Flora and Fauna
Kororoit Creek hosts a vast array of plant, animal and bird life. While much of the original vegetation has disappeared over the past few years, we are revegetating the area with native flora. We hope that this will lead to an increase in the existing wildlife and encourage the native fauna to proliferate.
Escarpment Vegetation
Vegetation on steep riverine slopes has survived only on narrow, rocky outcrops at the escarpment edge and slopes too steep to graze.
Most has been replaced by Lycium ferrocissimum (Boxthorn), and introduced grasses. Escarpment vegetation is remarkably homogenous. Acacia implexa, Bursia spinosa and hymenanthera dentata are found in most stands. Ferns are common amongst the rocks.
Species growing in the shallow soils of escarpment edges are well adapted to their habitat and require little management. Lycium ferrocissimum (Boxthorn) could be removed from river slopes and replaced with appropriate species.
The following indigenous species have been recorded although the list is undoubtedly incomplete as some vegetation types have not been thoroughly surveyed.
|
Gold-dust Wattle - Acacia acinacea |
Cherry Ballart - Exocarpus cupressiformis |
Ref: McDougal 1987 - Sites of Botanical Significance in the Western Region of Melbourne
Kororoit Creek Riparian Species |
(Ref: Melbourne Water) | |
| SPECIES | COMMON NAME | TYPE |
| Acacia implexa | Lightwood | Tree |
| Acacia melanoxylon | Blackwood | Tree |
| Eucalyptus camaldulensis | River Red Gum | Tree |
| Acacia mearnsii | Black Wattle | Tree |
| Acacia pycnantha | Golden Wattle | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Acacia paradoxa | Hedge Wattle | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Acacia verticillata | Prickly Moses | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa | Sweet Bursaria | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Callistermon sieberi | River Bottlebrush | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Correa glabra | Rock Glabra | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Dodonsea viscosa spp. spatulata | Wedge Leaf Hop Bush | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Gynatrix pulchella | Hemp Bush | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Hymananthera dentata | Tree Violet | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Leptospermum lanigerum | Woolly Tea-tree | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Myoporum viscosum | Sticky Boobialla | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Muehlenbeckia florulenta | Tangled Lignum | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Solanum laciniatum | Kangaroo Apple | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Viminaria juncea | Golden Spray | Small Tree/ shrub |
| Acaena novae-zelandiae | Bidgee-widgee | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Alisma plantago-aquatica | Water Plantain | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Calystegia sepium | Bindweed | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Carex appressa | Tall Sedge | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Carex tereticaulis | Rush Sedge | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Clematis microphylla | Small-leaf Clematis | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Crassula helmsii | Swamp Crassula | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Dianella longifolia | Pale Flax-lily | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Einadia nutans | Nodding Saltbush | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Eleocharis acuta | Common Spike-sedge | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Juncus australis | Austral Rush | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Juncus flavidus | Rush Sedge | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Juncus pallidus | Pale Rush | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Lomandra longifolia | Spiny-headed Mat-rush | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Mentha australis | River Mint | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Myriophyllum crisptatum | Water Milfoil | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Persicaria decipiens | Slender Knotweed | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Poa labillardieri | Common Tussock-grass | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Schoenoplectus valldus | River Club-rush | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Triglochin procera | Water-ribbons | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
| Rumex bidens | Mud Dock | Herbs/Gram. & Aquatics |
Animals & Bird Life
Sugar Gliders
Spotted Native Cats
Ring-tailed Possums
Grey Kangaroos
Fat-tailed Dunnarts
Furred Water Rats
Red-legged Oyster Catchers
Stilt
Grey Teal
Black Ducks
Spoonbills
Black Swans
Pelicans
Ibis
Dotterel
Cranes
Gulls
Mollyhawks
Magpie Larks (Peewees)
Nankeen Kestrels
Rosellas
Little Tits
Blue Wrens
Crimson Robins
Wagtails
Ravens
Larks
Ref: Extract from Ann Hall's memoirs - 1890's