish or lime green flush

Flowers: Non-descript and inconspicuous, about 5mm diameter, yellowish-green, in

clusters at ends of stems

Fruit: Glossy, dark green capsule with one or two lobes, turning brown when dry,

9 – 10mm wide; each lobe contains a single, glossy, black seed surrounded by bright

red flesh

Flowering Period: October – December

NOTESWood used for turning and furniture. Foliage is browsed by livestock and provides useful

fodder during drought. It has a large woody base underground and readily reproduces

from root suckers. Infertile plants are frequently mistaken for whitewood. Previously

known as Heterodendrum oleifolium.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

74

75

Alectryon oleifolius

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.17 Thready-bark She-oak Allocasuarina inophloia

OTHER COMMON NAMES Furry she-oak, stringybark she-oak, hairy oak, flame oak, woolly oak.

HABITAT Sand plains and slopes of sandstone hills, often with rocky substrate; commonly

associated with smooth-barked apple, white and black cypress pine, budgeroo,

bloodwoods, ironbarks, stringybarks and yellow jacket bloodwoods.

DESCRIPTIONTree to 10m with drooping branches.

Bark: Fibrous, hairy, orange or dark brown bark

Leaves: As with all of the she-oaks the fine, jointed branchlets function as leaves;

the true leaves (leaf teeth) are minute, scale-like and form a ring around the joint on

each branchlet; thready-bark she-oak has 7 – 9 leaf teeth and the branchlets are

60 – 120mm long

Flowers: Male trees have flowers that are rusty-brown to red and form in spikes about

35mm long at the end of the branchlets; female trees have bright red flowers that occur

along the branches

Fruit: Grey, woody cone, 10 – 20mm long x 10 – 15mm wide, on short stalk to 10mm long

Flowering Period: May – September

NOTESPatchily distributed throughout the coverage area. Wood is used for turning. Trees laden

with red flowers are particularly attractive. Seeds are eaten by glossy black-cockatoos

(Calyptorhynchus lathami). Previously known as Casuarina inophloia.

GAS/OIL FIELDMoonie, Scotia, Fairview, Denison.

76

77

Allocasuarina inophloia

Fruit Trunk Leaves

Male flowers

5.18 Bull Oak Allocasuarina luehmannii

OTHER COMMON NAMES Bull she-oak, buloke.

HABITAT Found throughout the coverage area on plains, undulating terrain and hills slopes with

sandy, gravelly or loamy soils; frequently occurs with white cypress pine, Baradine red

gum, poplar box, narrow-leaved ironbark, silver-leaved ironbark and smooth-barked

apple.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 15m high; usually with straight trunk and erect branches.

Bark: Dark brown, furrowed and sometimes chunky

Leaves: Dull greyish green branchlets, 1 – 2mm diameter and to 200mm long; 9 – 15 leaf

teeth; foliage thicker than other she-oaks occurring in coverage area

Flowers: Male flowers in spike at ends of branchlets, to 20 – 25mm long; female flower

reddish, with rounded head, about 2mm diameter, on very short stalk

Fruit: Flattened, brown, rounded, woody cone, 12mm wide x 4mm high, without stalk,

clustered along branches

Flowering Period: November – December

NOTES Timber is attractive but splits readily. Foliage is browsed by livestock during drought.

Regarded as an excellent fuel wood. Host to slender-leafed mistletoe (Amyema linophylla

orientalis). Bull oak often grows in ‘poor’ country with duplex (two-layered) soils prone

to severe gully erosion. Seeds are eaten by glossy black-cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus

lathami). Previously known as Casuarina luehmannii.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

78

79

Allocasuarina luehmannii

Male flowers Trunk Fruit

Female flower

5.19 Forest She-oak Allocasuarina torulosa

OTHER COMMON NAMES Forest oak, rose she-oak.

HABITAT Usually occurs on hill slopes and tablelands, often of basalt origin, but also in sandstone

country; associated with many species including spotted gum, smooth-barked apple,

Queensland blue gum and stringybarks; can form small pure stands.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 20m high with girth to 0.6m diameter; spreading branches with weeping habit.

Bark: Dark grey, rough, thick, deeply fissured, giving corky appearance

Leaves: Fine branchlets <0.5mm wide, purplish when young or on trees exposed to full

sun (hence common name of rose she-oak); 4 – 5 leaf teeth

Flowers: Male flowers brown or rusty-brown in spikes to about 40mm at the ends of the

branchlets; female flowers on stalk about 10mm long with rusty-brown head

Fruit: Brown woody cone, rounded to cylindrical or barrel-shaped, 20 – 30mm long x

10 – 25mm diameter, on stalk to 10 – 35mm long

Flowering Period: April – May

NOTES Restricted to ranges in the northern part of the coverage area. Wood has been used for

shingles, flooring, veneers, joinery and fancy timber work and is regarded as an excellent

fuel. The seeds are a favoured food of the vulnerable glossy black-cockatoo

(Calyptorhynchus lathami). Previously known as Casuarina torulosa.

GAS/OIL FIELDScotia, Fairview, Denison.

80

81

Male tree in full flower

Allocasuarina torulosa

Fruit Trunk Female flower

5.20 Red Ash Alphitonia excelsa

OTHER COMMON NAMES Soap tree, soap wood, sarsaparilla, red almond, white leaf.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats, hills or ridges with sandy or loamy soils;

often associated with white cypress pine, smooth-barked apple, Baradine red gum,

spotted gum, lemon-scented gum, lancewood and narrow-leaved ironbark.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 15m tall.

Bark: Hard, dark or light grey and fissured; branchlets with fine, brown hairs

Leaves: Glossy dark green above, silvery white below, short point at tip, 40 – 120mm long

x 10 – 30mm wide, on stalk 6 – 8mm long, new growth covered in rusty brown hairs; veins

have fish-bone like pattern that is prominent on the underside

Flowers: Greenish-white, to 6mm diameter, 5 petals, in clusters near end of stem, scented

Fruit: Green berry, later turning black, rounded, 5 – 7mm diameter, on stalk 5mm long

Flowering Period: Spring – autumn

NOTES Timber is used for wood turning and furniture. Leaves are browsed by livestock and eaten

by caterpillars. Crushed stems and new growth smell like sarsaparilla. Leaves produce

lather when crushed and rubbed in water.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

82

83

Trunk

Branches Flowers

Alphitonia excelsa

Fruit

5.21 Bitter Bark Alstonia constricta

OTHER COMMON NAMES Quinine bush, Australian quinine, corkwood, Australian fever bark, Alstonia bark.

HABITAT Common throughout the coverage area in a wide variety of woodland types usually on

sandy and loamy soils to light clays and red earths; also common around margins of

softwood scrubs in northern half of coverage area.

DESCRIPTION Usually 4 – 6m high, often in groves, but capable of growing into a large tree to 15m high

with girth to 0.5m diameter; milky sap.

Bark: Grey or light brown, fissured, thick and corky

Leaves: Dark or light green above, paler below; may be smooth and glossy or covered in

short, fine hairs; prominent midvein; dimensions variable, 50 – 150mm long x 50mm

wide, on long stalk to 45mm long

Flowers: Cream, star-shaped, 5 petals, 10 – 15mm diameter, fragrant

Fruit: Narrow, green, pencil shaped pod to 60 – 240mm long and 5 – 10mm wide on stalk

to 120mm long; turns brown and splits in half when dry, often curling at the ends

Flowering Period: August – December

NOTES Roots and bark contain several alkaloids which are dried and used for medicinal

purposes. Suckers profusely when disturbed and can form dense thickets. Timber used

for wood turning.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

84

85

Dry fruit

Alstonia constricta

Unripe fruit Trunk Flowers

5.22 Rough-barked Apple Angophora floribunda

OTHER COMMON NAMESApple gum, apple tree.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area and is usually associated with watercourses that

have sandy or loamy soils; also found on adjoining sand plains and levees and frequently

occurs with river red gum, Queensland blue gum, river she-oak, western tea tree, doolan

and Baradine red gum.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 20m high, with spreading limbs and weeping habit; branches often crooked and

sometimes touching the ground.

Bark: Dark grey or brown, furrowed and fibrous; branchlets reddish brown to green and

covered in short brown or cream hairs

Leaves: Green above, lighter green below, adult leaves 55 – 100mm long x 10 – 20mm

wide; arranged in opposite pairs; distinct yellowish midvein

Flowers: Masses of cream flowers in clusters at tips of the branches; 20 – 25mm diameter

with 5 cream petals around edge of green hairy cup; buds green with yellowish domed

cap, covered in short hairs

Fruit: Grey, woody but flexible, usually with 5 raised ribs extending down from lip,

7 – 10mm high x 10mm wide, on stalk to 8mm long


NOTES Useful shade tree. Timber used for stock yards (for example, gate boards) and truck

floors. Also used historically for cutting blocks in butcheries. Flowers are attractive

to insects.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

86

87

Angophora floribunda

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.23 Smooth-barked Apple Angophora leiocarpa

OTHER COMMON NAMES Rusty gum, cabbage gum.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on hills, ridges and slopes with sandy soils, often in

sandstone range country; commonly associated with white cypress pine, Baradine red

gum, bull oak, ironbarks, bloodwoods, thready-bark she-oak, budgeroo and woody pear.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 25m high with distinctive, crooked branches.

Bark: Smooth, grey or cream and often dimpled

Leaves: Dark green, paler green on the underside, 40 – 160mm long x 7 – 25mm wide,

arranged in opposite pairs; young plants with short, reddish hairs and rough leaves

Flowers: Cream, in clusters, perfumed; buds greenish-yellow

Fruit: Brown, woody, semi-hard with inconspicuous ribs, to 15mm high x 9mm wide


NOTESIn late spring, the old bark is shed and the trees look attractive with bright orange new

bark. The flowers attract numerous insects. Hollows are used by tree-dwelling mammals

and hollow-nesting birds.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

88

89

Angophora leiocarpa

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Tree with shed bark

5.24 Eastern Dead Finish Archidendropsis basaltica

OTHER COMMON NAMES Dead finish, red lancewood.

HABITAT Occurs on plains, hilly terrain or along watercourses with loamy or clay soils, often

derived from basalt.

DESCRIPTION Small tree or shrub to 8m tall.

Bark: Dark grey and deeply furrowed

Leaves: Dull green, fern-like

Flowers: Yellow balls

Fruit: Pods flat, to 70mm long, with raised edges


NOTES Restricted to the northern part of the coverage area. Leaves browsed by livestock.

The hard timber is sometimes used for fence posts. Wood is also used for turning and

furniture. Previously known as Albizia basaltica.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison

90

91

Archidendropsis basaltica

Group of trees Trunk Flower(photo: Steven Pearson)

5.25 Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca

HABITATDistributed throughout the coverage area on alluvial and undulating plains, ridges and

sandy rises; associated with many species including poplar box, myall, wilga, false

sandalwood, brigalow, belah and white cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 15m high.

Bark: Rough, dark grey and fissured into small, square blocks

Leaves: Leathery, grey-green, 2 – 6 opposite pairs on stems of adult plants, 60 – 110mm

long x 10mm wide

Flowers: Masses of cream flowers with 5 petals, about 13mm wide, in clusters at ends

of branches

Fruit: Pale green, turning brown when dry; papery, with 2 or 3 wings each containing a

single seed; develop quickly after flowering


NOTESTimber used for wood turning. Useful fodder species but cases of poisoning have been

recorded if leaves are eaten on dewy nights. Prone to root suckering. Flowers are

attractive to insects.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

92

93

Atalaya hemiglauca

Leaves and fruit Trunk Flowers

5.26 Broad-leaved Bottle Tree Brachychiton australis

OTHER COMMON NAMESSand bottle tree, Taroom bottle tree, deciduous bottle tree.

HABITAT Gullies and hill slopes among brigalow/belah or softwood scrub communities, often

in more sheltered situations than narrow-leaved bottle tree; also on rock outcrops.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 12m with inflated trunk.

Bark: Younger plants with relatively smooth, greenish bark becoming grey and furrowed

with age; branchlets green and covered in short white hairs

Leaves: Dark green above, paler green below, 5 – 7 lobes, 100 – 240mm long x

80 – 230mm wide, on long stalk 60 – 120mm long, prominent yellowish veins; deciduous

Flowers: Bell-shaped, 20mm long x 20mm diameter, 5 petals, cream inside and covered

in short, rusty-brown hairs on the outside, on stalk 8 – 12mm long; mildly perfumed

Fruit: Woody, dark brown, boat-shaped pods, 70 – 80mm long x 30 – 40mm wide,

in whorled clusters of up to 5 pods at ends of branches


NOTES Occurs in higher rainfall areas in the northern half of the coverage area. It is a popular

ornamental tree planted in western Queensland towns.


94

95

Brachychiton australis

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Leaves

5.27 Kurrajong Brachychiton populneus

OTHER COMMON NAMES Broad-leaved kurrajong, black kurrajong.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area in a variety of habitats including sandplains,

alluvial flats, undulating terrain and ridges with sand, loam or clay soils; associated

with many species including silver-leaved ironbark, poplar box, narrow-leaved ironbark,

mountain coolibah, myall, mulga, bendee and white cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 20m tall; slender trunk with rounded, spreading crown.

Leaves: Glossy, green, 40 – 140mm long x 15 – 80mm wide, rounded edges or with deep

lobes, on stalks 15 – 80mm long

Flowers: Bell-shaped, greenish with dark red throat, 8 – 15mm high x about 10mm diameter

Fruit: Hairless, brown, woody, boat-shaped pod with pointed end, 40 – 100mm long,


NOTES Frequently lopped for stock fodder during drought. Occasionally hybridises with narrow-

leaved bottle tree; these trees retain the general appearance of kurrajong but the leaves

resemble those of narrow-leaved bottle-tree.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

96

97

Fruit with seeds

Brachychiton populneus

Leaves Trunk Flowers

5.28 Narrow-leaved Bottle Tree Brachychiton rupestris

OTHER COMMON NAMES Queensland bottle tree.

HABITATOccurs throughout the coverage area and is most commonly associated with brigalow

woodland and vine thickets; also occurs in open, grassy downs, mulga woodland and on

residual ridges.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 15m high; trunk inflated and with dense, rounded crown.

Bark: Smooth, green and shiny on young plants; variable on older trees, generally grey

or brown with furrows of variable depth

Leaves: Glossy, dark green above, lighter green below, 45 – 90mm long x 8 – 20mm wide;

young leaves often with 5 – 7 narrow lobes on stalk to 85mm long; new growth reddish

Flowers: Bell-shaped with twisted petals, greenish-cream with dark red blotches,


Fruit: Brown, woody, thin-walled, boat-shaped pod with a prominent curved beak, 30mm

long x 10 – 15mm wide, smooth outside, hairy inside; in clusters of 1 – 5 at the ends of

the branches; each pod contains 2 – 8 hard, yellow, egg-shaped seeds


NOTESFlowers are attractive to moths. It is sometimes cut for fodder during drought but the

pulp inside the trunk can at times poison cattle. A very popular ornamental tree. Leaves

are often covered with harlequin bugs during spring.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

98

99

Fruit with seeds

Brachychiton rupestris

Juvenile leaves Trunk Flowers

5.29 Prickly Pine Bursaria incana

OTHER COMMON NAMESMock orange, prickly box.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on undulating terrain, hills and ridges with sandy,

loamy or light clay soils, in a variety of habitats ranging from eucalypt and acacia

woodlands to vine thickets.

DESCRIPTION Tree or shrub to at least 12m high; young plants tend to be very spiny.

Bark: Grey or dark brown, rough and fissured; branchlets covered with short white hairs

Leaves: Leaf shape and form variable on the same plant (short and rounded or long and

narrow), dark green above, whitish and hairy below, 20 – 90mm long x 5 – 12mm wide

Flowers: Cream, in clusters at ends of branches, 5 petals, 9 – 12mm diameter, perfumed

Fruit: Flat, purse-like capsule, green turning brown and hard when dry, heart-shaped

with sharp point, 5 – 8mm wide, splitting at the top

Flowering Period: Spring – autumn

NOTES Timber used for wood turning. Leaves are browsed by livestock. Flowers are attractive

to insects. Australian blackthorn or sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) is a similar shrub

which can be distinguished from prickly pine by its hairless leaves.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

100

101

Trunk

Leaves Flowers

Bursaria incana

Fruit

5.30 Weeping Bottlebrush Callistemon viminalis

OTHER COMMON NAMES Dawson River bottlebrush, red bottlebrush.

HABITAT Occurs predominantly in the northern half of the coverage area along banks and channels

of watercourses with a variety of substrates including clay, rock and sand; often associated

with Queensland blue gum, river red gum, river she-oak, rough-barked apple, sandpaper

figs and Carnarvon fan palm.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 10m, often bushy and with weeping branches.

Bark: Hard, furrowed and dark brown or grey

Leaves: Dark green, sharp point at tip, tapered at both ends, 40 – 50mm long x 3 – 7mm

wide, on short stalks and with prominent midvein; new growth lime green or bronze;

myrtle smell when crushed and oil glands conspicuous when held to light

Flowers: Bright red, brush-like spikes to 90mm long x 30mm wide

Fruit: Cylindrical clusters of small rounded capsules, 4mm high x 4 – 5mm wide and with

flattened tops

Flowering Period: Peak between September – December but sporadic at other times

NOTES Flowers are attractive to insects, particularly bees and butterflies, and nectar-feeding

birds. Many forms of this plant are available in cultivation.

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison, Scotia.

102

103

Trunk

Fruit Flower

Callistemon viminalis

Branches with flowers

5.31 Black Cypress Pine Callitris endlicheri

OTHER COMMON NAMESRed cypress pine, black pine.

HABITAT Usually on slopes and crests of rocky sandstone ridges with sandy, loamy and gravelly

soils; less frequently on flatter terrain; occurs with white cypress pine, gum-topped

ironbark, lancewood, bloodwoods, stringybarks, ironbarks, budgeroo, weeping tea-tree

and smooth-barked apple.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 15m high; bright green appearance; pyramidal shape.

Bark: Thick, deeply furrowed, and dark brown or black on old plants, grooved when

young; branches smooth, shiny and grey

Leaves: Usually bright green, sometime pale green, 2 – 4mm long, with keels on their

upper side

Fruit: Dark grey or brown woody cones, brown and rounded, 12 – 20mm diameter,

splitting when dry into 6 segments, each with pointed tip and wrinkled on their outside;

occur singly or in small clusters along branches; dark brown, winged seeds

Flowering Period: Spring

NOTES Occurs in northern and central parts of the coverage area. Resin and oil have medicinal

properties. Black cypress pine is not harvested commercially in the local area.

Distinguished from white cypress pine by its smaller size, brighter green appearance and

keeled foliage. White cypress pine also has a longer ‘stalk’ in the middle of the open cones.

GAS/OIL FIELDScotia, Fairview, Denison.

104

105

Callitris endlicheri

Fruit Trunk Fertile branches

Grove of young plants

5.32 White Cypress Pine Callitris glaucophylla

OTHER COMMON NAMESCypress pine, white cypress, Murray pine.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats, levees, dunes, undulating hills and

sometimes steep ridge slopes with sandy, loamy or stony soils; forms pure stands or

associated with numerous species including carbeen, poplar box, Baradine gum,

ironwood, silver-leaved ironbark, narrow-leaved ironbark and smooth-barked apple.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 30m tall with spreading branches.

Bark: Dark brown, grey or almost black and furrowed; exudes yellowish gum from wounds

Leaves: Dull greyish to bluish-green rounded leaves, pine smell when crushed

Fruit: Brown woody balls, about 20mm diameter, splitting open into segments; stalk

inside open cone from 4 – 7mm long; winged seeds


NOTES Harvest of timber from this species is a major local industry. Timber is used for kindling,

yard rails, furniture, house frames and flooring. Historically it was used for construction

of slab huts. The wood is highly resistant to termite attack. It forms impenetrable thickets

in the absence of fire, and such habitats often contain the rare golden-tailed gecko

(Strophurus taenicauda). Plants in flower have a rusty-brown flush. The seeds are eaten by

sulphur-crested and Major Mitchell cockatoos (Cacatua galerita). The name Callitris

columellaris used to be applied to this species.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

106

107

Callitris glaucophylla

Fertile branches Trunk Fruit

Young tree

5.33 Wild Orange Capparis canescens

OTHER COMMON NAMES Wild pomegranate, orangewood, dog caper.

HABITAT Confined to the northern half of coverage area on flats, hills and ridges, usually on sand,

loam, gravel or light clay; often associated with silver-leaved ironbark, narrow-leaved

ironbark, white cypress pine, mountain coolibah, red bloodwood and Dallachy’s gum.

DESCRIPTION Small, untidy tree or shrub to 4m high; trunk sometimes with rose-thorn like spines;

smaller branches with sharp pairs of brown curved spines about 5mm long.

Bark: Thick, brown and furrowed with corky appearance on older plants; smaller

branches smooth

Leaves: Dull green, stiff and leathery; young foliage broad and pointed, 20 – 40 mm long

x 20 – 25mm wide, on short stalk 3 – 4mm long; older foliage longer than broad, oval,

50 – 90mm long x 30 – 50 mm wide, on stalk to 20mm long

Flowers: Cream, showy, about 50mm diameter, a mass of long stamens clustered in the

middle of 4 hairy petals; buds heart-shaped with 4 prominent ridges on long stalk

30 – 95mm long

Fruit: Rounded, 25 – 75mm diameter, on long stalk 60 – 90mm long

Flowering Period: Summer – autumn

NOTESWild orange is highly susceptible to termite attack and large trees are uncommon.

Wood boring caterpillars are extracted from the branches by cockatoos. Fruit and capers

(flower buds) are edible.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Fairview.

108

109

Trunk

Fruit(photo: Russell Cumming)

Flower

Capparis canescens

Juvenile leaves

Buds

5.34 Narrow-leaf Bumble Tree Capparis loranthifolia

OTHER COMMON NAMES Narrow-leaf bumble, bumble tree, wild orange.

HABITAT Alluvial flats, undulating plains and hill slopes with loam or clay soils; often associated

with poplar box, myall, whitewood, boonaree, coolibah, belah, brigalow, white cypress

pine and mulga.

DESCRIPTION Small tree or shrub with short, stocky trunk, to 8m high.

Bark: Rough, grey to brown and deeply furrowed, appearing corky with age

Leaves: Glossy to dull green, older leaves stiff and leathery, variable shape and

dimensions, from 40 – 70mm long x 10 – 20mm wide, on stalks to 10mm long, midvein

yellowish and raised on underside; new growth covered in short white hairs

Flowers: Showy and fragile, cream, 4 petals with long plumes of protruding stamens,

to 40mm diameter, on stalks to 20 – 45mm long

Fruit: Round, to 55mm diameter, either wrinkled or smooth, dull green or glossy, green

turning brown to reddish-brown when dry

Flowering Period: November – January and sporadically after rain

NOTES Two varieties of this plant occur in the coverage area: one has narrow leaf blades and

smooth fruit, while the other has broad leaves and larger, wrinkled fruit. The two

varieties occasionally grow side by side.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

110

111

Trunk

Smooth fruit Flower

Capparis loranthifolia

Wrinkled fruit

5.35 Bumble Tree Capparis mitchellii

OTHER COMMON NAMESNative orange, wild pomegranate, wild orange.

HABITAT Woodlands including poplar box, brigalow, belah and mulga on clay plains or on loamy

red earths; also in softwood scrubs.

DESCRIPTION Small, rounded tree with short, solid trunk, to 8m high; young plants very spiny.

Bark: Furrowed brown

Leaves: Glossy, dark green above, pale greyish-green below, 35 – 65mm long x 10 – 35mm

wide; broadest in middle, tapering at both ends; stems pale green and covered in short

white hairs; young plants have shorter and broader leaves

Flowers: Large, 4 cream petals each 20 – 30mm long, with protruding stamens,

perfumed; buds smooth, on long stalk 30 – 40mm long, hairy, with pear-shaped end

Fruit: Smooth or warty, green, round, 40 – 70mm diameter; flesh is sweet-smelling and

edible when ripe, and contains numerous flat seeds

Flowering Period: Spring – summer and sporadically after rain

NOTES Leaves are palatable to livestock. Wood is used for carving and turning. Tends to be more

common in the southern half of the coverage area and generally occurs as widely

scattered individuals. The showy flowers are very brittle.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

112

113

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Capparis mitchellii

5.36 Leichhardt Bean Cassia brewsteri

OTHER COMMON NAMES Bean tree.

HABITAT Occurs in northern part of coverage area on flats, undulating plains and ridges with

a variety of soils from heavy clay to sandy loams and gravel; often with brigalow, lemon-

scented gum, yellow wood, bauhinia, narrow-leaved ironbark, red bloodwood, Dawson

gum, silver-leaved ironbark and Dallachy’s gum.

DESCRIPTION Small, single stemmed tree or multi-stemmed rounded shrub, to 12m high.

Bark: Dark grey; rough and furrowed; smooth and light grey on smaller branches and

on trunks of younger plants

Leaves: 2 – 4 pairs of leaflets on each branchlet; glossy, dark green above, lighter green

below, new growth lime green, midvein prominent on underside of each leaflet;

individual leaflets from 30 – 90mm long x 15 – 30mm wide on short stalk

Flowers: Drooping clusters of yellow, orange or red flowers

Fruit: Straight, cylindrical pod, 200 – 500 mm long, dark brown or black with ribs

Flowering Period: September – November

NOTESA common plant along roadsides north of Rolleston. The flowers are attractive and it is

planted as an ornamental.


114

115

Trunk

Fruit (photo: Glenn Leiper)

Flowers (photo: Steven Pearson)

Cassia brewsteri

5.37 Belah Casuarina cristata

OTHER COMMON NAMES Black oak, scrub she-oak.

HABITATOccurs throughout the coverage area on flats, undulating terrain and hill slopes with clay

or loamy soils; grows in pure stands or is associated with brigalow, poplar box, myall,

ooline, wilga, false sandalwood and vine thickets.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 20m tall; usually with straight trunk and dense crown.

Bark: Hard, thick, dark grey or brown, fissured; outer branches smooth and shiny

Leaves: Needle-like branchlets to 350mm long and <1mm diameter; whorls of 8 – 16 leaf

teeth

Flowers: Male plants with rusty-brown spike at end of branchlets, to 30mm long; female

trees have red globular flower heads, 3 – 4mm diameter, on stalk 5 – 7mm long

Fruit: Woody cone, brown when dry, usually round, 10 – 20mm diameter, on stalk to 5mm

long; pointed valves contain pale brown winged seeds

Flowering Period: Autumn – winter

NOTESTimber is used for turning and was used historically for shingles, tool handles, trinkets

and ornaments. Cones are used for craft. Highly regarded as firewood. It is a useful stock

fodder during drought and a good windbreak tree. Glossy black-cockatoos (Cacatua

galerita) extract seeds from the cones. Often heavy laden with needle-leaf mistletoe

(Amyema cambagei). Branchlets are sometimes covered with soft, white, waxy lumps

which are made by tiny psyllid bugs. Nitrogen is fixed by the roots.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

116

117

Trunk

Fruit Female flowers

Casuarina cristata

Male flowers

5.38 River She-oak Casuarina cunninghamiana

OTHER COMMON NAMES River oak, creek oak.

HABITATWidespread but confined to watercourse channels and banks on various substrates

including sand, loam, gravel and clay; commonly occurs with river red gum, rough-barked

apple, Queensland blue gum, weeping bottlebrush and western tea-tree.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 35m tall with girth to 1.5m.

Bark: Dark grey or brown, hard and furrowed

Leaves: Fine, greyish-green, drooping branchlets, 0.5mm diameter, 100 – 250mm long;

leaf teeth in whorls of 6 – 8

Flowers: Male plants have rusty-brown flower spikes to 30mm long at the end of

the branchlets; female flower heads are red, 10mm diameter, and positioned along

the branches

Fruit: Usually a round, brown, woody cone, 5 – 12mm high x 5 – 8mm wide, with

numerous pointed valves each containing a single pale, papery seed

Flowering Period: March – October

NOTES Grows taller than any other Australian she-oak. Historically used for bullock yokes and

shingles in the Injune area. Wood is used for turning and making ornaments. Foliage is

browsed by livestock. Seedlings proliferate after major floods.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

118

119

Casuarina cunninghamiana

Fruit Trunk Female flowers

Male flowers

5.39 Limebush Citrus glauca

OTHER COMMON NAMESDesert lime, wild lime.

HABITATOccurs throughout the coverage area on heavy or light clay and loamy red earth; associated

with poplar box, myall, silver-leaved ironbark, brigalow, belah or in open downs country.

DESCRIPTION Small tree with dense, rounded crown to 8m high; young plants have long thorns on stems

and branches.

Bark: Dark brown or grey, hard, deeply grooved; outer branches smooth, grey

Leaves: Dull green, to 60mm long x 5 – 8mm wide; oil glands obvious when held to light;

tip rounded with shallow notch; citrus smell when crushed

Flowers: Cream, with 4 or 5 petals; about 15 mm diameter; sweetly perfumed

Fruit: Round or oblong, 15 – 20mm long x 15mm wide, yellow when ripe, fleshy and dimpled


NOTES Suckers profusely and young plants form dense thickets. Fruit edible and is popular among

the Australian bush food industry. Flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, flies and

wasps. Foliage is browsed by livestock and the fruit are eaten by sheep. Previously known

as Eremocitrus glauca.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

120

121

Grove of young trees

Citrus glauca

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.40 Spotted and Lemon-scented Gum Corymbia citriodora

HABITAT Both varieties are found in the northern half of the coverage area on hills and ridges,

in gorges and sometimes along watercourses and flats; the substrate is usually sandy,

loamy or rocky; they form pure stands or are associated with narrow-leaved ironbark,

dusky-leaved ironbark, lancewood and zamia.

DESCRIPTIONTree to at least 30m high with long, shaft-like trunk and dense crown.

Bark: Pale grey, peeling off in summer to reveal cream, orange or pink new bark;

spotted gum is usually heavily dimpled, while lemon-scented gum is smooth or has only

a few dimples

Leaves: Green, same colour both sides, 120 – 180mm long x 20 – 30mm wide

Flowers: Cream, to 15mm diameter; buds 11mm high x 7mm wide

Fruit: Woody, urn-shaped, grey when dry, covered in warts, 15mm high (including stalk

to 8mm) x 11mm wide, valves deeply enclosed within capsule

Flowering Period: April – November

NOTES Lemon-scented and spotted gums are valued for their timber and are harvested for poles.

The leaves of lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora citriodora) smell strongly of

citronella when crushed. Spotted gum (C. citriodora variegata) looks similar; however, its

bark usually has more dimples. The sap is a favoured food of the yellow-bellied glider

(Petaurus australis). Previous names applied to these trees include Eucalyptus maculata,

E. citriodora and Corymbia maculata.

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison, Scotia

122

123

Corymbia citriodora

Buds Trunk (spotted gum) Flowers

FruitTrunk (lemon scented gum)

5.41 Clarkson's Bloodwood Corymbia clarksoniana

OTHER COMMON NAMES Inland bloodwood, long-fruited bloodwood, small-flowered bloodwood.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on sandy flats, levees and hills with loamy soils;

associated with white cypress pine, silver-leaved ironbark, bull oak, Baradine red gum,

ironwood, carbeen and smooth-barked apple.


Bark: Grey and fissured into fibrous, block-like segments, reddish-brown underneath;

rough bark extends to the small branches

Leaves: Dark green above, lighter green below, 90 – 150mm long (including stalk

10 – 20mm long) x 20 – 25mm wide

Flowers: White or yellowish-cream, to 25mm diameter, in clusters of 2 – 4, sweetly

perfumed; buds yellowish-cream, pear-shaped, cap with short point, 15mm long

Fruit: Green turning brown when dry, woody, variable in shape, usually longer than broad,

20 – 30mm long x 15mm wide; red-brown winged seeds

Flowering Period: February – March

NOTES Flowers are attractive to insects. Hollows are used by possums, gliders and nesting birds.

Timber is sometimes used for fencing. Formerly known as Eucalyptus clarksoniana.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

124

125

Corymbia clarksoniana

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.42 Dallachy’s Gum Corymbia dallachyana

OTHER COMMON NAMES Ghost gum.

HABITAT Confined to the extreme northern part of the coverage area where it occurs on flats,

levees and ridges usually with loamy or gravelly soil; associated species include

ironbarks, poplar box, ironwood and Clarkson’s bloodwood.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 20m tall, straight trunk often with crooked branches.

Bark: Light grey or cream, smooth and bare or having flaky, brown bark at the base;

rough bark can extend several metres up the trunk of younger trees

Leaves: Green, thin and wavy, 100 – 180mm long x 15 – 40mm wide, on stalk 10 – 20mm

long, prominent yellowish midvein; foliage is broader and brighter green on saplings

Flowers: Cream, 10 – 15mm diameter; buds bluntly domed

Fruit: Dark grey or brown, cylindrical, thin walled, can be crushed between fingers easily

when dry, 8 – 15mm long x 8 – 10mm wide, on stalk 5 – 6mm long


NOTES Restricted to the Emerald-Springsure area. Distinguished from carbeen (Corymbia

tessellaris) by its much paler trunk (which normally does not have a stocking of bark

except around the base) and broad, lime green, wavy leaves on young plants.


126

127

Fruit

Corymbia dallachyana

Leaves Base of trunk Flowers (photo: Russell Cumming)

5.43 Red Bloodwood Corymbia erythrophloia

OTHER COMMON NAMESGum-topped bloodwood, variable bloodwood.

HABITAT Occurs in northern and central parts of the coverage area on flats, undulating terrain and

hills with loam or clay soils, often derived from basalt; commonly associated with

mountain coolibah and narrow-leaved ironbark.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 12m high; often with short trunk.

Bark: Grey, rough, fissured into small flaky patches; grey bark flakes off to reveal

reddish, brown or orange underneath; bark smooth on smaller branches

Leaves: Green, same colour both sides, 70 – 180mm long x 15 – 25mm wide, on reddish

or yellowish-brown stalk 10 – 15mm long, prominent yellow midvein

Flowers: Creamy white, to 20mm diameter; buds pear-shaped, yellowish-cream, 6 – 11mm

long x 4 – 7mm wide, on short stalk 2 – 3mm long

Fruit: Brown when dry, woody, urn-shaped, 10 – 20mm long x 9 – 15mm wide,

thick-walled with heavy rim; reddish-brown winged seeds

Flowering Period: February – April

NOTES Flowers are attractive to insects. Formerly known as Eucalyptus erythrophloia.

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison, Roma, Scotia.

128

129

Corymbia erythrophloia

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.44 Carbeen Corymbia tessellaris

OTHER COMMON NAMESMoreton Bay ash.

HABITATDistributed throughout the coverage area on flats, levees, dunes and undulating terrain

with deep sandy or loamy soils; associated with white cypress pine, poplar box, ironwood,

silver-leaved ironbark, Clarkson’s bloodwood and Baradine red gum.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 30m tall.

Bark: Dark grey, rough stocking, fissured into rectangular segments at base and usually

extending several metres up the trunk; smooth and light grey to cream above

Leaves: Dull green, thin, 50 – 110mm long x 6 – 12mm wide, with distinct yellowish

midvein, same colour both sides

Flowers: Cream, 10 – 15mm diameter; buds 10mm long x 5mm wide, bluntly domed

Fruit: Brown, cylindrical or barrel-shaped, thin walled, shiny, 8 – 12mm long x 5 – 8mm

wide, on stalk about 6mm long

Flowering Period: November – January

NOTES Tool handles, road and rail bridges have been made from the timber. Sometimes used for

wood turning and fencing. Suckers readily and often forms small groves. Bark peels in

late spring/summer revealing attractive bright cream or pinkish new bark. Formerly

known as Eucalyptus tessellaris.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

130

131

Leaves and buds

Corymbia tessellaris

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.45 Brown Bloodwood Corymbia trachyphloia

OTHER COMMON NAMES Yellow bloodwood, yellow jacket (where C. watsoniana or C. leichhardtii are absent).

HABITAT Occurs on sandy rises and rocky ridges, often growing in association with yellow jackets,

spotted gum, white and black cypress pine, budgeroo, Queensland peppermint, red ash,

lancewood, quinine tree and ironbarks.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 25m high; grows as a stunted mallee (multi-stemmed) in poorer country, for

example, in the Thomby Range.

Bark: Yellowish, brown or grey, fibrous and fissured into rectangular pieces, often with

red gum stains; small branches smooth

Leaves: Adult leaves dark green on top, paler green below, yellow midvein prominent,

110 – 160mm long x 15 – 22mm wide

Flowers: Masses of yellowish-cream flowers in clusters at ends of small branches, to

15mm diameter, strongly perfumed; buds pear-shaped with pointed cap, to 11mm long

x 4mm wide

Fruit: Woody, urn-shaped, 8mm long x 5mm wide, on stalk to 7mm long

Flowering Period: December – January

NOTES:Patchily distributed throughout the coverage area. Timber is sometimes used for fence

posts. Formerly known as Eucalyptus trachyphloia.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

132

133

Buds

Corymbia trachyphloia

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.46 Large-fruited Yellow Jacket Corymbia watsoniana

OTHER COMMON NAMES Yellow jacket.

HABITAT Undulating terrain and hill slopes in sandstone range country with sandy, loamy or rocky

substrate; associated with other bloodwoods, ironbarks, lancewood, spotted gum,

thready-bark she-oak and budgeroo.


Bark: Rough, loose, flaky, bright orange to yellowish brown; small branches smooth

Leaves: Juvenile leaves rough; adult leaves pale green to grey-green, same colour both

sides, 80 – 220mm long x 20 – 80mm wide, on stalk 15 – 35mm long

Flowers: Cream or lemon-white, 50 – 60mm diameter; large yellowish-green buds, 30mm

long x 17mm wide, with broad, pointed cap

Fruit: Brown when dry, woody, urn-shaped, 15 – 30mm long x 15 – 25mm wide

Flowering Period: Winter – summer

NOTESOccurs in the northern part of the coverage area where it is most common in the

Expedition Range. The brightly coloured bark makes this an attractive and distinctive

tree. Rusty jacket (Corymbia leichhardtii) is a similar species that has smaller fruit and

buds and occurs around Springsure. Ants are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers.

Previously known as Eucalyptus watsoniana.


134

135

Corymbia watsoniana

Buds Trunk Fruit

Flower

5.47 Bat's Wing Coral Tree Erythrina vespertilio

OTHER COMMON NAMES Corkwood, bean tree, coral tree.

HABITAT Occurs in the northern part of the coverage area on banks and levees of gullies and

watercourses or on hill slopes and plateau tops; associated species vary with habitat

and include red bloodwood, narrow-leaved ironbark, silver-leaved ironbark, mountain

coolibah, black tea-tree, Queensland blue gum and white cedar.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 15m, often sparsely branched.

Bark: Grey, brown or pinkish, smooth and shiny or rough and grooved; branches and

trunk can be armoured with hard, short prickles

Leaves: Green, pointed tip with the outer 2 lobes spreading like wings, often broader

than long, deciduous

Flowers: Bright orange or red, curved, each 30mm long, in small clusters

Fruit: Black, leathery or woody slender pod, 80 – 20mm long x 12mm wide, containing

bright red, smooth, glossy, kidney-shaped seeds to 12mm long x 7mm wide


NOTES Very conspicuous when in full flower. The blossoms attract nectar-feeding birds, such as

rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus). Wood is similar to balsa and has been used

to make fishing floats. Planted in some towns as an ornamental street tree.

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison.

136

137

Seeds

Erythrina vespertilio

Tree in flower Trunk Flowers

Leaves

5.48 Baker’s Mallee Eucalyptus bakeri

HABITAT Most common on crests and slopes of rocky ridges with shallow soil; often associated

with mountain yapunyah, Queensland peppermint, bendee, dusky-leaved ironbark,

narrow-leaved ironbark and tea-trees (Melaleuca spp.).

DESCRIPTION Small tree to 12m high, sometimes a mallee (multi-stemmed trunk).

Bark: Grey, rough and finely fissured on trunk, branches smooth, with bark peeling in

ribbons around the level of the first branches

Leaves: Green, same colour both sides, to 90mm long x 10mm wide, on stalks

4 – 10mm long

Flowers: Cream; buds bullet-shaped, 7 – 10mm long

Fruit: Green turning brown, woody, cup-shaped, with protruding teeth, 3 – 5mm long

x 4 – 5mm wide


NOTESOccurs patchily throughout the coverage area. New bark has an attractive orange or

pinkish tinge in late spring or summer. Stands of Baker’s mallee provide good habitat

for woodland birds.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

138

139

Upper trunk

Base of trunk Flowers

Eucalyptus bakeri

Fruit

Buds

5.49 River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis

OTHER COMMON NAMES Red gum, Murray red gum.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on banks of watercourses, swamp margins and

alluvial plains; occurs most frequently with poplar box, coolibah, rough-barked apple,

river she-oak, western tea-tree, weeping bottlebrush, myall and doolan.

DESCRIPTIONTree to at least 25m high; large trees have massive butts and can be centuries old.

Bark: Dark grey or brown and rough at the base, peeling about the lower trunk; smooth

above and mottled with grey, brown and cream patches

Leaves: Green or bluish-green, same colour both sides, 75 – 230mm long x 9 – 22mm wide

Flowers: Cream, 15mm diameter; buds with pointed cap of variable shape

Fruit: Woody, brown, cup-shaped or hemispherical base, valves protruding well beyond

rim level, variable size and shape, 3 – 7mm high x 5 – 9mm wide


NOTES The most widely distributed eucalypt in Australia. Wood used for turning, internal

construction, furniture and round posts. Distinguished from Queensland blue gum

(Eucalyptus tereticornis) by seed colour: river red gum has white or yellow seeds, while

those of Queensland blue gum are brown. Kino (gum) and leaves have been used for

medicinal purposes. Host to drooping mistletoe (Amyema pendulum). Leaves are food

for koalas and possums, while the flowers attract insects, birds, gliders and flying-foxes.

Hollows provide nest sites and homes for birds, possums, gliders and bats.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

140

141

Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Buds

5.50 Dawson Gum Eucalyptus cambageana

OTHER COMMON NAMES Blackbutt, Dawson River blackbutt, Coowarra box.

HABITATRestricted to the northern part of the coverage area where it has a patchy distribution

on undulating clay plains and hard, residual ridges; occurs in pure stands or is associated

with bauhinia, brigalow, poplar box, wilga, false sandalwood and yellow wood.


Bark: Hard, very dark grey to black and rough on lower part of tree, forming a stocking

to about the height of the first branches; cream, white or reddish-brown and smooth

above stocking

Leaves: Dark green, same colour both sides, to 170mm long x 20mm wide

Flowers: Cream, to 15mm wide; buds yellowish-green, in small clusters at tips of

branches, diamond-shaped, to 7mm long x 4mm wide

Fruit: Green, cup-shaped capsule, turning brown and woody when dry, 7mm long x 5mm

wide, with 4 – 5 valves at or protruding just above rim level


NOTES Timber used for wood turning, furniture, flooring and fence posts. Valued by the bee

keeping industry for its nectar production. Leaves are a favourite food of koalas

(Phascolarctos cinereus). New bark is particularly attractive in summer when it may have

shades of orange, pink and brown.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Scotia.

142

143

Eucalyptus cambageana

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.51 Baradine Red Gum Eucalyptus chloroclada

OTHER COMMON NAMES Tumbledown gum, water gum.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on sandy levees and plains, hills with deep sand

or loam, and gully banks; often grows in association with rough-barked apple, bull oak,

Clarkson’s bloodwood, carbeen and white cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Can reach 20m high but frequently smaller.

Bark: Dark grey or brown and rough at base; smooth with patches of grey, brown, yellow

and cream on rest of trunk

Leaves: Adult leaves green, same colour both sides, 60 – 150mm long x 10 – 30 mm wide;

juvenile leaves very broad and rounded, to 120mm long x 100mm wide, notched at the tip

Flowers: Cream, 10mm diameter; buds 10mm long x 5mm wide with conical cap

Fruit: Green, turning brown when dry, woody, hemispherical with 4 pointed teeth

extending beyond rim level


NOTES Resembles river red gum although it is normally a smaller tree and differs further by its

much broader juvenile leaves. Geckoes, spiders and insects live under the loose bark.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

144

145

Eucalyptus chloroclada

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.52 Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah

OTHER COMMON NAMES Coolabah

HABITAT Occurs along margins of watercourses, swamps and lakes and on alluvial floodplains,

usually with heavy clay soils; grows in pure stands or is associated with poplar box, river red

gum, Queensland blue gum, black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), doolan and river cooba.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 15m high; usually with short trunk and often wider than tall.

Bark: Rough, dark grey or brown, deeply fissured or with shallow grooves on the trunk

and main branches; smooth, powdery, cream to light grey on the outer branches

Leaves: Dull grey or bluish-green, same colour both sides, 40 – 130mm long x 10 – 40 mm

wide, on stalk to 15mm long; new growth silvery

Flowers: Cream, 10mm diameter, in clusters at tips of branches, sweetly perfumed; buds

egg-shaped, yellowish-green, 3 – 5mm long x 2 – 3mm wide, on stalk to 2mm long

Fruit: Brown, woody, hemispherical capsule, 3mm high x 3 – 5mm wide, on stalk 1 – 3mm

long, with 3 – 4 valves protruding well beyond rim level

Flowering Period: December – February

NOTES Common along the Balonne, Comet and Dawson Rivers and other major watercourses.

Timber is used for fence posts, wood turning and furniture. Mature trees provide valuable

wildlife habitat in riparian areas. Black box (E. largiflorens) is a similar tree and grows

with coolibah along the Moonie River. The bark of black box extends to the smallest

branches, whereas the outer limbs of coolibah are smooth. Trees in this area were

formally known as Eucalyptus microtheca.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

146

147

Eucalyptus coolabah

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Upper branches

5.53 Narrow-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus crebra

OTHER COMMON NAMES Narrow-leaved red ironbark, narrow-leaf ironbark.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on ridges and hills with a variety of substrates

including loam, clay, red earth and gravel; occurs in a pure stand or is associated with

white cypress pine, silver-leaved ironbark, red bloodwood, mountain coolibah,

lancewood, gum-topped box, bloodwoods and other ironbarks.

DESCRIPTIONTree to at least 30m often with straight trunk.

Bark: Hard, black or dark brown and deeply fissured; outer branches frequently smooth;

branchlets reddish or orangey brown

Leaves: Variable in size and colour, green to dull bluish-green, same colour both sides,

adult leaves 50 – 180mm long x 6 – 25mm wide

Flowers: Masses of cream flowers, in clusters at or near ends of branches, about 5mm

diameter; buds variable, diamond-shaped, to 8mm long x 4mm wide

Fruit: Cup-shaped, 3 – 6mm long x 3 – 6mm wide, 3 – 4 valves at rim level or inside

capsule, on short stalk to 2mm long

Flowering Period: Throughout the year

NOTES Extensively cut for fence posts; timber also used for wood turning and furniture. It is an

important nectar producing tree and the flowers are attractive to wildlife, particularly

insects and birds. Frequently hybridises with coolibah, poplar box and mountain coolibah.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

148

149

Tree top

Eucalyptus crebra

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.54 Gum-topped Ironbark Eucalyptus decorticans

HABITAT Occurs in central and northern parts of the coverage area on crests and upper slopes of

sandstone ridges; forms pure stands or occurs with black cypress pine, lancewood and

Henderson’s bloodwood (Corymbia hendersonii).

DESCRIPTION Tree to 25m high usually with straight trunk.

Bark: Dark brown or black, deeply fissured over trunk and base of large branches,

smooth, shiny and coppery-brown on outer branches


Flowers: White, 11 – 12mm diameter; buds pointed and elongated, 7mm long x 4mm wide

Fruit: Woody, brown, 9 – 10mm long x 7mm wide, 4 valves deep inside capsule

Flowering Period: December – February

NOTES A very attractive and distinctive tree which is common in the Carnarvon and Expedition

Ranges. Sometimes used for fence posts. Hollow trees are used by possums, gliders and bats.


150

151

Eucalyptus decorticans

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Tree top

5.55 Queensland Peppermint Eucalyptus exserta

OTHER COMMON NAMES Bendo, mountain box, yellow messmate.

HABITATOccurs on rocky ridge tops and slopes with Baker’s mallee, brown bloodwood, ironbarks,

currawong, lancewood and bendee.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 12m high with short, thick trunk; sometimes grows as a mallee.

Bark: Rough, dark grey, flaky on trunk and main branches; outer branches smooth with

pinkish-orange tinge in late spring/summer, new bark cream

Leaves: Green, 80 – 180mm long x 5 – 20mm wide; same colour both sides

Flowers: Cream, buds 8 – 12mm long x 6 – 9mm wide

Fruit: Grey and woody, size variable, 3 – 10mm long x 4 – 9mm wide, 4 curved teeth

extend well beyond rim level


NOTES Occurs patchily throughout the coverage area. It is a favourite food tree of koalas

(Phascolarctos cinereus).

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

152

153

Lower trunk

Fruit Flowers

Eucalyptus exserta

Buds

Smooth upper bark

5.56 Dusky-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus fibrosa nubila

OTHER COMMON NAMES Blue-leaved ironbark, broad-leaved ironbark, mountain broadleaf ironbark.

HABITATOccurs on slopes and crests of stony ridges; forms pure stands or is associated with

gum-topped box, spotted gum, white cypress pine, smooth-barked apple and lancewood.

DESCRIPTIONTree to 25m high.

Bark: Hard, dark and deeply furrowed; smooth on smallest branches

Leaves: Bluish-grey, same colour both sides, adult leaves 90 – 250mm long x 20 – 45mm

wide; juvenile leaves very broad, thick, stiff and leathery, to 200mm long x 100mm wide

Flowers: White, to 15mm diameter; buds 8 – 15mm long, bluish-grey, greyish-green or

reddish-pink with long pointed caps

Fruit: Bluish-grey or greyish-green, turning brown when dry, 6 – 10mm long x 5 – 9mm

wide, 4 valves extending well beyond rim level

Flowering Period: May – July

NOTES Patchily distributed in the northern and central parts of the coverage area. Used for

fence posts but to a lesser extent than narrow-leaved ironbark. Flowers are important

for nectar-feeding wildlife, particularly honeyeaters and lorikeets.

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Scotia, Roma.

154

155

Eucalyptus fibrosa nubila

Buds Trunk

Juvenile Leaves

Flowers

Friut

5.57 Grey Gum Eucalyptus major

OTHER COMMON NAMES Mountain grey gum.

HABITAT Favours rocky ridges and gorges among sandstone ranges; associated with smooth-

barked apple, Henderson’s bloodwood (Corymbia hendersonii), thready-bark she-oak,

ironbarks, lancewood, black cypress pine and Queensland peppermint.


Bark: Smooth, often blotched with various shades of grey and brown, peeling in late

spring or summer and followed by orange new bark; branchlets and stems reddish

Leaves: Dark above, paler green below, variable in size and shape, 80 – 210mm long

x 20 – 40mm wide, on stalk 10 – 20mm long

Flowers: White, 10mm wide, in clusters of 3 – 6; buds 6 – 9mm long with conical,

pointed cap

Fruit: Grey, variable in size, 4 – 7mm high x 5 – 7mm wide, valves extend well beyond rim

Flowering Period: Summer

NOTESPatchily distributed in the northern part of the coverage area, particularly in the

Carnarvon and Expedition Ranges. Grey gum leaves are eaten by possums and koalas.

Another grey gum (E. longirostrata) occurs in the coverage area on slopes within

sandstone gorges. It grows taller than E. major, has bark peeling in ribbons (not patches)

and has flower buds that are more pointed. The name Eucalyptus propinqua formerly

applied to plants in this area.


156

157

Eucalyptus major

Fruit Trunk Buds

Flowers

5.58 Silver-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia

OTHER COMMON NAMESBroad-leaf ironbark.

HABITATOccurs throughout the coverage area on plains, levees, undulating hills and ridges with

soils ranging from sand, loam or light clay to gravel; associated plants include white

cypress pine, narrow-leaved ironbark, carbeen, red bloodwood, kurrajong, mulga,

Baradine red gum and poplar box.


Bark: Very dark, hard, and deeply fissured, including on the smallest branches

Leaves: Silvery-green or bluish-grey, same colour both sides, heart-shaped, joining stem

at base of leaf, in opposite pairs, adult leaves 25 – 90mm long x 15 – 35mm wide;

juvenile leaves to 100mm long x 100mm wide

Flowers: Cream, in clusters at ends of branches; buds 5 – 7mm long, dull green,

diamond- shaped

Fruit: Pale green turning brown when dry, cup-shaped, 3 – 7mm long x 3 – 7mm wide,

valves well below rim level or slightly protruding

Flowering Period: October – February

NOTES One of few eucalypts retaining opposite leaves into adulthood. Timber is used for fencing

but trees are often hollow. Leaves sometimes eaten by masses of sawfly larvae which

congregate at the base of trees and can kill cattle if eaten.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

158

159

Eucalyptus melanophloia

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Juvenile Leaves

5.59 Gum-topped Box Eucalyptus microcarpa

OTHER COMMON NAMES Brown box, grey box, molly box, narrow-leaf box, inland grey box.

HABITAT Widespread but distributed patchily in the coverage area on slopes of ridges or on

undulating hills where the soil is often gravelly; grows in pure stands or is associated

with narrow-leaved ironbark, lancewood and spotted gum.


Bark: Grey with short and compact fissures on trunk, peeling in strips about half way up

or around the lowest branches and becoming smooth above; branches shiny grey or white


Flowers: White, to 7mm diameter; buds diamond-shaped, 9mm long x 4mm wide

Fruit: Hemispherical or short cylinder, 4 – 7mm high x 4 – 5mm diameter, with 4 teeth

well below rim level

Flowering Period: Summer

NOTES Another gum-topped box (E. moluccana) occurs in the coverage area and tends to replace

E. microcarpa in the north, particularly in the Carnarvon and Expedition Ranges. Field

identification can be difficult; however, E. moluccana has leaves that are broader and

thicker, and its buds and fruit are smaller.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

160

161

Eucalyptus microcarpa

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Upper trunk

5.60 Mountain Coolibah Eucalyptus orgadophila

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area but patchily distributed, usually on undulating hills

and slopes of ridges or plains with clayey soil, often of basaltic origin; forms pure stands

or is associated with narrow-leaved ironbark, red bloodwood and sometimes white

cypress pine; also occurs on grassy open downs.


Bark: Rough, grey and fissured near base, peeling in strips on upper trunk or on larger

branches and becoming smooth, powdery and cream on outer branches

Leaves: Dull green, same colour both sides, 70 – 180mm long x 10 – 30mm wide

Flowers: Cream, 15mm diameter; buds yellowish-green, club or egg-shaped, 8 – 11mm

long x 4mm wide, cap with short point

Fruit: Shaped like elongated cup, brown and woody when dry, 7 – 10mm long x 6 – 9mm

wide, 3 – 5 teeth inside cup

Flowering Period: October – May

NOTES Timber used for fencing but it is difficult to split. In northern parts of the coverage area,

mountain coolibah woodlands may develop a vine thicket understorey where fire is

absent or infrequent.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

162

163

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Eucalyptus orgadophila

5.61 Poplar Box Eucalyptus populnea

OTHER COMMON NAMES Bimble box, broad-leaf box.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on a wide variety of soil and land types, including

alluvial flats, undulating clay plains, sandy levees and ridge slopes; forms pure stands or

associates with brigalow, belah, bendee, white cypress pine, silver-leaved ironbark,

mulga and myall.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 20m tall with rounded or spreading crown.

Bark: Light grey and tightly fissured; smooth on smaller branches; branchlets reddish

Leaves: Glossy, dark green both sides, variable in shape and dimensions: usually rounded

but can be broad at middle and tapered at both ends, 55 – 110mm long x 15 – 30mm

wide; juvenile leaves usually larger than adult leaves and more rounded

Flowers: Cream, in clusters at ends of branches, to 6mm diameter; buds greenish-yellow,

5mm high x 3mm wide, domed caps with a short point

Fruit: Very small, cup-shaped, 4 teeth at or below rim level, 3 – 4mm high x 3-5mm wide

Flowering Period: September – December

NOTESOld trees have massive trunks and often have burls. Used for round posts and stays.

Timber is difficult to split and most trees are hollow. Hollow billets have been used for

branding blocks (furnaces). Young plants are browsed by livestock. Poplar box is probably

the most common eucalypt in the coverage area.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

164

165

Eucalyptus populnea

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Leaves

5.62 Narrow-leaved White Mahogany Eucalyptus tenuipes

OTHER COMMON NAMESNarrow-leaved stringybark, narrow-leaved mahogany.

HABITAT Occurs on slopes and crests of sandstone ridges with sandy or loamy soil, often overlying

rock; commonly associated with ironbarks, smooth-barked apple, budgeroo, woody pear,

lancewood, bloodwoods and large-fruited yellow jacket.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 10m high, sometimes a mallee.

Bark: Brown, yellow or orange, fibrous and stringy

Leaves: Green above, lighter green below, 50 – 100mm long x 10 – 25mm wide, turning

purplish during winter and during drought

Flowers: White, 5mm wide, in clusters of up to 7; buds egg-shaped, 3 – 4mm long,

on stalks to 15mm long

Fruit: Brown when dry, woody, cup-shaped, 5mm long x 5mm wide; seeds reddish-brown

Flowering Period: March – June

NOTES Common in northern parts of the coverage area, particularly in the Carnarvon and

Expedition Ranges. Eucalyptus apothalassica is a similar species that also occurs in the

same area; leaves of E. apothalassica are the same colour both sides, whereas those of

E. tenuipes are pale green underneath and dark green above.


166

167

Eucalyptus tenuipes

Fruit Trunk Leaves

5.63 Queensland Blue Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis

OTHER COMMON NAMESForest red gum, forest blue gum, red iron gum.

HABITAT Occurs primarily along watercourses, lake margins and in swamps but also on alluvial

flats and sometimes on hilly terrain; often associated with rough-barked apple, river

she-oak, white cedar, sandpaper figs, Carnarvon fan palm and weeping bottlebrush.


Bark: Dark and rough at base, smooth on rest of trunk and branches, shed in plates

giving mottled appearance with shades of grey, brown and white

Leaves: Green, same colour both sides, 80 – 240mm long x 10 – 35mm wide, on stalk

to 20mm long

Flowers: White, sometimes with pinkish tinge, 15mm diameter, in clusters of 5 – 9;

buds with long, curved cap, 12 – 20mm long, but some populations with much squatter,

conical caps

Fruit: Brown, woody, with teeth exerted well beyond rim level, 4 – 7mm high x 5 – 8mm

wide


NOTES: An important habitat tree for wildlife, providing nest and shelter sites and a nectar

source for birds, insects and little red flying-foxes. Along with river red gum, it is one of

the principal food trees for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in the region. Its distribution

overlaps with river red gum in the eastern and northern extremity of the coverage area.

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison, Scotia, Roma.

168

169

Eucalyptus tereticornis

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Buds

5.64 Mountain Yapunyah Eucalyptus thozetiana

OTHER COMMON NAMES Lapunyah, napunyah, yapunyah, Thozet's box, Thozet’s ironbark.

HABITATPlains and undulating hills with clay soils or on slopes of residual ridges with stony

substrate; occurs with brigalow, belah, bendee, bowyakka and Baker’s mallee; patchy

distribution.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 25m high; base of trunk often fluted or buttressed.

Bark: Most trees have a stocking of rough, dark brown bark extending up to about mid-

trunk level, with silvery-grey or cream smooth bark above; some trees are entirely

smooth barked

Leaves: Dark green, shiny, same colour both sides, narrow, 50 – 150mm long

x 6 – 10mm wide

Flowers: Cream, 10mm diameter, in clusters of up to 7 flowers; buds with cylindrical cup

and short, pointed, sometimes curved cap, 5 – 9mm long x 2 – 3mm wide

Fruit: Brown and woody when dry, short cylinder, 5 – 6mm long x 3 – 4mm wide,

3 – 4 teeth deep within capsule, on stalk 4 – 5mm long

Flowering Period: May – September

NOTES Timber used for fencing, flooring, furniture, general construction and wood turning.

The name yapunyah also applies to Eucalyptus ochrophloia which grows on floodplains

of the Warrego and Paroo River.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

170

171

Eucalyptus thozetiana

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Buds

172

5.65 Native Cherry Exocarpos cupressiformis

OTHER COMMON NAMES Cherry ballard.

HABITAT Favours hills, ridges and low rises with almost any substrate including rock, sand, gravel,

loam and clay; occurs with forest she-oak, Queensland blue gum, white cypress pine,

smooth-barked apple, bull oak, bendee, narrow-leaved ironbark, silver-leaved ironbark,

spotted gum and poplar box.

DESCRIPTION Small tree or shrub to 8m high, often rounded and with hanging branches, sometimes

resembling a small cypress pine.

Bark: Rough, dark brown and with shallow grooves, tessellated on older plants

Leaves: Branchlets bright green or yellowish-green, finely ribbed and angled, giving

foliage-like appearance; true leaves are small scales about 1mm long

Flowers: Minute, to 1mm diameter, greenish-yellow, at tips of branchlets

Fruit: Berry with thick, green base and red fleshy end when ripe


NOTES Widespread in the northern and eastern half of the coverage area; it is most common in

the Carnarvon and Expedition Ranges. It is a root parasite deriving nutrients from

adjoining plants such as eucalypts or wattles. It suckers readily from the roots and is often

seen in small groves. Foliage is browsed by cattle during drought. Ripe fruit are edible.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

Trunk


Leaves and flowers

Exocarpos cupressiformis

173

5.66 Sandpaper Fig Ficus opposita

HABITAT Found along watercourses and sheltered gullies or on rocky slopes in eucalypt woodland

and open forest.

DESCRIPTION Bushy tree to 8m high with dense canopy and short trunk; milky sap.

Bark: Light grey, flaky on older plants

Leaves: Stiff, upper surface covered in tiny bristles giving sandpaper-like texture,

underside hairy; dark green above, paler below, 30 – 170mm long x 17 – 95mm wide, on

stalk 5 – 30mm long; yellowish veins are prominent, especially on the underside; deciduous

Flowers: Tiny, enclosed in a fleshy receptacle

Fruit: globular, fleshy, hairy, 8 – 15mm diameter, on short stalk either singly or in pairs

along the branches; ripe fig on female trees is very dark burgundy or almost black and is

succulent and sweet; figs on male trees are pale burgundy, striped with green, and have

dry, seedless flesh


NOTES Confined to the northern half of the coverage area. Fruit attracts possums and birds.

Bark and leaves have medicinal properties. Another sandpaper fig (Ficus coronata),

occurs in the coverage area, particularly along watercourses. The leaves of F. opposita

are arranged in opposite pairs, whereas those of F. coronata alternate along the stem.


174

175

Trunk

Fruit Leaves

Ficus opposita

5.67 Crow’s Ash Flindersia australis

OTHER COMMON NAMESQueensland Teak, Crow’s Nest Ash.

HABITAT Normally an emergent tree within vine thickets but it also grows in adjoining eucalypt

woodlands on hill slopes and in sheltered gorges.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 20m high with dense, rounded canopy.

Bark: Flaky and mottled various shades of brown and grey on mature plants; smooth and

grey with lighter grey blotches on young plants

Leaves: In whorls at ends of branches, dark green above, pale green below, to 200mm

long x 150mm wide, leaflets to 110mm x 50mm wide; oil glands obvious when held to

light and aromatic when crushed

Flowers: Cream, about 10mm wide, 5 petals, in clusters

Fruit: Woody, brown, egg-shaped capsule, 60mm long x 40mm wide, covered in stout,

blunt spikes; splits when dry into 3 – 5 segments, each containing papery, winged seeds


NOTES Restricted to the northern half of the coverage area. The dried capsules are used for craft

and floral arrangements. The timber has been used for dance floors. Large specimens

provide good shade.

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma, Scotia, Fairview, Denison.

176

177

Leaves

Flindersia australis

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.68 Scrub Leopardwood Flindersia dissosperma

HABITAT Restricted to the northern part of the coverage area on flats, undulating hills and ridges

with heavy clay or loam and gravel; often associated with Dawson gum, silver-leaved

ironbark, Dallachy’s gum, brigalow, belah, red bauhinia and poplar box.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 12m high with rounded canopy.

Bark: Rough, flaky and dark brown, mottled with light grey and shades of brown;

branchlets smooth and light grey or brown

Leaves: Dark green above, lighter green below, dull sheen, prominent midvein, 2 or 3

leaflets on separate winged stem to 10mm long; largest leaflet 15 – 25mm long x

5 – 6mm wide, aromatic when crushed

Flowers: Cream, 5 petals

Fruit: Brown, woody capsule, splitting into 5 segments and containing winged seeds

Flowering Period: Spring – summer

NOTES Common along roadsides where it occurs in small groves or as isolated trees. The foliage

is browsed by livestock.


178

179

Leaves

Flindersia dissosperma


Trunk Flowers (photo: Russell Cumming)

5.69 Leopardwood Flindersia maculosa

HABITAT Found on plains with heavy clay, sand or loamy red earth; often associated with

whitewood, brigalow, boonaree and poplar box.

DESCRIPTION Grows to 15m high; straight trunk and open, spreading crown with weeping branches.

Bark: Flaky, mottled with grey, cream and brown

Leaves: Glossy, dark green above, pale green below, in opposite pairs, up to 70mm long

x 12mm wide; slightly aromatic when crushed

Flowers: Cream with yellow centres, 5 petals, in clusters at the ends of branches,

to 5mm diameter

Fruit: Rough, brown, egg-shaped capsule, woody when dry, splitting into 5 boat-shaped

segments and releasing winged seeds


NOTES This is a slow growing but highly attractive tree that is sometimes planted in parks and

gardens. It starts life as a tangled shrub with spiny branches. The foliage is browsed by

livestock except when plants are very young. The yellow-flowered mistletoe (Amyema

lucasii) is frequently found on this species. Timber is used for wood turning.

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma, Moonie.

180

181

Bark Flowers

Flindersia maculosa

Fruit

5.70 Wilga Geijera parviflora

OTHER COMMON NAMESTree wilga.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area in a wide range of habitat types on flats, plains,

undulating terrain and slopes of ridges with substrate ranging from sand, loam and

gravel to clay; present in most eucalypt and acacia woodlands and a common component

of softwood scrubs.

DESCRIPTION Shrub or small tree to 15m high, usually with short trunk and rounded crown.

Bark: Grey, hard and rough bark on older plants; smooth and light grey when young

Leaves: Dark green, long, thin and often drooping, 60 – 180mm long x 4 – 7mm wide,

peppermint-like smell when crushed; oil glands obvious when held to light

Flowers: Cream, star-shaped, about 5mm diameter

Fruit: Round, green berry, 6 – 7mm diameter, on short stalk, splitting open to reveal a

single black, glossy seed

Flowering Period: Any time of year with flushes following rain

NOTESTimber is used for wood turning. There are two ‘chemical’ varieties, one which is

extensively browsed by stock and the other which is usually untouched. Leaves are

browsed by swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) during drought. Wilga is a valuable shade

tree and is often host to variable mistletoe (Amyema congener).

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

182

183

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Geijera parviflora

Leaves and flowers

5.71 Beefwood Grevillea striata

OTHER COMMON NAMESBeef oak, beef silky oak, western beefwood, silvery honeysuckle.

HABITAT Distributed throughout the coverage area on flats, rises, undulating terrain and hill

slopes with red earth, loam or light clay; associated with poplar box, myall, white cypress

pine, carbeen, ironwood, silver-leaved ironbark, bull oak and mulga.

DESCRIPTION Erect tree with open canopy to at least 15m high; trunk to 0.6m diameter.

Bark: Hard, dark grey and deeply fissured

Leaves: Leathery, strap-like, grey-green, to 500mm long x 4 – 9mm wide, often drooping

on older trees; 5 – 13 parallel veins clearly visible

Flowers: Masses of yellowish-cream cylinders, 50 – 80mm long, in clusters at branch tips

Fruit: Dark brown, thin and woody, egg-shaped capsule, 14 – 17mm long x 10 – 12mm

wide, enclosing winged seed, splitting in half when dry


NOTES Wood is used for turning and sometimes for furniture and fencing. Used historically to

make shingles and survey pegs. The red heartwood is similar in appearance to silky oak.

Parts of the plant have been used for bush medicine. The foliage is browsed by livestock.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

184

185

Grevillea striata

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.72 Corkwood Oak Hakea lorea

OTHER COMMON NAMESBootlace tree, cork tree, bootlace oak, western cork tree, needlewood

(where H. leucoptera absent).

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats, undulating terrain and hill slopes with

loamy or light clay soil; often associated with white cypress pine, bull oak, silver-leaved

ironbark, poplar box, narrow-leaved ironbark, mountain coolibah and mulga.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 10m high; sometimes with twisted habit giving ‘bonsai’-like appearance.

Bark: Dark grey, deeply furrowed and corky; fluted on very old plants; branchlets

reddish- brown

Leaves: Drooping, long, thin and spaghetti-like, greyish-green, 200 – 600mm long

x 2 – 3mm wide

Flowers: Cream, clustered into grevillea-like cylinder, to 150mm long, forming along

the branches

Fruit: Woody, light to dark grey, tear-shaped, 40mm long x 15mm wide

Flowering Period: June – October

NOTES Mature trees are very distinctive. Those with abundant blossoms are very showy but this

plant is uncommon in horticulture, possibly because it is slow growing. It has the longest

leaves of all Australian hakeas. The flowers are attractive to nectar-feeding birds, such as

friarbirds. It was previously known as Hakea fraseri in this region.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

186

187

Hakea lorea

Fruit Trunk Flowers (photo: Bindy Warby)

Leaves and flowers

5.73 Weeping Tea-tree Leptospermum lamellatum

HABITAT Restricted to the northern half of the coverage area on sandy soils and slopes of

sandstone ranges; often in association with smooth-barked apple, thready-bark she-oak,

budgeroo, white cypress pine, gum-topped ironbark and Henderson’s bloodwood

(Corymbia hendersonii).

DESCRIPTION Small tree or shrub, with weeping habit, to 8m high.

Bark: Flaky or papery, grey or brown, orange underneath; branchlets reddish brown and

slightly hairy

Leaves: Narrow, glossy, dark green both sides, alternately arranged, 10 – 50mm long

x 1 – 6mm wide, on stalks to 3mm long; young leaves hairy

Flowers: Cream, 5 petals, 9 – 10mm diameter, fragrant

Fruit: Round, brown, woody capsule, 3 – 7mm diameter


NOTES Flowers are attractive to insects including wasps, bees and butterflies. Formerly known as

Leptospermum attenuatum.


188

189

Leptospermum lamellatum

Fruit Trunk Flower

5.74 Budgeroo Lysicarpus angustifolius

OTHER COMMON NAMESMountain mahogany, Tom Russell’s Mahogany, poor man’s mahogany, mountain oak,

woollybutt, brown hazelwood.

HABITAT Sand plains or on slopes and crests of sandstone ridges, often on very rocky terrain;

associated with white cypress pine, smooth-barked apple, ironbarks, Baradine red gum,

thready-bark she-oak, wattles and bloodwoods.

DESCRIPTION Tree, sometimes multi-stemmed, to at least 15m high; often gnarled and ragged, with

a ‘bonsai’-like appearance; frequently with fire scars.

Bark: Dark grey and fibrous, able to be peeled off in strips like stringy bark

Leaves: Dark green above, pale green underneath, edges turned downwards, glossy,

to 80mm long x 2mm wide

Flowers: Cream, 5 cream petals, 10mm diameter, in clusters at ends of branches;

honey-like fragrance

Fruit: Pinkish red to bright red, rusty-brown when dry, bullet-shaped capsule, covered

in white hairs, 14 –15mm long including stalk


NOTES Timber is used for fence posts and wood turning; historically it was used for general

construction. The wood does not readily burn and fence posts may last for decades.

Bark was used for burial cylinders by Aborigines in the sandstone ranges. Intensity and

timing of flowering are variable between years. Sawdust and smoke are reputed to

irritate humans.


190

191

Lysicarpus angustifolius

Unripe fruit Trunk Flowers

Dry fruitBranches with flowers

5.75 Red Bauhinia Lysiphyllum carronii

OTHER COMMON NAMESBauhinia, pegunny, Queensland ebony, Carron’s bauhinia, bean tree.

HABITAT Occurs patchily in the coverage area on clay plains and undulating hills, or on slopes of

sandstone ridges; commonly associated with brigalow, belah, poplar box, Dawson gum,

yarran, whitewood, false sandalwood, wilga and boonaree and is a component of some

vine thicket communities.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 15m high with short trunk, rounded crown and gnarled branches.

Bark: Dark grey and fissured

Leaves: Green, butterfly-like, divided into two lobes and joined along the midvein,

to 30mm long x 20mm wide

Flowers: Red, tubular, about 40mm long x 15mm wide

Fruit: Broad, flattened pod, with dull sheen, greenish or red then turning brown when

dry, to 100mm long x 45mm wide, with bulges around the seeds

Flowering Period: October – early December

NOTESDeciduous in winter although trees in northern parts may retain their leaves. Flowers are

attractive to nectar-feeding birds. Useful fodder tree as leaves and pods are eaten by

livestock. Frequently planted in parks, streets and gardens in western Queensland towns.


192

193

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Lysiphyllum carronii

Leaves

5.76 Black Tea-tree Melaleuca bracteata

OTHER COMMON NAMESRiver tea-tree, white cloud tree, snow-in-summer.

HABITAT Occurs in the northern part of the coverage area along watercourses, on floodplains,

swampy areas, gilgais and open grassy downs, usually on heavy clay soils, but also on

sandy and gravelly soils.

DESCRIPTION Tree, or sometimes a bushy shrub, to at least 15m tall.

Bark: Hard, dark grey or brown and fissured

Leaves: Short, narrow, with parallel veins, sharp point at tip, 5 – 30mm long x 1 – 3mm

wide; new growth covered in hairs, giving silvery appearance

Flowers: Cream, bottlebrush-like spike, 25 – 35mm long x 15mm diameter

Fruit: Grey, cup-shaped capsules, 2 – 3mm diameter, without stalk

Flowering Period: Peak in spring but sporadic at other times of the year

NOTES Timber sometimes used for fencing. Many forms of this plant are available in cultivation.

Black tea-tree is an important habitat tree along watercourses.


194

195

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Melaleuca bracteata

5.77 Bush House Paperbark Melaleuca tamariscina

HABITAT Occurs in the extreme northern end of the coverage area; forms pure stands or grows

with narrow-leaved ironbark, Dallachy’s gum and white cypress pine on ridges and

plateaus with stony or loamy soils, often overlying clay.

DESCRIPTION Small tree or shrub to 8m high.

Bark: Grey, cream or brown and papery

Leaves: Very small, scale-like, stalk-less, 1 – 3mm long, hairless

Flowers: Short, cream spike, to 20mm long x 15mm wide

Fruit: Grey, woody capsules, 4mm high x 3mm wide


NOTES Populations of this species within the Denison gas field are at their southern range limit.

The bark is used for art and craft.


196

197

Melaleuca tamariscina

Bark LeavesFruit

5.78 Western Tea-tree Melaleuca trichostachya

OTHER COMMON NAMESTea-tree, river tea-tree, river paperbark, flax-leaf paperbark.

HABITATOccurs throughout the coverage area where it is usually restricted to banks of

watercourses with sandy or clay soils.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 10m tall with rounded or bushy crown.

Bark: Papery, layered, pale brown, grey or cream

Leaves: Green, with sharp tip, 10 – 30mm long x 1 – 3mm wide, arranged in opposite

pairs, without stalk; new growth hairy

Flowers: Cream or yellowish-cream spikes, 25 – 35mm long x 15mm wide; green cup each

containing a feathery flower; rich honey perfume

Fruit: Grey, woody, rounded capsule, 2.5 – 3.5mm high x 2 – 3.5mm diameter, valves

above rim level

Flowering Period: Mainly October – November and sporadically at other times

NOTESAn attractive tree often occurring around permanent or semi-permanent waterholes.

Flowers are visited by nectar-feeding birds and insects. Plants in this region were

previously known as M. linariifolia.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

198

199

Melaleuca trichostachya

Fruit Trunk Flowers

Branches

5.79 White Cedar Melia azedarach

OTHER COMMON NAMESCape lilac, china berry, tulip cedar, karabil, bead tree.

HABITAT Occurs predominantly in the northern half of the coverage area, along gullies and

watercourses or on hill slopes with sandy, loamy or clay soils; associated plants include

Queensland blue gum, river she-oak, sandpaper fig, bitter bark and bat’s wing coral tree.

DESCRIPTION Tree to 8m with short trunk, rounded crown and spreading branches.

Bark: Grey and smooth on young plants, grey and furrowed on older trees; branchlets

covered with short, white hairs

Leaves: Bright green, 120 – 450mm long, with up to 5 pairs of leaflets, each 17 – 72mm

long x 8 – 38mm wide, with toothed edges; deciduous

Flowers: Pink or cream, with 5 petals and purple protruding tube, 10mm wide x 8mm

long, on stalk 3 – 6mm long, in clusters at ends of branches, perfumed

Fruit: Yellowish or golden brown, oval or egg-shaped berry, 7 – 15mm long x 7 – 9mm

wide, containing black seeds

Flowering Period: Mainly September – October

NOTES Flowers attract numerous insects, particularly butterflies. Flowers of local plants tend to

be smaller and paler than cultivated plants. Timber used for cabinet work. Fruit toxic to

humans and livestock but is a favourite food of birds, such as red-tailed black-cockatoos

(Calyptorhynchus banksii).

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison.

200

201

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Melia azedarach

Leaves

5.80 Emu Apple Owenia acidula

OTHER COMMON NAMESGruie, crooie, sour plum, sour apple.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on alluvial flats, undulating plains and ridge slopes;

often associated with brigalow, belah, poplar box, whitewood, boonaree, white cypress

pine, carbeen and silver-leaved ironbark; soil types include clay, loam, sand and gravel.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 12m high, usually with a short trunk and dense, rounded canopy.

Bark: Hard, dark brown or grey, fissured; branches smooth

Leaves: Glossy, lime green, fern-like, 80 – 180mm long and comprising 9 – 25 narrow

leaflets, leaflets arranged alternately with prominent midvein and no stalk

Flowers: Male and female flowers on separate plants: greenish-yellow, 5mm long x 3mm

wide, with 5 petals, perfumed

Fruit: Round, hard, glossy, purple or reddish-purple berry, plum-like, 20 – 40mm

diameter, on stalk 2 – 4mm long, containing a single large, hard seed


NOTES Occurs as isolated plants or in small groves arising from root suckers. Timber used for

wood turning. Jam is made from the fruit. The leaves are browsed by livestock and it is

a useful shade tree. The fruit are eaten by sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita).

It is difficult to cultivate from seed.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

202

203

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Owenia acidula

Grove of young plants

5.81 Quinine Tree Petalostigma pubescens

OTHER COMMON NAMESQuinine bush, quinine berry, hairy quinine tree, emu berry, bitter bark, native quince,

forest quinine.

HABITAT A widespread and common plant usually found on sandy or loamy soils on flats, hilly

terrain and ridges; often associated with Baradine red gum, silver-leaved ironbark,

white cypress pine, Clarkson’s bloodwood, carbeen, ironwood, budgeroo and red ash.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 8m high with short trunk and crooked branches.

Bark: Very dark grey to black, hard and with shallow fissures; branchlets grey and

covered in hairs

Leaves: Glossy, light to dark green above, hairy and white or silvery-grey below, to 35mm

long x 15mm wide, on hairy stalk 5 – 9mm long, arranged alternately

Flowers: Yellow, in clusters along the branches; female flowers hairy, approximately

6 – 8mm diameter

Fruit: Bright orange, rounded berry, shiny, smooth or hairy, to 16mm diameter x 14mm

high, with 3 or 4 segments


NOTES Aboriginal uses include spear-throwers (wood), medicines (bark) and fish poison

(crushed leaves). Bark and fruit used by early settlers for medicinal purposes including

treatment of malaria. Dye has been made from bark. Foliage sometimes browsed by

livestock and fruit eaten by emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

204

205

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Petalostigma pubescens

5.82 Cattle Bush Pittosporum angustifolium

OTHER COMMON NAMESMeemeei, weeping pittosporum, native apricot, butterbush, gumbi gumbi, cumby cumby.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on alluvial flats, undulating terrain and ridges with

loamy or clay soils; often associated with silver-leaved ironbark, narrow-leaved ironbark,

brigalow, belah, white cypress pine and poplar box.

DESCRIPTION Shrub or small tree to 8m high but frequently smaller; drooping branches.

Bark: Dark grey or brown and deeply furrowed on old plants; grey and smooth on young

plants

Leaves: Shiny, dark green above, pale green below, narrow, 60 – 120mm long x 8 – 15mm

wide, on yellowish stalk to 10mm long, pointed at tip, distinct yellowish midvein

Flowers: Yellowish-cream, bell-shaped, to 10mm long, 5 petals, perfumed

Fruit: Rounded to egg-shaped, flattened on the sides, yellowish or orange when ripe,

12 – 25mm long x 9 – 17mm wide, splits open when dry; seeds bright red


NOTES Cattle bush is most frequently seen along roadsides and stock routes where it occurs as

isolated trees or in small groves. Readily browsed by cattle. Leaves have medicinal

properties. Formerly known as Pittosporum phylliraeoides.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

206

207

Flowers

Pittosporum angustifolium

Fruit Trunk Inside fruit

5.83 Myrtle Tree Psydrax oleifolius

OTHER COMMON NAMESWild lemon, lemon myrtle.

HABITAT Distributed throughout the coverage area on flats, undulating terrain and hill slopes with

soil ranging from loam or red earth to light clay; commonly associated with poplar box,

myall, beefwood, white cypress pine and mulga.

DESCRIPTION Small tree to 6m high; younger plants often have horizontal branches.

Bark: Hard, dark grey and fissured on older trees; light grey and smooth on younger

plants; branchlets smooth and light brown

Leaves: Stiff and leathery, pale green, in opposite pairs, broadest at the middle and

tapering at both ends, of variable size and shape, 45 – 75mm long x 10 – 25mm wide

Flowers: Masses of strongly perfumed cream flowers with 5 petals, to 8mm wide,

in clusters along branches

Fruit: Round, shiny, dark green, black berry when ripe, about 8mm diameter, on stalk

to 3mm long, in small bunches along branches, containing a single hard, round seed


NOTES Prone to suckering and young plants are often seen in groves. Flowers are highly

attractive to insects, particularly wasps and butterflies. Readily browsed by livestock

and regarded as a useful fodder plant. Previously known as Canthium oleifolium.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

208

209

Psydrax oleifolius

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.84 Sandalwood Santalum lanceolatum

OTHER COMMON NAMESCommercial sandalwood, plum bush, plum wood.

HABITAT Found throughout the coverage area in a wide range of habitats including undulating

clay plains, alluvial flats, sandy levees and rocky ridges; occurs with many species

including mulga, brigalow, myall, poplar box, silver-leaved ironbark, narrow-leaved

ironbark, false sandalwood, wilga, red bauhinia and belah.

DESCRIPTION Shrub or small tree to 10m high; often with open, drooping branches.

Bark: Hard, dark grey and fissured on trunk; smooth and brown to reddish-brown on

smaller branches

Leaves: Waxy, thick and leathery; dull green to greyish-green, same colour both sides,

arranged in opposite pairs; highly variable in size and shape, from 8 – 40mm wide x

40 – 110 mm long, on short yellowish or reddish-brown stalk to 4mm long

Flowers: Star-shaped, greenish-cream, 4 petals, 8 – 10mm diameter, sweetly perfumed

Fruit: egg-shaped with flattened bottom; green, ripening to bright red or maroon and

eventually dark purplish-black; fleshy, 8 – 13mm long x 7 – 10mm wide; in clusters at

or near ends of branches; contains a single hard, brown, oval seed


NOTES Suckers from roots and frequently forms small groves. Like native cherry (Exocarpos

cupressiformis), it is a root parasite. Wood is used for turning and harvested to make

incense sticks. Oil is used for medicine, soap and perfume manufacture. Flowers are

attractive to wasps. Foliage is browsed by livestock. Ripe fruit is edible.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

210

211

Santalum lanceolatum

Fruit Trunk Flowers

5.85 Yellow Wood Terminalia oblongata

HABITAT Usually on plains or undulating terrain with clay soils or along drainage lines; often

associated with brigalow, bauhinia, gidgee, whitewood, red bauhinia, false sandalwood,

coolibah and Dawson gum.

DESCRIPTION Small tree or bushy shrub to 12m high.

Bark: Dark or light grey, rough and fissured into small, flaky rectangles

Leaves: Smooth, glossy, lime green above, paler green below, older leaves turning yellow;

30 – 100mm long x 10 – 65mm wide, on stalk to 10mm long; veins distinct; deciduous

Flowers: Inconspicuous, pale greenish-yellow, 5 petals, about 5mm diameter

Fruit: Greenish-yellow or straw coloured nut with 2 leathery wings, 10 – 30mm wide


NOTES Restricted to the area north of Rolleston. Leaves contain toxic tannins which are capable

of poisoning livestock. Wood is used for turning. Suckers readily from rootstock and

forms small groves. Many of the vegetation or regional ecosystem types in which yellow

wood grows have been extensively cleared and are classified as endangered.


212

213

Terminalia oblongata

Leaves Trunk Flowers

5.86 Vine Tree Ventilago viminalis

OTHER COMMON NAMESSupplejack, kunianna.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on clay plains, alluvial flats, sand ridges and slopes

of stony ridges; often occurs with poplar box, silver-leaved ironbark, mountain coolibah,

mulga, brigalow, belah and in softwood scrub.

DESCRIPTION Tree to at least 10m high; trunk a straight or twisted stem, or multiple stems intertwined

giving fluted appearance.

Bark: Hard, rough, dark grey and furrowed

Leaves: Narrow, dark green, glossy, prominent yellowish midvein, to 70mm long x 10mm

wide, including stalk to 10mm long

Flowers: Yellowish-green, star-shaped, 5 petals, 5 – 6mm diameter, fragrant

Fruit: Lime green, winged with bulge around single seed, to 35mm long x 5mm wide,

turning straw brown when dry

Flowering Period: September – November

NOTES Commences life as a vine, scrambling up a nearby shrub or tree before developing its own

trunk. Flowers are highly attractive to insects particularly flies, butterflies and beetles.

Trees in full blossom appear yellowish. Timber is extremely hard and used for wood turning

and furniture making. Roots and bark have medicinal properties. It is a useful fodder tree

that is lopped during drought. Suckers readily if roots are exposed or disturbed.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

214

215

Ventilago viminalis

Flowers Trunk Fruit

5.87 Woody Pear Xylomelum cunninghamianum

OTHER COMMON NAMESNative pear, wooden pear.

HABITAT Confined to northern half of coverage area on plains and ridges with deep sandy soils;

commonly associated with white cypress pine, smooth-barked apple, narrow-leaved

ironbark, quinine tree, budgeroo and thready-bark she-oak.

DESCRIPTIONTree to at least 12m tall.

Bark: Thick, brown and furrowed

Leaves: Stiff, leathery, glossy dark green above, dull bluish-green below, 80 – 170mm

long x 15 – 30mm wide; yellowish midvein prominent; young leaves with toothed edges

Flowers: Cylindrical, yellowish-cream spike, to 50mm long x 12mm diameter; faint honey

perfume

Fruit: Heavy, woody, grey, pear-shaped, velvety on outside when fresh, 40mm wide,

to 60 – 70mm long, on stalk 10 – 15mm long; splits when dry to reveal two flat, papery,

brown, winged seeds 50 – 70mm long

Flowering Period: November – April and sporadic at other times of the year; mass

flowering is uncommon

NOTES Fruit is used for art and craft and the wood is used for turning. Slow growing. Seed kernel

is edible. Formerly known as Xylomelum pyriforme.

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma, Fairview, Denison, Scotia.

216

217

Juvenile leaves

Xylomelum cunninghamianum

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.1 Bancroft's Wattle Acacia bancroftiorum

HABITAT Found on slopes of sandstone ridges, hills and in gorges in the northern half of the coverage

area; occurs with budgeroo, thready-bark she-oak, ironbarks, stringybarks, bloodwoods,

lancewood, white or black cypress pine, smooth-barked apple and spotted gum.

DESCRIPTION Shrub or small tree to 6m high.

Bark: Rough, dark brown at base of older plants, silvery grey on trunk

Leaves: Dull green or silver-grey, variable in shape and size, 100 – 230mm long x

25 – 110mm wide, prominent midrib; younger leaves with toothed margin

Flowers: Pale or bright yellow balls

Fruit: Flat, greyish-green pods, to 210mm long x 10 – 20mm wide, in drooping clusters

Flowering Period: March – May

NOTES An attractive and distinctive plant when in full flower. Bark has been used for tanning

skins. Formerly known as Acacia bancroftii.


218

6.0

CO

MM

ON

SH

RUBS

219

Leaves

Acacia bancroftiorum

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.2 Flat-stemmed Wattle Acacia complanata

OTHER COMMON NAMESDonkey’s ears.

HABITATOn slopes or crests of sandstone ridges with sandy soils or rocky substrate, often in

association with white or black cypress pine, budgeroo, smooth-barked apple, ironbarks,

bloodwoods, thready-bark she-oak, weeping tea-tree and zig-zag wattle.

DESCRIPTION Rounded, multi-stemmed shrub, with short trunk, to 5m high, with arching branches,

sometimes giving a tangled appearance.

Bark: Smooth grey, brown or green; reddish-brown branchlets with green ‘winged’ margin

Leaves: Stiff, shiny, dark green, 40 – 110mm long x 15 – 40mm wide, broadest at middle,

5 – 9 conspicuous veins

Flowers: Bright yellow balls

Fruit: Flat pods, bulging over seeds, 100 – 150mm long x 7 – 10mm wide

Flowering Period: December – March

NOTESRestricted to the northern half of the coverage area. Rapidly regenerates after fire.

A very attractive species which is cultivated as an ornamental plant.


220

221

Leaves and stem

Fruit (photo: Glenn Leiper)

Flowers

Acacia complanata

6.3 Crowded-leaf Wattle Acacia conferta

HABITAT Occurs throughout most of the coverage area on low hills and ridges with sandy, loamy or

stony soil; often associated with smooth-barked apple, white cypress pine, narrow-leaved

ironbark, bull oak and spotted gum.

DESCRIPTION Rounded or spindly shrub to 3m high.

Bark: Dark and rough when old; smooth and yellowish-brown on younger plants; smaller

branches are covered in fine hairs and have short, hard ribs

Leaves: Light or dark green, short and narrow, 7 – 12mm long x 2mm wide, with pointed

tip, crowded around the stem

Flowers: Bright golden yellow balls on stalk about 5mm long, at ends of branches, perfumed

Fruit: Flattened pod, 60mm long x 15 – 20mm wide

Flowering Period: Autumn – winter

NOTES Usually one of the first wattles to flower each year. Used in floral arrangements and

cultivated as an ornamental plant.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

222

223

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia conferta

6.4 Deane’s Wattle Acacia deanei

OTHER COMMON NAMESGreen wattle, fern-leaf wattle.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on sandy or loamy soils with white cypress pine,

smooth-barked apple, silver-leaved ironbark, bull oak or poplar box.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub or small tree to 5m high with upright branches.

Bark: Smooth, dark brown to orangey-brown at base, green above; branchlets reddish

with covering of fine, white hairs

Leaves: Fine, fern-like, to 50 – 70mm long and 30 – 40mm wide; 5 – 11 pairs of leaflets

Flowers: Pale yellow balls, perfumed

Fruit: Flat, reddish – brown pods, to 100mm long x 5mm wide, covered in short hairs

Flowering Period: Any time of year with flushes following rainfall

NOTES A fast growing species which is probably short lived. Pods and flowers can be found on

the same plant, due to repeated flowering events. Browsed by livestock. Occurs as

scattered plants or in small groves in disturbed areas. Leaves fold up when touched.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

224

225

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia deanei (photo: Bindy Warby)

6.5 Pretty Wattle Acacia decora

OTHER COMMON NAMESGolden wattle, western silver wattle, graceful wattle.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats, undulating terrain, hills and ridges with

loamy or stony soil; frequently occurs with poplar box, myall, silver-leaved ironbark, bull

oak and white-cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Rounded or untidy shrub with short trunk, growing to 4m high.

Bark: Dark grey and furrowed on older plants, smooth and grey on saplings; branchlets

yellowish-brown

Leaves: Greyish green or bluish-grey, midvein prominent, 30 – 55mm long x 4 – 6mm wide

Flowers: Bright yellow balls, strongly perfumed

Fruit: Flat, almost black pods, 75 – 105mm long x 4 – 9mm wide, bulging over the seeds

Flowering Period: July – September

NOTES An eye-catching shrub when in full flower and it is cultivated as an ornamental plant.

The flowers are attractive to insects. It forms dense groves in disturbed areas and can

invade pasture. Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) eat the seeds.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

226

227

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia decora

Plant in full flower

6.6 Mimosa Bush Acacia farnesiana

OTHER COMMON NAMESSweet acacia.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on alluvial flats, plains and undulating terrain with

clay, loam or red earth soils; occurs with poplar box, white cypress pine, river red gum,

brigalow, coolibah or scattered among open, grassy downs.

DESCRIPTION Rounded, often untidy and arching, multi-stemmed shrub to 4m tall; branches with long,

sharp, double spines, 10 – 30mm long at the base of each leaf.

Bark: Shiny grey or brown, with prominent wart-like spots on young stems

Leaves: Green, fern-like

Flowers: Large, bright orangey-yellow balls, strongly perfumed

Fruit: Glossy, woody, cylindrical pod, straight or curved, green turning dark brown,

40 – 60mm long x 10 – 15mm wide

Flowering Period: peak in spring and autumn but can flower at any time of year

NOTES Probably introduced to Australia several centuries ago; now naturalised and very

widespread across the continent. Presumed to be a native of tropical America. It can

become invasive but it is rarely a problem in the coverage area. The flowers are used

world-wide for manufacture of perfume. Seeds are edible. Leaves and pods are eaten by

livestock. Ripe pods are used to make wool dye. Dense patches are favoured as habitat by

small birds including fairy-wrens and finches. Cut branches or roots emit an unpleasant

odour.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

228

229

Leaves

Fruit Flowers

Acacia farnesiana


6.7 Rush-leaf Wattle Acacia juncifolia

HABITAT Occurs in northern half of the coverage area on hills, ridges and cliff edges among

sandstone ranges; often associated with bull oak, white cypress pine, narrow-leaved

ironbark, thready-bark she-oak, budgeroo, smooth-barked apple, stringybarks and

bloodwoods.

DESCRIPTION Rounded or sometimes prostrate shrub, to 3m high, with distinctive upright branches

Bark: Rough, grey or brown at base, smooth on branches

Leaves: Long and thin, erect, spaghetti-like, dull green, 70 – 200mm long x 1mm wide

Flowers: Yellow balls

Fruit: Narrow, straight, cylindrical pod, to 100mm long x 4mm diameter


NOTESThe upright foliage makes this a very distinctive and attractive plant.

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison, Roma, Scotia.

230

231

Acacia juncifolia

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.8 Early Flowering Black Wattle Acacia leiocalyx

OTHER COMMON NAMESEarly flowering wattle, black wattle, Brisbane black wattle, curracabah.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on sandy or loamy soils usually in association with

white cypress pine, smooth-barked apple, spotted gum, bull oak or narrow-leaved ironbark.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub or small tree to about 6m high.

Bark: Grey and rough; branchlets reddish and prominently angled

Leaves: Green, mostly curved, 70 – 150mm long x 7 – 25mm wide, usually 3 prominent

curved veins; younger foliage broader to 30mm wide; new growth brown or pinkish

Flowers: Long, lemon yellow spikes, 30 – 70mm long, strongly perfumed

Fruit: Glossy, green, thin cylindrical pods when unripe, coiled and brown when dry,

to 150mm long x 3 – 4mm wide

Flowering Period: April – September

NOTESOne of the most common wattles in the understorey of eucalypt and pine forests in the

coverage area. It often forms dense thickets following wildfires.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

232

233

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia leiocalyx

Adult plant

6.9 Zig Zag Wattle Acacia macradenia

OTHER COMMON NAMESCut throat wattle.

HABITAT Occurs in the northern half of the coverage area on rises and ridges with sandy soils,

often in sandstone range country; frequently occurs with white cypress pine, smooth-

barked apple, ironbarks, bloodwoods, bull oak, woody pear, budgeroo, thready-bark

she-oak and zamia.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub to 5m high with short trunk and arching branches, small branches have

zig-zagging stems.

Bark: Smooth, dark brown at base; branches green to reddish

Leaves: Glossy, dark green, 80 – 200mm long x 10 – 20mm wide, prominent midvein

Flowers: Bright yellow balls, strongly perfumed

Fruit: Brown, long and narrow pod, 60 – 80mm x 5mm, in drooping bunches


NOTES An attractive plant when in flower and it is a common ornamental species. Flowers are

used to make wool dye. Browsed by livestock during drought.


234

235

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia macradenia

6.10 Queensland Silver Wattle Acacia podalyriifolia

OTHER COMMON NAMESMount Morgan wattle, pearl wattle.

HABITAT Found on hill slopes, ridges and along gullies and watercourses, usually among

sandstone ranges; often associated with budgeroo, white and black cypress pine,

smooth-barked apple and weeping tea-tree.

DESCRIPTION Shrub, or less frequently, a small tree to 8m high.

Bark: Dark grey or brown and rough on old plants, smooth and light grey to silvery on

younger plants; pale silvery-grey, hairy, branchlets

Leaves: Silvery grey or greyish-green, oval, hairy, 20 – 50mm long x 10 – 25mm wide,

a little longer than broad, ending in a short, soft point

Flowers: Bright yellow balls, to 5mm diameter, at the ends of the branches, perfumed

Fruit: Flat, silvery-green, hairy pod, to 90mm long x 20mm wide

Flowering Period: June – July

NOTES Restricted to the northern part of the coverage area, particularly in the Carnarvon and

Expedition Ranges. A distinctive and attractive shrub when in full flower that is

commonly planted in parks, streets and gardens.


236

237

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia podalyriifolia

6.11 Glory Wattle Acacia spectabilis

OTHER COMMON NAMESKogan wattle, Pilliga wattle, Mudgee wattle.

HABITAT Occurs in central and southern parts of the coverage area, on sandy or stony soils in

association with white cypress pine, narrow-leaved ironbark, bull oak, smooth-barked

apple, Baradine red gum and other wattles.

DESCRIPTION Rounded or flat-topped shrub, 1 – 4m high, often with arching branches.

Bark: Smooth, dark brown at base, whitish or silvery on branches, powdery

Leaves: Fern-like, bluish-green to silvery

Flowers : Masses of golden-yellow balls

Fruit: Flat pod, to 110mm long x 10 – 15mm wide, with bulges around seeds


NOTES A distinctive and attractive wattle which is common in disturbed areas, for example,

along roadsides. It is a host plant for the tailed emperor butterfly (Polyura sempronius).


238

239

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Acacia spectabilis


6.12 Gundabluey Acacia victoriae

OTHER COMMON NAMESPrickly wattle, bramble wattle, elegant wattle.

HABITAT Occurs in central and southern parts of the coverage area along watercourses, on alluvial

flats and clay plains; occurs with poplar box, river red gum, coolibah, myall and boonaree.

DESCRIPTIONShrub or small tree to 8m high, often of untidy appearance; sharp spines to 10mm long

at the base of the leaves, particularly on smaller branches.

Bark: Rough, dark brown and grooved on trunk, reddish-brown underneath; smooth

green branches

Leaves: Pale, bluish-green, 30 – 60mm long x 2 – 6mm wide, pointed tip, prominent midvein

Flowers: Masses of pale lemon or creamy-yellow cream balls, perfumed

Fruit: Flat pod, 30 – 80mm long x 12 – 16mm wide, with thick edges and bulges over

the seeds


NOTES The pods and leaves are browsed by livestock and the seeds are edible. It occurs as

scattered plants or in dense groves. Sometimes used as an ornamental garden planting.

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma

240

241

Acacia victoriae

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.13 Broom Bush Apophyllum anomalum

OTHER COMMON NAMESWarrior bush, currant bush, mustard bush.

HABITAT Distributed throughout the coverage area on alluvial flats, undulating clay plains and

slopes of ridges with loamy or clay soils. Occurs in vine thickets, and eucalypt, cypress

pine and brigalow woodland.

DESCRIPTION Dense shrub or small, untidy tree to 6m with short trunk and erect branches; appears

leafless, young branches hairy.

Bark: Dark brown and furrowed; branchlets smooth and green

Leaves: Appears leafless; true leaves fall off early and are small and fine, 0.5 to 15mm

long x <0.5mm wide, on short stalk 1 – 2mm long

Flowers: Inconspicuous, greenish-yellow or yellowish-cream, about 6mm diameter, with

4 petals which are hairy above; in clusters along the branches; fragrant

Fruit: Rounded, glossy berry, black when ripe, to 5mm diameter, on stalk 2 – 3mm long

Flowering Period: Mainly October – December

NOTES Broom bush is never particularly common and usually occurs as scattered plants.

It is a host plant for the caper white butterfly (Belenois java ssp. teutonia); after

emerging from their pupae in Spring, great numbers of these black and white butterflies

may be seen flying around the bushes. Stems are browsed by livestock.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

242

243

Apophyllum anomalum

Trunk FlowerFruit

6.14 Hair Plant Astrotricha cordata

HABITAT Cliff faces and slopes of sandstone ridges within the northern half of the coverage area;

often grows with lancewood, ironbarks, bloodwoods, spotted gum, smooth-barked apple,

budgeroo, thready-bark she-oak and black cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Slender shrub, most often single stemmed, to 6m tall, lower parts of stem green and

smooth apart from old leaf scars; upper stem green, covered in silvery hairs, particularly

towards growing tip, giving shiny appearance.

Leaves: Large, glossy, drooping, arranged alternately in spiral; dark green above with

peppering of short hairs, greenish-cream and very hairy below; blade to 400mm long x

180mm wide, broadest near the base, tip pointed; leaf stalk greenish-cream, to 200mm

long and covered in short hairs

Flowers: Flower structure to 1200mm long x 600mm wide; individual flowers purple,

hairless, with 5 petals and on short stems

Fruit: Hairless, flattened, oval-shaped and developing two papery wings with age,

10mm wide x 5mm high


NOTES A very distinctive plant characteristic of the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt. This is

the most common and widespread of the three species of hair plant that occur in the

coverage area.


244

245

Astrotricha cordata

Leaves Trunk Young plant

6.15 Coffee Bush Breynia oblongifolia

OTHER COMMON NAMESNative privet, dwarf’s apple, willgar.

HABITAT Sandy, loamy and light clay soils on hills, ridges and sheltered areas in eucalypt forest

and woodlands and on margins of softwood scrub.

DESCRIPTION Usually a low shrub but capable of growing into a small tree to 3m tall in areas free from

fire; hairless branches.

Bark: Grey or dark brown and furrowed

Leaves: Soft, green above, paler below, 10 – 40mm long x 7 – 15mm wide, alternately

arranged, stalks 2 – 3mm long

Flowers: Small, greenish, on stalks to 4mm long; separate male and female flowers on

same plant

Fruit: Round, red fleshy berry, turning black with age, 6 – 10mm diameter, on short stalk

2 – 4mm long


NOTES Occurs as isolated plants or in small groves, often in disturbed areas. Host plant for the

common grass yellow butterfly (Eurema hecabe spp. hecabe). Grown as an ornamental

garden plant.


246

247

Breynia oblongifolia

Fruit Trunk Branches with fruit

6.16 White Fringe Myrtle Calytrix tetragona

OTHER COMMON NAMESWhite star flower, white calytrix,common fring myrtle.

HABITATOccurs patchily on plains and undulating terrain with sandy or loamy soils and ridge

crests with very shallow soil over rock; associated with white cypress pine, bull oak,

Baradine red gum, narrow-leaved ironbark, smooth-barked apple and wattles.

DESCRIPTION Shrub to 2m tall.

Bark: Grey, hard and grooved

Leaves: Short, thin, bright green, 2 – 8mm long x 0.5mm wide; aromatic when crushed

Flowers: Usually white, rarely pale pink, star-shaped with 5 petals, to 18mm wide

Fruit: Red-brown or rarely yellow, bluntly star-shaped, at base of flower structure and

containing a single seed


NOTES This is a very showy plant when in full flower. The flowers are attractive to insects.

Pink fringe myrtle (Calytrix longiflora) is a similar species found near Westmar and in

the Carnarvon Range; however, it has larger, pink flowers and keeled leaves.

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma, Denison, Fairview, Scotia.

248

249

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Calytrix tetragona

6.17 Currant Bush Carissa ovata

OTHER COMMON NAMESNative currant, black currant, black berry.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on ridges, undulating plains and open downs with

sandy, loamy, clayey or stony soils; commonly associated with brigalow, belah, narrow-

leaved ironbark, silver-leaved ironbark, Dawson gum, bendee and softwood scrub.

DESCRIPTIONDense, rounded or sprawling shrub to 3m high; long straight spines, sometimes paired,

on branches and at leaf axils; milky sap.

Leaves: Glossy, dark green above, paler green below, rounded with sharp pointed tip,

paired, midvein distinct, 10 – 30mm long x 5 – 20mm wide; new shoots and young leaves

are lime green

Flowers: Cream, star-shaped, on short tube, with 5 petals, 6 – 10mm wide (size variable

across range), perfumed

Fruit: Dark purplish-black, fleshy berry which is glossy and egg-shaped, 10 – 15mm long

Flowering Period: Peak between October – December; sporadic at other times

NOTES Although often regarded as a pest of pastures, particularly following clearing of brigalow,

ironbark and vine thicket communities, currant bush has useful habitat value. It provides

cover for small birds and reptiles and protection for seeding grasses. Spotted bowerbirds

(Chlamydera maculata) construct their bowers among large clumps. The fruit is edible.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

250

251

Leaves

Fruit Flowers

Carissa ovata

6.18 Wait-A-While Capparis lasiantha

OTHER COMMON NAMESSplit jack, nipan, nepine, maypan, honeysuckle, bush passionfruit.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on a wide range of soil types including clay, gravel

and red loams; frequently associated with brigalow, belah, poplar box, myall, white

cypress pine and mulga.

DESCRIPTION Rounded or tangled shrub to 2m high or a climber on fences, posts and trees to a height

of at least 8m; branches have short pairs of curved thorns at the base of the leaves.

Leaves: Narrow, green, 25 – 95mm long x 10mm – 30mm wide, often without a stalk,

arranged alternately along the zigzagging stems

Flowers: Cream, with 4 hairy petals (one pair fused) and white protruding stamens,

to 25mm diameter

Fruit: Egg-shaped, glossy, green turning yellow or orange when ripe, 30mm long

x 15 – 20mm wide, on stalk 15 – 25mm long, splitting open when dry; many small

seeds in pulp

Flowering Period: Peak in September – November

NOTES Leaves are browsed by stock and are often heavily stripped by caper white butterfly

caterpillars (Belenois java spp. teutonia) in spring. The fruit is edible and sweet, but they

are usually quickly consumed by ants and birds.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

252

253

Growing plant

Ripe fruit Flowers

Capparis lasiantha

Branches with thorns

6.19 Cough Bush Cassinia laevis

OTHER COMMON NAMESWild rosemary, Curry Bush.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on sand ridges and undulating hills with sandy,

loamy or stony soils; usually in eucalypt woodland and commonly associated with

silver-leaved ironbark, narrow-leaved ironbark, white cypress pine and bull oak.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub with short trunk; to 4m high.

Bark: Hard, grooved, grey or dark brown; branchlets covered in short white hairs

Leaves: Fine, stalkless, glossy dark green above, greenish-cream below, alternately

arranged, 30 – 40mm long x 1mm wide; shallow groove along midvein with leaf edges

curled underneath; strong rosemary-like smell when crushed

Flowers: Masses of cream, papery, tubular flowers clustered at the ends of branches;

flower tube 4mm long x 1mm wide with brownish tips; strongly perfumed

Flowering Period: Mainly November – April and sporadically at other times of the year

NOTES A decoction of the leaves was used for treatment of respiratory ailments, hence the

common name. Sago flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius) is a similar shrubby daisy bush

found in central parts of the coverage area which can be confused with cough bush.

Sago flower has shorter leaves and the flowers are flat, not tubular.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

254

255

Trunk

Branches Flowers

Cassinia laevis

6.20 Lolly Bush Clerodendrum floribundum

HABITAT Found predominantly in the northern half of the coverage area in eucalypt woodlands

and along margins of vine thickets; occurs on ridge slopes and on undulating terrain with

sandy, loamy or light clay soils.

DESCRIPTION Bushy shrub or small tree to 6m.

Bark: Grey and furrowed on mature plants; brown or grey and bumpy on young plants;

branches grey and smooth

Leaves: Glossy, dark green above, paler green below, 30 – 120mm long x 20 – 80mm wide,

on long stalk 20 – 70mm long, yellowish midvein raised and prominent on underside;

young leaves bluntly toothed, oval-shaped with pointed tip; aromatic when crushed

Flowers: Cream, star-shaped with 5 petals, on long slender tube 25 – 40mm long, in

clusters at ends of branches

Fruit: Glossy, green berry to 10mm diameter, with 4 segments, turning black when ripe,

surrounded by bright red, fleshy, star-shaped lobes

Flowering Period: Peak in spring but also flowers in summer and autumn

NOTES Flowers are visited by insects, particularly butterflies and ants. Timber is used for

wood turning. Suckers readily following disturbance. Plants with abundant ripe fruit are

very attractive.


256

257

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Clerodendrum floribundum

Leaves

6.21 Silver Croton Croton insularis

OTHER COMMON NAMESQueensland cascarilla bark.

HABITAT Occurs in northern half of coverage area on hills and slopes of ridges with loamy and

stony soils; most commonly in brigalow communities or softwood scrub.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub usually to 3 – 4m high or sometimes a small tree up to 8m tall.

Bark: Smooth, light grey; branches hairy and silvery

Leaves: Green above, silvery below, becoming red, yellowish or orange before falling,

30 – 80mm long x 15 – 30mm wide, on stalk to 15mm long; arranged alternately, covered

in tiny pale dots, aromatic, often wavy

Flowers: Creamy-yellow, approximately 5mm diameter, in clusters at ends of branches

Fruit: Scaly, green, 3-lobed pumpkin-shaped capsule, about 6mm diameter, explodes

to release seeds


NOTES Aroma of injured bark resembles that of West Indian Cascarilla Tonic, hence the alternative

common name. Harvested historically to make fabric dye. Narrow-leaf croton (Croton

phebalioides) is a similar species often found growing in association with silver croton.

Narrow-leaf croton can be distinguished by its longer and narrower hairless leaves.


258

259

Leaves

Croton insularis

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.22 Sticky Hopbush Dodonaea viscosa

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats, undulating hills and ridges with sandy,

loamy or clay soils; often associated with poplar box, white cypress pine, bendee, silver-

leaved ironbark, narrow-leaved ironbark and brigalow.

DESCRIPTION Spindly shrub or small tree to 4m high

Bark: Grey, hard and grooved; branchlets reddish-brown

Leaves: Sticky, dark green, paler below, glossy, 20 – 50mm long x 5 – 10mm wide,

prominent midvein, with short point at tip, stalk about one third of leaf length, aromatic

Flowers: Inconspicuous, reddish, about 5mm long

Fruit: Greenish to bright red, papery, 3 winged capsule, 10 – 15mm diameter, containing

black seeds


NOTES Some specimens are very showy when in full fruit and various forms of this species are

available in cultivation. Leaf shape and size is highly variable. Can form dense groves and

become a woody weed.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

260

261

Trunk

Leaves Fruit

Dodonaea viscosa

6.23 Ellangowan Poison Bush Eremophila deserti

OTHER COMMON NAMESTurkey bush, dogwood, poison bush, carrot bush, pencil bush.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats and undulating terrain, often on swampy

ground, with loam or clay soils; also on rocky ridge slopes; occurs with poplar box, myall,

false sandalwood, wilga, bowyakka, yarran, white cypress pine, boonaree, coolibah, black

box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), Dawson gum and mountain yapunyah.

DESCRIPTION Rounded, multi-stemmed shrub to 4m high.

Bark: Grey, rough at base and smooth on branches

Leaves: Flat, thick, dull green, 20 – 55mm long x 3 – 6mm wide, narrowest at the base,

on stalk to 3mm long, veins inconspicuous

Flowers: Cream, bell-shaped, 5 petals, 8mm long, on stalk to 5 – 10mm long

Fruit: Glossy berry, green turning yellow when ripe, egg-shaped, 7 – 8mm long x

4 – 6mm wide

Flowering Period: May – October

NOTESOccasionally forms impenetrable thickets. Although not normally eaten, the leaves are

capable of poisoning livestock. Fruit is a favourite food of emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Previously known as Myoporum deserti.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

262

263

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Eremophila deserti

6.24 Emu Bush Eremophila longifolia

OTHER COMMON NAMESBerrigan, dogwood, weeping emu-bush, long-leaved emu bush, native plum tree,

juniper tree.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on flats and undulating terrain with a range of

substrates including clay, gravel, sand or loamy red earth; often growing with poplar box,

myall, mulga, silver-leaved ironbark and white cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub or small tree to 6m high.

Bark: Dark brown, deeply fissured into squarish blocks on older plants

Leaves: Long and thin, drooping, green, 50 – 150mm long x 4 – 7mm wide, hairy when young

Flowers: Bell-shaped with tube 20 – 30mm long, colour variable from various shades of

pink, red or orange, spotted inside

Fruit: Round or egg-shaped berry, glossy, green, turning blackish-purple when ripe,

5 – 11mm long x 6 – 8mm wide

Flowering Period: Peak in late winter/spring but may flower at any time of the year after rain

NOTES Forms small groves or occurs as isolated plants, particularly along roadsides. The leaves

are browsed by livestock. Honeyeaters visit the flowers and the fruit is eaten by emus

(Dromaius novaehollandiae). Several forms of this plant have been cultivated and

hybridised with other Eremophila species. It is a fast growing species that is drought

tolerant. Used for bush medicine in some parts of arid Australia.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

264

265

Eremophila longifolia

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.25 Spotted Fuchsia Bush Eremophila maculata

OTHER COMMON NAMESSpotted emubush, emubush, poison fuchsia.

HABITAT Occurs on undulating clay plains or alluvial floodplains often with coolibah, black box

(Eucalyptus largiflorens), belah, brigalow, leopardwood, scrub leopardwood, boonaree

and myall; often in Mitchell grass country.

DESCRIPTIONLow, multi-stemmed shrub, rounded or almost prostrate, to 1.5m high.

Bark: Light grey, smooth or warty; branchlets covered in minute hairs

Leaves: Dark or light green, tapered at both ends with pointed tip, glossy, 10 – 30mm

long x 2 – 9mm wide, aromatic, on very short stalk

Flowers: Pale or pinkish-orange, red or occasionally yellow, with red spots inside the

flower tube; the amount and density of spots is variable and they are absent from yellow

flowers; flower tube to 30mm long x 12mm wide, on S-shaped stalk to 15mm long

Fruit: Glossy, fleshy berry, green turning brown when dry, round or oblong, to 15mm

wide x 13mm high, on stem 10 – 15mm long, with curly dry stalk at end

Flowering Period: Peak in spring but some flowers are often present year round

NOTESSpotted fuchsia bush has a patchy distribution and is generally uncommon in the

coverage area. Plants with pale orange flowers are most common, while those with dark

red or yellow flowers are comparatively rare in the coverage area. Plants with different

flower colours may grow side by side. It is a very popular and hardy ornamental garden

plant. Parts of the plant contain high levels of cyanide.


266

267

Flower

Fruit Flower variation

Eremophila maculata

6.26 False Sandalwood Eremophila mitchellii

OTHER COMMON NAMESBudda, bastard sandalwood, sandalbox.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area on alluvial flats, undulating hills and ridge slopes

with sandy, loamy or clay soils; commonly associated with poplar box, Dawson gum,

myall, wilga, brigalow, belah and mulga.

DESCRIPTION Shrub or small tree to 8m high.

Bark: Hard, dark grey or almost black, fissured into rectangular segments; grey and flaky

on the branches

Leaves: Smooth, glossy, dark green, short and narrow, 25 – 45mm long x 3 – 5mm wide,

aromatic when crushed, sticky when young; tapering both ends; on stalk <3mm long;

bright green flush when young

Flowers: Bell-shaped, cream or sometimes pale pink, to 10mm wide and to 15mm long,

on stalk to 7mm long, 5 unequal lobes, hairy on petals and inside flower tube, sweetly

perfumed

Fruit: Egg-shaped, 4 – 7mm long, hairy

Flowering Period: Mainly winter and spring but flowering can occur at any time after rain

NOTES Unrelated to commercial sandalwood; however, the timber has a similar rose-like

perfume. Wood is used for turning and it is extensively cut for fence posts. The foliage is

browsed by livestock during extreme dry periods. It can form very dense groves and has

become a serious woody weed in some areas.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

268

269

Eremophila mitchellii

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.27 Red Spider Flower Grevillea longistyla

OTHER COMMON NAMESLong-styled grevillea.

HABITAT Occurs patchily in the northern half of the coverage area on crests and slopes of rocky

ridges; often associated with ironbarks, stringybarks, white and black cypress pine,

budgeroo, mountain grey gum, thready-bark she-oak and Bancroft’s wattle.

DESCRIPTION Bushy, multi-stemmed shrub, 3 – 4m high x 2 – 3m wide; outer branches rusty-brown and

slightly hairy towards the ends.

Leaves: Fine, dark green above, silvery-grey below, edges curled under, usually divided

into 3 – 5 narrow lobes, 150 – 200mm long x 5mm wide; midrib green, raised and

prominent on the underside

Flowers: Pale to deep red or orangey-red, waxy, in cylindrical cluster, 30 – 80mm long

Fruit: Woody capsule, green turning black, covered in short white hairs, 15mm long

x 10mm wide

Flowering Period: Peak between August – December but sporadically at other times

NOTES Very showy when in full flower and well established as an ornamental garden plant.

Blossoms are attractive to nectar-feeding birds, butterflies and ants.


270

271

Grevillea longistyla

Fruit Trunk Flower

6.28 Dysentery Bush Grewia latifolia

OTHER COMMON NAMES Dog’s balls.

HABITAT Occurs in the northern half of coverage area in a variety of eucalypt woodlands and

cypress pine forests on sandy or loamy soils.


Bark: Smooth, light brown or grey; smaller stems brown and covered in short, fine hairs

Leaves: Green above, much paler below, 40 – 100mm long x 20 – 60mm wide, on stalk

to 15mm long, veins prominent on underside, serrated along the margins, arranged

alternately, covered in short pale hairs on both sides

Flowers: Cream, with 4 – 5 petals, on short stalk

Fruit: Slightly flattened, fused woody capsules with 4 compartments, hairy, green turning

brown when dry


NOTES The fruit is claimed to have medicinal properties.


272

273

Leaves

Fruit Flower

Grewia latifolia

6.29 Flame Hakea Hakea purpurea

HABITAT Open woodland and shrubland with sandy, gravelly or loamy soil or on bare rock;

associated species include white cypress pine, narrow-leaved ironbark, dusky-leaved

ironbark, smooth-barked apple, bull oak, lancewood and budgeroo.

DESCRIPTION Untidy, rounded or erect shrub to 1.8m high.

Bark: Grey, rough at base, smooth on branches

Leaves: Thin, green, cylindrical, forked or divided into 3 segments each with sharp

pointed tip; 20 – 100mm long

Flowers: Brilliant red to pale red and cream, in spikes to 30 – 40mm long

Fruit: Grey, woody, 30 – 40mm long; tear-shaped, with short upturned beak, wrinkled

on the outside


NOTES This shrub has a very patchy distribution and can be easily overlooked until it is in flower.

The flower colour is variable across its range and provides an attractive display when in

full bloom. It regenerates readily from rootstock following disturbance.


274

275

Leaves

Fruit Flowers

Hakea purpurea

6.30 Purple Bush-pea Hovea longipes

OTHER COMMON NAMESBrush hovea.

HABITAT Occurs on hills and ridges with loamy or gravelly soils; associated with white cypress

pine, narrow-leaved ironbark, silver-leaved ironbark and smooth-barked apple.


Bark: Rough grey or dark brown on older plants; branchlets brown or grey with short

silvery or rusty-brown hairs

Leaves: Glossy, dark green above, silvery and hairy below, 15 – 50mm long x 7 – 20mm

wide, short point at tip, arranged alternately, on short stalk to 3mm long, midvein raised

on underside

Flowers: Purple, later fading to mauve or white, to 5mm diameter, in masses near ends of

branches, mildly perfumed

Fruit: Green pod turning brown when ripe, shiny, flattened, hairless, 10mm wide, almost

heart-shaped, with short stalk

Flowering Period: July – November

NOTES One of the more common and widespread of the nine species of Hovea occurring in the

coverage area. It forms thickets in disturbed areas. Dense groves provide an attractive

wildflower display during good seasons.


276

277

Bark

Fruit Flower

Hovea longipes

6.31 Dogwood Jacksonia scoparia

OTHER COMMON NAMESNative broom, broombush.

HABITAT Sandy or loamy soils on ridges, hills or in undulating terrain; often associated with white

cypress pine, smooth-barked apple, bull oak, narrow-leaved ironbark, thready-bark

she-oak and budgeroo.

DESCRIPTION Shrub or slender tree to 3m high; branches erect or arching and pendulous.

Bark: Dark grey and furrowed; orangey-brown underneath

Leaves: Branchlets look like foliage and are silvery or bluish-grey, angular and hairy;

true leaves are usually papery and scale-like

Flowers: Bright golden-yellow, to 9mm diameter, in masses near ends of branches, fragrant

Fruit: Pale brown, flat, hairy pods, 6 – 12mm long x 3mm wide


NOTES A highly attractive plant when in full flower. Older plants frequently have boring

insect larvae which are extracted and eaten by yellow-tailed black cockatoos

(Calyptorhynchus funereus).

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

278

279

Jacksonia scoparia

Fruit Trunk Flowers

6.32 Zamia Macrozamia moorei

OTHER COMMON NAMESZamia palm, cycad.

HABITATOccurs in northern parts of the coverage area, particularly in the Carnarvon and

Expedition Ranges on undulating terrain, hill slopes and within gorges; associated with

narrow-leaved ironbark, red bloodwood, spotted gum and mountain coolibah.

DESCRIPTION Palm-like cycad, usually 2 – 6m high, with a crown of long, spreading leaves; thick trunk,

200 – 500mm diameter, straight or sometimes arching.

Bark: Trunk with thick, rough, dark grey to black bark

Leaves: Leaves to 3m long, dark green, glossy, leaflets ending in sharp point

Fruit: Male cones are cylindrical, slender, straight or curved and up to 450mm long; the

female cone is cylindrical, 400 – 900mm long x 200mm diameter; female cones contain

oblong, bright red seeds, 40 – 60mm long x 25 – 35mm wide

NOTES The nuts are extremely toxic to humans; however, fresh seeds are consumed by feral pigs and

older seeds are eaten by native rodents. Livestock suffer from rickets if leaves are eaten.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Fairview.

280

281

Trunk

Fruit Female cone (photo: Robert Ashdown)

Macrozamia moorei

Male cone

Leaves

6.33 Yellow-berry Bush Maytenus cunninghamii

OTHER COMMON NAMESNarrow-leaf maytenus.

HABITAT Occurs in woodlands on sandy, loamy or light clay soils; often associated with poplar box,

narrow-leaved ironbark, silver-leaved ironbark, spotted gum and white cypress pine.

DESCRIPTION Most frequently seen as small, spindly shrub but capable of growing into a rounded tree

to about 6m high.

Bark: Grey, corky and furrowed on old plants, rough on younger plants; branches smooth

and grey; branchlets yellowish to reddish-brown

Leaves: Narrow, light green, ending in sharp point, 10 – 70mm long x 2 – 5mm wide,

arranged alternately, on short stalk to 2mm long

Flowers: Clusters of inconspicuous yellowish or pale green flowers, about 5mm diameter,

star-shaped, with 5 petals, on short stalks 4 – 5mm long

Fruit: Glossy green capsule, turning yellow when ripe, egg-shaped with point at tip,

splitting when dry into two thin, wing-like sections containing a single seed


NOTESFound throughout the district but generally occurs as widely scattered plants or in small

groves. The foliage is browsed by livestock.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

282

283

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Maytenus cunninghamii

6.34 Prickly-leaf Paperbark Melaleuca nodosa

OTHER COMMON NAMESYellow paperbark.

HABITATPatchy distribution predominantly in the northern half of the coverage area; occurs on

plains, depressions and ridge crests with loamy or stony substrate, sometimes overlying

clay; forms dense impenetrable thickets or associates with bull oak, budgeroo, ironbarks

and other paperbarks and tea-trees (Melaleuca spp).

DESCRIPTION Rounded, bushy shrub usually about 1.5 – 2m high.

Bark: Smooth, shiny grey bark when young, becoming papery with age

Leaves: Fine, green, needle-like foliage, almost cylindrical, 15 – 40mm long x 1 – 3mm

wide, on short stalks about 1mm long, ending in a fine, sharp point

Flowers: Masses of lemon yellow balls, to 10mm diameter

Fruit: Rounded clusters of grey capsules, 9 – 10mm high x 8 – 9mm wide


NOTES Forms dense groves which are very attractive when the plants are in full flower.

Broom Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca uncinata) is a similar species which sometimes occurs

with prickly-leaf paperbark; however, it has curved, rigid leaf tips and grows taller

(to about 4m high).

GAS/OIL FIELDFairview, Denison, Roma.

284

285

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Melaleuca nodosa

6.35 Boobialla Myoporum montanum

OTHER COMMON NAMESWaterbush, western boobialla, arsenic bush.

HABITAT Boobialla occurs throughout the coverage area on hill slopes, rocky ridges, margins of

swamps and watercourses, and other moist areas such as around troughs, dams, bore

drains and water tanks.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub or small tree to at least 6m high.

Bark: Rough, dark brown and fissured into small rectangular pieces; branches smooth

Leaves: Shiny, bright green, tapered towards the tip and base, 30 – 110mm long x

5 – 35mm wide; sparse oil dots visible when held to light

Flowers: Cream, bell-shaped, 5 petals, 3 – 8mm long, in clusters or singly along

branches, mildly perfumed

Fruit: Globular, glossy, fleshy berry, purplish when ripe, to 8mm diameter

Flowering Period: Mainly winter and spring but can flower at any time of year

NOTESThe leaves contain toxins but concentrations vary and some plants can be browsed by

stock. Boobialla suckers readily and it is common in disturbed areas. The fruit is eaten

by many native birds.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

286

287

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Myoporum montanum

6.36 Heath Everlasting Ozothamnus diotophyllus

OTHER COMMON NAMESYellow rice-flower.

HABITAT Occurs patchily in central and southern parts of the coverage area on plains and gently

undulating terrain with sandy and loamy soils; often associated with white cypress pine,

silver-leaved ironbark, bull oak and poplar box.

DESCRIPTION A slender, wiry, shrub, to 1.5m tall, with woolly branches; aromatic.

Leaves: Scale-like, 2 – 6mm long and to 1mm wide at the base, stalkless

Flowers: Bright golden-yellow flower heads, each to 2 – 4mm diameter, in clusters at

ends of the branches

Flowering Period: August – September

NOTES This plant is often inconspicuous until it is in flower when it provides an attractive display,

particularly along roadsides between Alton and Moonie. It is an attractive ornamental

plant sometimes available in nurseries. Previously known as Helichrysum diotophyllum.


288

289

Leaves Flower

Ozothamnus diotophyllus

6.37 Butterfly Bush Petalostylis labicheoides

OTHER COMMON NAMESSlender petalostylis.

HABITAT Occurs on flats, levees and ridges with stony, sandy or gravelly soils where it is often

associated with bendee, mulga, silver-leaved ironbark or poplar box.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub to 3m high, often with upright branches when young.

Bark: Smooth, light brown or grey; branchlets hairy

Leaves: Green or sometimes greyish-green, paler on the underside, usually with 5 pairs of

leaflets, each with a pointed tip

Flowers: Bright yellow, 5 petals with red butterfly-like marking on the uppermost lobe,

20 – 35mm diameter

Fruit: Flattened, woody, brown pod to 30mm long x 7mm wide

Flowering Period: Peak in late winter to spring but flowers sporadically after rain

NOTES Patchily distributed throughout most of the coverage area and favours disturbed areas

such as roadsides, gravel pits and clearings around gas wells. Used in mine site

revegetation. It is an attractive ornamental plant. The leaves and seeds contain alkaloids

which reputedly have medicinal properties.

GAS/OIL FIELDDenison, Fairview, Roma.

290

291

Trunk

Fruit Flower

Petalostylis labicheoides

6.38 Wallaby Apple Pittosporum spinescens

OTHER COMMON NAMESLarge-fruited orange thorn, orange thorn.

HABITAT Found throughout the northern half of the coverage area in eucalypt woodlands,

brigalow communities and in vine thickets, with loamy or clay soils on undulating terrain

and slopes of ridges.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub or small tree to 8m high; branches have numerous sharp, woody spines,

10 – 15mm long.

Bark: Light grey and smooth

Leaves: Bright green, 8 – 13mm long x 4 – 7mm wide, broadest at the ends, in small

whorled clusters of 2 – 6, slightly aromatic, tip blunt or with short point

Flowers: Inconspicuous, 7mm diameter, greenish-cream or greenish-yellow, 5 petals,

on stalk about 13mm long

Fruit: Pale yellowish-green, fleshy, round and covered in short hairs, 15 – 25mm

diameter, containing numerous seeds, situated at the base of a spine

Flowering Period: Spring – summer but also observed flowering in winter

NOTES The fruit is eaten by black-striped wallaby (Macropus dorsalis) and swamp wallabies

(Wallabia bicolor), and the foliage is browsed by livestock. Formerly known as Citriobatus

spinescens.


292

293

Fruit Leaves

Pittosporum spinescens

6.39 Butter Bush Senna artemisioides

OTHER COMMON NAMESSilver cassia, desert cassia, cassia, wallaby bush.

HABITAT Occurs throughout the coverage area in a wide variety of habitat types including

eucalypt, brigalow, bendee and mulga woodlands; favours sandy, loamy, gravelly or light

clay substrates.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub to 2m tall.

Bark: Grey and rough at base with smooth smaller branches

Leaves: Highly variable in form ranging from silvery-grey or green fern-like leaves with

several pairs of leaflets to thin and wiry with only a single pairs of leaflets

Flowers: Bright yellow, 5 petals, 15 – 20mm diameter

Fruit: Flattened shiny pod, with pointed tip, brown when dry, to 80mm long x 6 – 10 mm

wide, containing many black, hard, shiny seeds

Flowering Period: Peak between August – November but at any time of year after rain

NOTES Capable of forming dense thickets and regarded as a serious woody weed in some parts.

Timber is used for wood turning. Flowers are attractive to ants. Several subspecies occur

in the coverage area with S. artemisioides zygophylla being common in the north on clay

plains and hills, while S. artemisioides artemisioides is dominant in the south and favours

red sand, loam or earth. Several forms of this plant are available in horticulture.

Previously in the genus Cassia.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

294

295

Trunk

Fruit Flower

Senna artemisioides (photo: Bindy Warby)

6.40 Spring-pod Cassia Senna circinnata

HABITAT Flats, gently undulating plains and low rises with loamy to heavy clay soil, often in open

woodlands of poplar box, or scattered among bluegrass or Mitchell grass downs.

DESCRIPTION Rounded shrub with squat trunk and upright branches, to 4m high.

Bark: Rough and dark grey on lower trunk with smooth, hairy small branches

Leaves: Small clusters of green, cylindrical, needle-like leaves, hairy when young,


Flowers: Yellow, 5 petals, about 20mm diameter

Fruit: Brown, woody, flattened pod, curved or coiled 2 – 3 times, 60 – 120mm long x

10 – 15mm wide, containing black, shiny, seeds that are more or less heart-shaped with

a short point on their tip, each 6 – 8mm long x 5 – 6mm wide

Flowering Period: Peak between August – October but can flower at any time of the year

after rain

NOTES Often seen along roadsides and stock routes as scattered plants or in small groves. It is

browsed by livestock during drought, especially when young. Plants in full flower are very

attractive. Previously known as Cassia circinnata and Senna artemisioides subsp. circinnata.

GAS/OIL FIELDRoma, Fairview.

296

297

Trunk

Fruit Flower

Senna circinnata

6.41 Bean Bush Senna pleurocarpa

OTHER COMMON NAMESFire bush, smooth cassia, native senna, striped-pod cassia.

HABITATOccurs throughout the coverage area on gently undulating plains and ridges with loamy,

sandy, gravelly or rocky substrates often in association with bendee, mulga, narrow-

leaved ironbark, silver-leaved ironbark, poplar box and Queensland peppermint.

DESCRIPTION Erect, spindly shrub to 4m high; entirely hairless.

Bark: Smooth and dark brown on old plants; smooth and grey, orangey-brown or green

on younger plants

Leaves: Green to greyish-green with yellowish-green stems, 70 – 150mm long,

with 5 – 9 pairs of leaflets

Flowers: Yellow, 5 petals, to 30mm diameter, in clusters at ends of branches

Fruit: Flat, brown, woody pod, 40 – 55mm long x 10 – 16mm wide, with a raised

longitudinal midrib along the middle of each side

Flowering Period: August – December and sporadically after rain

NOTES Suckers readily, particularly following fire, and forms small groves in disturbed areas

such as roadsides, pipelines and around gas wells. Fast growing but presumed to be

short lived. Crushed leaves and stems have a distinctive odour. Previously known as

Cassia pleurocarpa.

GAS/OIL FIELDMoonie, Roma, Fairview.

298

299

Trunk

Fruit Flowers

Senna pleurocarpa

6.42 Forest Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea johnsonii

HABITAT Occurs patchily throughout the coverage area on plains, hill slopes and crests of ridges with

sandy or loamy soils; associated with many species including white cypress pine, smooth-

barked apple, ironbarks, thready-bark she-oak, budgeroo, woody pear and spinifex.

DESCRIPTIONTrunk to 4m high.

Bark: Black and rough

Leaves: Large head of blue-green, narrow, grass-like leaves

Flowers: Flower stem to 35mm diameter, spike to 3m long and containing numerous

tightly packed, cream flowers

Fruit: Brown, woody capsules, along old flower spike

Flowering Period: Peak in spring but flowering can occur after rain or fire

NOTESThe flowers are attractive to honeyeaters, butterflies, flies, native bees and beetles.

GAS/OIL FIELDAll

300

301

Seed capsules

Flower spike Flowers

Xanthorhhoea johnsonii

General Identification Guides

Anderson, E. (2003) Plants of Central Queensland. QDPI, Brisbane.

Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of

Western New South Wales. Inkata Press, Sydney.

Hando, R. and V. (1997) Going Bush with Chinchilla Nats. Second Edition. Chinchilla Field

Naturalists’ Club, Chinchilla.

Hando, V. (undated) Wildlfowers of Southeast Inland Queensland. Hando, V., Chinchilla.

Lester, N. (2000) Woodlands to Weeds. Tara Shire and west to the Thomby Range. Lester,

N., Glenmorgan.

Milson, J. (1995) Plant Identification in the Arid Zone. QDPI, Brisbane.

Pearson, S. and Pearson, A. (no date) Plants of Central Queensland. SGAP, NSW.

Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. (1983 – 1989) Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volumes

1-3. QDPI, Brisbane.

Williams, K.A.W. (1979 – 1999) Native Plants of Queensland. Volumes 1 – 4. Williams,

K.A.W. and CopyRight Publishing, Brisbane.

Plant Uses

Blake, S.T. and Roff, C. (1988) Honey Flora of Queensland. DPI, Brisbane.

Cribb, A.B. and Cribb, J.W. (1989) Useful Wild Plants in Australia. Collins, Sydney.

Fairbairn, E. (1999) Australian Timbers. Volume 2. Western Queensland trees and their

timbers. DNR, Brisbane. 117pp.

Grevilleas and Relatives

Wrigley, J.W. and Fagg, M. (1989). Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas. Collins, Sydney.

Holliday, I. (2005) Hakeas. A Field and Garden Guide. Reed New Holland, Sydney.

Wattles

Lithgow, G. (1997) 60 Wattles of the Chinchilla and Murilla Shires. Lithgow, G.,

Chinchilla. Pedley, L. (1987) Acacias in Queensland. QDPI, Brisbane.

302

7.0

FURT

HER

REA

DIN

G

Grasses and other Pasture Species

Henry, D.R., Hall, T.J., Jordan, D.J., Milson, J.A., Schefe, C.M. and Silcock, R.G. (1995)

Pasture Plants of Southern Inland Queensland. QDPI, Brisbane.

Eucalypts and Relatives

Brooker, M.I.H. and Kleinig, D.A. (2004). Field Guide to Eucalypts: Volume 3 Northern

Australia. Second Edition. Bloomings Books, Sydney.

Wrigley, J.W. and Fagg,m. (1993) Bottlebrushes, Paperbarks and Tea Trees. Angus and

Robertson, Sydney.

Holliday, I. (2004) Melaleucas. A Field and Garden Guide. Reed New Holland, Sydney.

Dry Rainforest/Vine Thicket Species

Nicholson, N. and H. (2004) Rainforest Plants. VI. Terania Rainforest Publishing, The

Channon, NSW.

Harden, G.J., McDonald, W.J.F. and Williams, J.B. (2006) Rainforest Trees and Shrubs: A

Field Guide to their Identification. Gwen Harden Publishing, Nambucca Heads.

Botanical Terms

Clarke, I. and Lee, H. (2003) Name That Flower. Second Edition. Melbourne University

Press, Melbourne.

Weeds

Dight, G.A., Huggins, J.A., Lucy, M.J. and Zerner, G.R. (2003) Weeds of Southern

Queensland. NRM/DPI, Brisbane.

Department of Natural Resources. (2002) Weed Pocket Guide. South-east Queensland.

DNR, Brisbane.

Parsons, W.T. and Cuthbertson, E.G. (1992) Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press,

Melbourne.

Regional Ecosystems

Sattler, P. and Williams, R. (eds.). (1999) The Conservation Status of Queensland’s

Bioregional Ecosystems. Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.

303

Environmental consultant Graeme Bartrim provided initial support for this project. Bindy

Warby, Robert Ashdown, Steve Pearson, Len Hubbard, Glenn Leiper, Jenny Milson and

Russell Cumming kindly provided images. Bruce Cosh, Megan Thomas, Bill McDonald,

Richard Johnson and Emma Hicks (Santos) commented on the text.

Craig Eddie (BOOBOOK) wishes to thank Tony Rutter and Steve Tunstill for project

management, and Jon Warby for field assistance and ongoing support. Bruce and Jane

Cosh ‘Oakwells’, Lex and Janelle Mesner ‘Teelba’ and Jon and Bindy Warby ‘Wagganba’

kindly allowed access to their properties and gave invaluable help. Robert Ashdown

(EPA/QPWS) gave helpful technical advice.

304

8.0

AC

KNO

WLE

DG

MEN

TS

Baker’s Mallee; Eucalyptus bakeri 138

Bancrofts’ Wattle; Acacia bancroftiorum 218

Baradine Red Gum; Eucalyptus chloroclada 144

Bats’ Wing Coral Tree; Erythrina vespertilio 136

Bean Bush; Senna pleurocarpa 298

Beefwood; Grevillea striata 184

Belah; Casuarina cristata 116

Bendee; Acacia catenulata 48

Bitter Bark; Alstonia constricta 84

Black Cypress Pine; Callitris endlicheri 104

Black Tea-tree; Melaleuca bracteata 194

Boobialla; Myoporum montanum 286

Boonaree; Alectryon oleifolius 74

Bowyakka; Acacia microsperma 58

Brigalow; Acacia harpophylla 52

Broad-leaved Bottle Tree; Brachychiton australis 94

Broom Bush; Apophyllum anomalum 242

Brown Bloodwood; Corymbia trachyphloia 132

Budgeroo; Lysicarpus angustifolius 190

Bull Oak; Allocasuarina luehmannii 78

Bumble Tree; Capparis mitchellii 112

Bush House Paperbark; Melaleuca tamariscina 196

Butter Bush; Senna artemisioides 294

Butterfly Bush; Petalostylis labicheoides 290

Carbeen; Corymbia tessellaris 130

Carnarvon Fan Palm; Livistona nitida 38

Cattle Bush; Pittosporum angustifolium 206

Clarkson's Bloodwood; Corymbia clarksoniana 124

Coffee Bush; Breynia oblongifolia 246

Coolibah; Eucalyptus coolabah 146

Corkwood Oak; Hakea lorea 186

Cough Bush; Cassinia laevis 254

Crowded-leaf Wattle; Acacia conferta 222

Crows Ash; Flindersia australis 176

Curly Zamia; Macrozamia fearnsidei 40

305

9.0

IND

EX O

F PL

AN

TS B

YC

OM

MO

N N

AM

E

Currant Bush; Carissa ovata 250

Currawong; Acacia sparsiflora 70

Dallachy’s Gum; Corymbia dallachyana 126

Dawson Gum; Eucalyptus cambageana 142

Deane's Wattle; Acacia deanei 224

Dogwood; Jacksonia scoparia 278

Doolan; Acacia salicina 66

Dusky-leaved ironbark; Eucalyptus fibrosa nubila 154

Dysentery Bush; Grewia latifolia 272

Early Flowering Black Wattle; Acacia leiocalyx 232

Eastern Dead Finish; Archidendropsis basaltica 90

Ellangowan Poison Bush; Eremophila deserti 262

Emu Apple; Owenia acidula 202

Emu Bush; Eremophila longifolia 264

False Sandalwood; Eremophila mitchellii 268

Flame Hakea; Hakea purpurea 274

Flat-stemmed Wattle; Acacia complanata 220

Forest Grass Tree; Xanthorhhoea johnsonii 300

Forest She-oak; Allocasuarina torulosa 80

Glory Wattle; Acacia spectabilis 238

Grey Gum; Eucalyptus major 156

Grove’s Paperbark; Melaleuca groveana 42

Gum-topped Box; Eucalyptus microcarpa 160

Gum-topped Ironbark; Eucalyptus decorticans 150

Gundabluey; Acacia victoriae 240

Hair Plant; Astrotricha cordata 244

Heath Everlasting; Ozothamnus diotophyllus 288

Ironwood; Acacia excelsa 50

Kurrajong; Brachychiton populneus 96

Lancewood; Acacia shirleyi 68

Large-fruited Yellow Jacket; Corymbia watsoniana 134

Leichhardt Bean; Cassia brewsteri 114

Leopardwood; Flindersia maculosa 180

Lime Bush; Citrus glauca 120

Lolly Bush; Clerodendrum floribundum 256

306

Miles Mulga; Acacia aprepta 46

Mimosa Bush; Acacia farnesiana 228

Mountain Coolibah; Eucalyptus orgadophila 162

Mountain Yapunyah; Eucalyptus thozetiana 170

Mulga; Acacia aneura 44

Myall; Acacia pendula 64

Myrtle Tree; Psydrax oleifolius 208

Narrow-leaf Bumble Tree; Capparis loranthifolia 110

Narrow-leaved Bottle Tree; Brachychiton rupestris 98

Narrow-leaved ironbark; Eucalyptus crebra 148

Narrow-leaved White Mahogany; Eucalyptus tenuipes 166

Native Cherry; Exocarpos cupressiformis 172

Nelia; Acacia oswaldii 62

Ooline; Cadellia pentastylis 30

Poplar Box; Eucalyptus populnea 164

Pretty Wattle; Acacia decora 226

Prickly Pine; Bursaria incana 100

Prickly-leaf Paperbark; Melaleuca nodosa 284

Purple Bush-pea; Hovea longipes 276

Queensland Blue Gum; Eucalyptus tereticornis 168

Queensland Peppermint; Eucalyptus exserta 152

Queensland Silver Wattle; Acacia podalyriifolia 236

Quinine Tree; Petalostigma pubescens 204

Red Ash; Alphitonia excelsa 82

Red Bauhinia; Lysiphyllum carronii 192

Red Bloodwood; Corymbia erythrophloia 128

Red Spider Flower; Grevillea longistyla 270

River Cooba; Acacia stenophylla 72

River Red Gum; Eucalyptus camaldulensis 140

River She-oak; Casuarina cunninghamiana 118

Rough-barked Apple; Angophora floribunda 86

Rush-leaf Wattle; Acacia juncifolia 230

Sandalwood; Santalum lanceolatum 210

Sandpaper Fig; Ficus opposita 174

Sandstone Prickle-bush; Apatophyllum teretifolium 28

307

Scrub Leopardwood; Flindersia dissosperma 178

Shiny-leaved Ironbark; Eucalyptus virens 32

Silver Croton; Croton insularis 258

Silver-leaved Ironbark; Eucalyptus melanophloia 158

Slender-flowered Wattle; Acacia longispicata 54

Smooth-barked Apple; Angophora leiocarpa 88

Spotted and Lemon-scented Gum; Corymbia citriodora 122

Spotted Fuchsia Bush; Eremophila maculata 266

Spring-pod Cassia; Senna circinnata 296

Sticky Hopbush; Dodonaea viscosa 260

Sturts’ Desert Rose; Gossypium sturtianum 34

Thomby Range Wattle; Acacia wardellii 26

Thready-bark She-oak; Allocasuarina inophloia 76

Vine Tree; Ventilago viminalis 214

Wait-A-While; Capparis lasiantha 252

Wallaby Apple; Pittosporum spinescens 292

Weeping Bottlebrush; Callistemon viminalis 102

Weeping Tea-tree; Leptospermum lamellatum 188

Western Tea-tree; Melaleuca trichostachya 198

White Cedar; Melia azedarach 200

White Cypress Pine; Callitris glaucophylla 106

White Fringe Myrtle; Calytrix tetragona 248

Whitewood; Atalaya hemiglauca 92

Whorl-leaved Heath; Leucopogon grandiflorus 36

Wild Orange; Capparis canescens 108

Wilga; Geijera parviflora 182

Womal; Acacia maranoensis 56

Woody Pear; Xylomelum cunninghamianum 216

Yarran; Acacia omalophylla 60

Yellow Wood; Terminalia oblongata 212

Yellow-berry Bush; Maytenus cunninghamii 282

Zamia; Macrozamia moorei 280

Zig Zag Wattle; Acacia macradenia 234

308

Acacia aneura; Mulga 44

Acacia aprepta; Miles Mulga 46

Acacia bancroftiorum; Bancrofts’ Wattle 218

Acacia catenulata; Bendee 48

Acacia complanata; Flat-stemmed Wattle 220

Acacia conferta; Crowded-leaf Wattle 222

Acacia deanei; Deanes’ Wattle 224

Acacia decora; Pretty Wattle 226

Acacia excelsa; Ironwood 50

Acacia farnesiana; Mimosa Bush 228

Acacia harpophylla; Brigalow 52

Acacia juncifolia; Rush-leaf Wattle 230

Acacia leiocalyx; Early Flowering Black Wattle 232

Acacia longispicata; Slender-flowered Wattle 54

Acacia macradenia; Zig Zag Wattle 234

Acacia maranoensis; Womal 56

Acacia microsperma; Bowyakka 58

Acacia omalophylla; Yarran 60

Acacia oswaldii; Nelia 62

Acacia pendula; Myall 64

Acacia podalyriifolia; Queensland Silver Wattle 236

Acacia salicina; Doolan 66

Acacia shirleyi; Lancewood 68

Acacia sparsiflora; Currawong 70

Acacia spectabilis; Glory Wattle 238

Acacia stenophylla; River Cooba 72

Acacia victoriae; Gundabluey 240

Acacia wardellii; Thomby Range Wattle 26

Alectryon oleifolius; Boonaree 74

Allocasuarina inophloia; Thready-bark She-oak 76

Allocasuarina luehmannii; Bull Oak 78

Allocasuarina torulosa; Forest She-oak 80

Alphitonia excelsa; Red Ash 82

Alstonia constricta; Bitter Bark 84

309

10.0

IND

EX O

F PL

AN

TS B

Y

SCIE

NTI

FIC

NA

ME

Angophora floribunda; Rough-barked Apple 86

Angophora leiocarpa; Smooth-barked Apple 88

Apatophyllum teretifolium; Sandstone Prickle-bush 28

Apophyllum anomalum; Broom Bush 242

Archidendropsis basaltica; Eastern Dead Finish 90

Astrotricha cordata; Hair Plant 244

Atalaya hemiglauca; Whitewood 92

Brachychiton australis; Broad-leaved Bottle Tree 94

Brachychiton populneus; Kurrajong 96

Brachychiton rupestris; Narrow-leaved Bottle Tree 98

Breynia oblongifolia; Coffee Bush 246

Bursaria incana; Prickly Pine 100

Cadellia pentastylis; Ooline 30

Callistemon viminalis; Weeping Bottlebrush 102

Callitris endlicheri; Black Cypress Pine 104

Callitris glaucophylla; White Cypress Pine 106

Calytrix tetragona; White Fringe Myrtle 248

Capparis canescens; Wild Orange 108

Capparis lasiantha; Wait-A-While 252

Capparis loranthifolia; Narrow-leaf Bumble Tree 110

Capparis mitchellii; Bumble Tree 112

Carissa ovata; Currant Bush 250

Cassia brewsteri; Leichhardt Bean 114

Cassinia laevis; Cough Bush 254

Casuarina cristata; Belah 116

Casuarina cunninghamiana; River She-oak 118

Citrus glarca; Lime Bush 120

Clerodendrum floribundum; Lolly Bush 256

Corymbia citriodora; Spotted and Lemon-scented Gum 122

Corymbia clarksoniana; Clarkson's Bloodwood 124

Corymbia dallachyana; Dallachy’s Gum 126

Corymbia erythrophloia; Red Bloodwood 128

Corymbia tessellaris; Carbeen 130

Corymbia trachyphloia; Brown Bloodwood 132

Corymbia watsoniana; Large-fruited Yellow Jacket 134

310

Croton insularis; Silver Croton 258

Dodonaea viscosa; Sticky Hopbush 260

Eremophila deserti; Ellangowan Poison Bush 262

Eremophila longifolia; Emu Bush 264

Eremophila maculata; Spotted Fuchsia Bush 266

Eremophila mitchellii; False Sandalwood 268

Erythrina vespertilio; Bat's Wing Coral Tree 136

Eucalyptus bakeri; Baker’s Mallee 138

Eucalyptus camaldulensis; River Red Gum 140

Eucalyptus cambageana; Dawson Gum 142

Eucalyptus chloroclada; Baradine Red Gum 144

Eucalyptus coolabah; Coolibah 146

Eucalyptus crebra; Narrow-leaved Ironbark 148

Eucalyptus decorticans; Gum-topped Ironbark 150

Eucalyptus exserta; Queensland Peppermint 152

Eucalyptus fibrosa nubila; Dusky-leaved Ironbark 154

Eucalyptus major; Grey Gum 156

Eucalyptus melanophloia; Silver-leaved Ironbark 158

Eucalyptus microcarpa; Gum-topped Box 160

Eucalyptus orgadophila; Mountain Coolibah 162

Eucalyptus populnea; Poplar Box 164

Eucalyptus tenuipes; Narrow-leaved White Mahogany 166

Eucalyptus tereticornis; Queensland Blue Gum 168

Eucalyptus thozetiana; Mountain Yapunyah 170

Eucalyptus virens; Shiny-leaved Ironbark 32

Exocarpos cupressiformis; Native Cherry 172

Ficus opposita; Sandpaper Fig 174

Flindersia australis; Crows’ Ash 176

Flindersia dissosperma; Scrub Leopardwood 178

Flindersia maculosa; Leopardwood 180

Geijera parviflora; Wilga 182

Gossypium sturtianum; Sturts Desert Rose 34

Grevillea longistyla; Red Spider Flower 270

Grevillea striata; Beefwood 184

Grewia latifolia; Dysentery Bush 272

311

Hakea lorea; Corkwood Oak 186

Hakea purpurea; Flame Hakea 274

Hovea longipes; Purple Bush-pea 276

Jacksonia scoparia; Dogwood 278

Leptospermum lamellatum; Weeping Tea-tree 188

Leucopogon grandiflorus; Whorl-leaved Heath 36

Livistona nitida; Carnarvon Fan Palm 38

Lysicarpus angustifolius; Budgeroo 190

Lysiphyllum carronii; Red Bauhinia 192

Macrozamia fearnsidei; Curly Zamia 40

Macrozamia moorei; Zamia 280

Maytenus cunninghamii; Yellow-berry Bush 282

Melaleuca bracteata; Black Tea-tree 194

Melaleuca groveana; Grove’s Paperbark 42

Melaleuca nodosa; Prickly-leaf Paperbark 284

Melaleuca tamariscina; Bush House Paperbark 196

Melaleuca trichostachya; Western Tea-tree 198

Melia azedarach; White Cedar 200

Myoporum montanum; Boobialla 286

Owenia acidula; Emu Apple 202

Ozothamnus diotophyllus; Heath Everlasting 288

Petalostigma pubescens; Quinine Tree 204

Petalostylis labicheoides; Butterfly Bush 290

Pittosporum angustifolium; Cattle Bush 206

Pittosporum spinescens; Wallaby Apple 292

Psydrax oleifolius; Myrtle Tree 208

Santalum lanceolatum; Sandalwood 210

Senna artemisioides; Butter Bush 294

Senna circinnata; Spring-pod Cassia 296

Senna pleurocarpa; Bean Bush 298

Terminalia oblongata; Yellow Wood 212

Ventilago viminalis; Vine Tree 214

Xanthorrhoea johnsonii; Forest Grass Tree 300

Xylomelum cunninghamianum; Woody Pear 216

312

--

313

Craig Eddie has lived and worked in southwest Queensland

since 1995 where his passion for native wildlife and plants

is now focused. His local knowledge of fauna, flora,

vegetation and landscape management is highly regarded

both within the scientific and local community.

Craig has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Natural Systems

and Wildlife) awarded by the University of Queensland

and has worked for the Queensland Museum and the

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, contributing to

numerous scientific publications and discovering new

species of flora and fauna.

In 2000 Craig branched out and, with his wife,

established BOOBOOK to provide ecological

consulting services and advice within southern and

central Queensland. BOOBOOK conduct fauna and flora

surveys and impact assessments in Eastern Queensland.

about the author

314

NO

TES

315

Printed on recycled paper

This publication was printed on 9lives 80 paper which is made with process-chlorine-free, 80%

recycled post-consumer waste fibre and 20% total-chlorine-free fibre. The paper is certified by the

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial,

and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

The report was printed by Finsbury Green Printing, which is one of a small number of printers in

Australia certified by the FSC standards to continue the chain of custody when printing on FSC-

certified paper. Both the paper and printing processes are accredited to the ISO 140001

Environmental Management Standard.

Education

Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs of Eastern Queensland Oil and Gas Fields