LARGE SHRUBS OF HEPBURN SHIRE AND THE WOMBAT FOREST

Woody species growing 1m to 10m (listed in order of botanical name)

Acacia acinacea | Gold-dust Wattle

Typically a small shrub to 1m (sometimes considerably taller depending on position and provenance). Small leaves, somewhat thick, slightly curved with a tiny hooked point. Yellow globular flower-heads. Within Hepburn Shire, occurs within drier pockets of forest around (e.g. Creswick, northwards from Daylesford, Drummond). Few occurrences within the Wombat Forest, confined to southernmost areas.

Acacia aspera | Rough Wattle

Shrub typically to 1.5m. Globular flowers. Conspicuously hairy and sticky leaves stems and pods. Occurs in dry infertile forests in Basalt, Hepburn Springs, Dry Diggings, Porcupine Ridge. Absent within the Wombat Forest.

Acacia genistifolia | Spreading Wattle

Shrub typically to 2.5m. Sharp needle-like leaves to 5cm. Globular flowers. Occurs predominantly around Creswick and Porcupine Ridge, uncommon or absent in other parts of Hepburn Shire.

Acacia lanigera | Woolly Wattle

A compact shrub typically to 1.5m. Narrow leaves (phyllodes) thickened, tapering to a point, several prominent veins. Globular flowers usually cream coloured, sometimes yellow, held on short stalks at leaf bases. Small wooly pods follow flowering. Within the Hepburn Shire largely confined to Shepherds Flat, Basalt, Dry Diggings, Porcupine Ridge and some records south of Creswick. Absent within the Wombat Forest.

Acacia leprosa var. uninervia | Cinnamon Wattle

One population of this endangered (FFG listed) species occurs in the Wombat Forest. Distinguished from A. verniciflua by single main lateral vein. Occurs in moist sheltered positions.

Acacia mucronata | Narrow-leaf Wattle

Shrub typically to 2.5m. Leaves slender, to 20cm long, pointed at tip, one main central leaf vein. Conspicuous gland present on some leaves 1-2cm from node on upper margin. Flowerheads in spikes to 2cm. Very common species in the Wombat Forest and south of Daylesford. Uncommon or absent other areas.

Acacia oxycedrus | Spike Wattle

Shrub typically to 2m. Small leaves tapering to a very sharp red point. Red branchlets. Flowers in spikes. Scattered throughout the Wombat Forest and in the hills around Porcupine Ridge. Uncommon or absent in other parts of Hepburn Shire.

Acacia paradoxa | Hedge Wattle

A thorny shrub typically to 2.5m. Globular flowers. Common around Daylesford/Hepburn, Creswick and Clunes. Uncommon throughout Wombat Forest.

Acacia provincialis | Wirilda

A rounded shrub typically to 4m. Blue-green leaves (phyllodes) which vary considerably in width from site to site. Globular flower-heads held in racemes. Occurs throughout Hepburn Shire often in dry open forest. Uncommon in the Wombat Forest.

Acacia sporadica | Sporadic Wattle

An endangered Wattle species typically to 2m. Pale glaucous grey green leaves (phyllodes) often with hooked tip. Flower-heads globular, held in racemes. Confined to the northern boundary of Hepburn Shire near Malmsbury.

Acacia stricta | Hop Wattle

A slender shrub typically to 3m. Globular flowerheads held typically in pairs within leaf axils. Widely scattered distribution throughout Hepburn Shire, concentrated in Creswick and patches throughout the Wombat Forest. Leaves held more upright than A. provincialis, more rounded leaf tips and globular flowers in pairs rather than racemes.

Acacia verniciflua | Varnish Wattle

Shrub typically to 2m. Phyllodes (leaves) are sticky when squeezed, fragrant. Two main lateral veins on leaf surface. Pods also sticky and slightly hairy. Occurs largely in drier parts of Hepburn Shire such as Creswick, Hepburn Springs and Dry Diggings. One patch recorded in northern section of Wombat Forest.

Acacia verticillata | Prickly Moses

Shrub typically to 3.5m. Narrow leaves are arranged in whorls and taper to a sharp point. Flower-heads in spikes. Occurs in most forested parts of Hepburn Shire and is abundant in the Wombat Forest.

Baeckea utilis | Mountain Baeckea

An upright shrub to 3m. Softly pointed leaves, closely spaced and held in opposite pairs. Highly fragrant foliage. Flowers pink in bud, opening to white flowers reminiscent of Leptospermum species. A regionally rare (typically alpine) species with just a few occurrences in the west of the Wombat Forest.

Banksia marginata | Silver Banksia

Two forms of this shrub occur within the shire. The tree form can exceed 6m in height and occurs in areas such as Creswick, Smeaton and Springhill. The shrub form ranges from 0.5m to 2.5m in height and occurs in scattered patches throughout the Wombat Forest.

Bedfordia arborescens | Blanket Leaf

Shrub to 6m. Large leaves wooly below, as are stems. Occurs in protected gully lines and lower slopes in the Wombat Forest.

Bursaria spinosa | Sweet Bursaria

Shrub typically to 4m. Spines along branches. Small leaves around 2cm long. Clusters of fragrant white flowers followed by conspicuous brown seed capsules which remain on the plant for many months after seed is released. Widespread throughout much of Hepburn Shire, although uncommon in the Wombat Forest.

Callistemon sieberi | River Bottlebrush

Shrub typically to 3.5m. The only indigenous bottlebrush species. Pale yellow flowers giving rise to capsules held tightly against the branchlets. Within the shire it occurs mainly on creeks around Clunes, Smeaton, Hepburn and Glenlyon

Calytrix tetragona | Common Fringe-myrtle

A shrub to 3m. White to pale pink flowers, star-like, 5 petals, anthers red. Sepals at base of flowers with long awns, become red when flowering finished. Located on the northern boundary of Hepburn Shire, widespread in Mt Alexander Shire. Absent in the Wombat Forest.

Cassinia aculeata | Common Cassinia

A common shrub typically to 3m. Most leaves under 40mm long, sometimes considerably smaller and closely spaced. Leaf edges tightly rolled under at edges, obscuring most of lower surface of leaf. Clusters of pale pink flower buds followed by white flower-headsOccurs throughout Hepburn Shire. Can become abundant in open or disturbed sites.

Cassinia longifolia | Shiny Cassinia

Shrub typically to 3m. Long shiny, slender leaves usually around 50mm. Underside of leaves white-ish. Differs from C. aculeata in that leaves are not heavily rolled under on margins, flower buds pale green rather than pink. Uncommon throughout Hepburn Shire with scattered occurrences around Creswick, Daylesford and the Wombat Forest (common around Blackwood).

Cassinia sifton | Drooping Cassinia

A shrub typically to 2.5m. An opportunistic species that colonises areas of disturbance. Flowers are insignificant, occurring in brownish droops. This species has many common names including Kerosene Bush, due to it's rapid combustion in bushfires. Concentrated in drier infertile parts of Hepburn Shire, but scattered occurences throughout.

Comesperma ericinum | Heath Milkwort

An upright shrub to 1m or so. Leaves oblong with margins rolled under, blue-green above, pale beneath. Flowers magenta pink, with wings; similar to a pea-flower in arrangement. Uncommon but occurs scattered throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Coprosma hirtella | Rough Coprosma

Shrub typically to 3m. Separate male and female plants (dioecious) bear interesting cream-green flowers. Flowers followed by berries about the size of a pea that ripen to dark orange-red. Apparently edible but taste terrible. Very patchy occurences within the Wombat Forest where it is often found in groups of 20 or so plants. Uncommon or absent elsewhere within Hepburn Shire.

Coprosma quadrifida | Prickly Currant-bush

Shrub typically to 2.5m. Separate male and female plants (dioecious). Leaves approximately 10mm long. Fine spines on branches. Insignificant red and green flowers are followed by small berries ripening to orange or red. Fruit edible, pleasant and nutritious. Occurs alongside waterways in Creswick and Daylesford and scattered throughout the Wombat Forest.