SUBSHRUBS OF HEPBURN SHIRE AND THE WOMBAT FOREST

"Subshrubs" referring to woody species typically under 1m in height.

(listed in order of botanical name)

Acacia aculeatissima | Thin-leaf Wattle

Typically a low, sparse, sprawling subshrub to 40cm, occasionally more upright reaching 1m or so. Fine, sharply-pointed leaves (phyllodes), openly spaced. Flower-heads globular, occurring on individual stalks arising from leaf axils, spaced along the stems. Scattered throughout forested parts of Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Acacia gunnii | Ploughshare Wattle

Shrub typically to 1m. Common names "Ploughshare Wattle" and "Dog's Tooth Wattle" refer to the distinctive shape of the sharply pointed leaves. Flowerheads in singular balls occurring along stems. Cream / pale yellow in colour. Seed pods constricted between seeds. Generally occurs within infertile, drier forests within Hepburn Shire, particularly around Creswick, Hepburn Springs and Glenlyon. Uncommon within the Wombat Forest.

Acacia mitchellii | Mitchell's Wattle

A small shrub, typically under 1m, but sometimes more. Unmistakable, small, compressed bipinnate leaves. Pale yellow globular flowerheads held in leaf axils, solitary or in pairs. A shrub of drier forests around Basalt, Hepburn Springs, Dry Diggings and Porcupine Ridge. Absent in other parts of Hepburn Shire and absent in the Wombat Forest.

Acrotriche serrulata | Honey-pots

A small heath often forming a rounded mound to 30cm. Soft lanceolate leaves with pointed tips

Almaleea subumbellata | Wiry Bush-pea

An open upright or sprawling shrub to 1m. Openly spaced pale green leaves on slender stems. Hairy red and gold pea-flowers with conspicuous red patterning on rear of standard. Scattered occurrences on swampy sites throughout the Wombat Forest. Absent or almost so elsewhere within Hepburn Shire. Similar to some Pultenaea species.

Bauera rubioides | Wiry Bauera

A scrambling shrub, typically <1m, often found growing through other shrubs and grasses. Leaves appear to be arranged in whorls of 6, but are actually in opposite pairs, with each leaf divided into 3 leaflets. Leaves and stems hairy. White or slightly pink flowers, often with 6 petals, typically weeping / facing towards ground. A regionally rare species, most records locally are in and around Lyonville.

Bossiaea cordigera | Wiry Bossiaea

A wiry trailing shrub, often twisting through other plants in the understory. Typically to 1m or so. Small heart-shaped leaves held tight to stems. Pea-flowers deep yellow with red near centre. Classified as rare in Victoria. Locally abundant in some low-lying areas of the Wombat Forest. Uncommon in other parts of Hepburn Shire.

Bossiaea decumbens | Matted Bossiaea

A mat forming subshrub with numerous fine, wiry stems. Egg-shaped leaves <5mm long, closely spaced and arranged alternately along stems. Pea-flowers golden with red in centre. Scattered throughout forested areas of Hepburn Shire, often noted on walking track and road cutting particularly in areas such as Creswick and Hepburn Springs. Sparse occurrences in the Wombat Forest.

Bossiaea prostrata | Creeping Bossiaea

A trailing or occasionally matting groundcover. Egg-shaped / oblong leaves typically >8mm long, spaced openly along wiry stems. Pea flowers golden with red-brown centre. Occurs throughout Hepburn Shire, becoming more prevalent in drier areas of forest. Sparse occurrences in the Wombat Forest.

Correa reflexa | Common Correa

An open to dense shrub, typically under 1m, but sometimes more. Local form has leaves with conspicuous glands and hairs on upper surface. Flowers pendulous green bells (red flowering forms not naturally occurring in Hepburn Shire). Scattered occurrences from Eganstown, Basalt, Hepburn Springs, through to Porcupine Ridge. Also occurs in Clunes. Largely absent in most of the Wombat Forest, although becomes more widespread in the Blackwood area and within the Lerderderg Forest.

Cyanothamnus nanus | Dwarf Boronia

A trailing, prostrate shrub. Green stems. Small, narrow leaves aromatic. Pink buds followed by whitish flowers with 4 petals. Sparse occurrences throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest, with scattered records from Creswick through to Trentham.

Daviesia ulicifolia | Gorse Bitter-pea

A rigid shrub to around 1m. Thick leaves (phyllodes) tapering to a sharp point. Pea flowers golden with rich red in centre. A widespread species throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Dillwynia cinerascens | Grey Parrot-pea

An open shrub, typically to 1m. Fine, grey-green leaves (phyllodes) typically bent slightly backwards at tip. Broad golden pea-flowers often clustered at ends of branches. Scattered throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest. Similar to other Dillwynia species, particularly D. sericea.

Dillwynia hispida | Red Parrot-pea

Upright small shrub, typically to 50cm. Fine leaves usually 0.5cm to 1cm long. Stems, leaves and flowerbuds with tiny hairs. Flowers red / deep orange, held in terminal clusters of 2 to 9. The standard (large lobed petal at back of flower) is wide in this species, 7mm to 12mm across. Difficult to distinguish from D. cinerascens, D. glaberrima, D. phylicoides, D. ramosissima and D. sericea when not in flower. Common around Creswick, uncommon in other parts of Hepburn Shire. Absent in the Wombat Forest.

Dillwynia phylicoides | Small-leaf Parrot-pea

Upright shrub to 1m. Small leaves are twisted and margins rolled under. Tightly spaced. Pea-flowers yellow to orange with red centre. Occurs in the drier forests north from Daylesford. Absent or nearly so in the Wombat Forest.

Dillwynia ramossisima | Bushy Parrot-pea

Open shrub, typically to 1m. Small leaves 1-10mm long by approximately 0.5mm wide. Yellow pea-flowers with red centre (keel and inner part of standard). Occurs in drier forested areas within Hepburn Shire including Creswick and areas north from Daylesford. Uncommon in the Wombat Forest with most records centred around the Blackwood area.

Dillwynia sericea | Showy Parrot-pea

An open shrub to 1m. Leaves straight and narrow, can be finely warty and silky hairy. Pea flowers vary in colour on different individuals, peachy-red to gold. Flowers in pairs or singles in leaf axils, can be densely clustered and numerous towards ends of branches. Similar to other Dillwynia species, particularly D. cinerascens. Leaves more stout than D. cinerascens. Scattered throughout Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Epacris impressa | Common Heath

Small upright shrub, typically <1m in height. Leaves to 15mm, tapering to a sharp point, arranged in a spiral. Pendulous tubular flowers can be white, pink or red. Victoria's floral emblem. Locally abundant in many forested areas of Hepburn Shire and the Wombat Forest.

Euryomyrtus ramosissima | Rosy Baeckea

A woody ground-cover in the Myrtaceae family, typically <30cm in height. Small lance-shaped pointed leaves around 1cm long. Pale pink Teatree-like flowers to 15mm across. Recorded north of Daylesford and in Porcupine Ridge. Also occurs in patches of Heathy Woodland within the Wombat Forest.

Eutaxia microphylla | Common Eutaxia

A typically prostrate shrub <1m. Small leaves pale green to blue-green arranged in pairs alternating at 90 degrees to the pair below. Yellow or orange pea flowers held singularly or occasionally in pairs. Confined to the northernmost and westernmost parts of Hepburn Shire. Absent within the Wombat Forest.

Gompholobium huegelii | Common Wedge-pea

Shrub typically around 50cm tall. Blue-green leaves divided into 3 fine leaflets. Yellow pea-flowers followed by attractive blue-green ovoid pods. Occurs in forests around Creswick, Hepburn Springs, Porcupine Ridge. Absent within the Wombat Forest.

Grevillea alpina | Mountain Grevillea

A shrub of variable height (from 30cm to 1.5m). Leaves finely hairy to 1.5cm with rounded tip, green above, pale below. Alternative common name 'Cat's Claws' refers to the claw-like red and yellow flowers. Flowers covered in tiny hairs. Occurs on shallow soils around Hepburn Springs, Porcupine Ridge and on some hill-tops in the Wombat Forest.

Grevillea obtecta | Fryerstown Grevillea

A prostrate shrub to 2m across. Leaves highly variable, typically bright-green and deeply toothed. Toothbrush flowers yellow to pink. Largely confined to the area east of the Midland Highway (south of Guildford, through Porcupine Ridge, Glenlyon, Drummond; continuing to Taradale outside of Hepburn Shire). A rare species at the state level, only occurring (endemic to) the region.

Grevillea repens | Creeping Grevillea

A prostrate subshrub trailing to 3m across. Leaves typically mid to dark glossy green, with 7-20 small spiny teeth or triangular lobes. Toothbrush flowers muted or deep red. Most occurrences locally occur between Werona and Barkstead (Werona, Basalt, Hepburn Springs, Daylesford, Sailors Falls, Barkstead). Sparse occurrences in other parts of the Wombat Forest (with a separate population in Lerderderg State Park). A rare species at the state level, confined to the Daylesford area, the Lerderderg and the Yarra Ranges.

Hibbertia fasciculata var. prostrata | Bundled Guinea-flower

A small upright or spreading shrub typically <50cm tall. Fine, soft foliage held in bundles. Flowers yellow, 5 petals which are indented at tip (obovate)