MVG 11 - EUCALYPT OPEN WOODLANDS
Desert eucalypt woodlands Hamersley Region, WA (Photo: B. Pellow)
Overview

Characterised by broad spacing between canopy trees often resulting in a parkland appearance
with a prominent ground layer.

Overstorey is dominated by drought-tolerant eucalypts close to the arid limits of trees.

Understories are characterised by xeromorphic plants that vary between depositional and upland
landforms

Occur in a central band across semi-arid Australia from Western Australia to western New South
Wales.

Replaced by MVGs 5 and 12 in more humid climates.

Prone to occasional fires in upland areas.

Used primarily for broad scale pastoralism.
Facts and figures
Major Vegetation Group
MVG 11 - Eucalypt Open Woodlands
Major Vegetation Subgroups
(number of NVIS descriptions)
xx. Semi-arid floodplain and wadi woodlands NSW,
QLD, NT, SA, WA,
xx. Semi-arid upland woodlands NSW, QLD, NT,
SA, WA
18. Desert eucalypt woodlands NSW, QLD, NT,
WA, SA
Typical NVIS structural formations
Open woodland (mid, low)
Number of IBRA regions
73
Most extensive in IBRA region
Est. pre-1750 and present: Gulf Fall and Uplands
(NT & Qld)
Estimated pre-1750 extent (km2)
498 663
Present extent (km2)
458 905
Area protected (km2)
28 202
Semi-arid floodplain and wadi woodlands (Eucalyptus largiflorens) western NSW (Photo: B.
Pellow)
Structure and physiognomy

Dominated by a sparse overstorey of eucalypts typically with less than 20% canopy cover
(<10% foliage projective cover) canopy 6 – 15 m tall.


Tree canopies are composed of sclerophyllous, vertically oriented notophyll (20 – 45 cm2) to
mesophyll (45-150 cm2) foliage.
In upland woodlands, the understorey typically comprises an open layer of xeromorphic shrubs
with hummock or tussock grasses and ephemeral forbs. In depositional plains and channels, the
understorey includes tussock grasses and chenopod shrubs and forbs that vary in cover with
rains and floods.
Indicative flora

Species composition varies with landform and rainfall seasonality.

Dominated by box eucalypts in depositional zones that retain subsoil moisture and upland sites
in higher rainfall areas. In contrast bloodwood eucalypts (genus Corymbia) and snappy gums
dominate dry upland sites.

Species of Acacia, Eremophila and Dodonaea are common shrubs on uplands and peneplains,
while chenopod shrubs and forbs may occur on in depositional areas.

Represented by three subgroups.
o
Semi-arid floodplain and wadi woodlands (also represented in MVG 5) are dominated
by species of Eucalyptus in sections Adnataria and Exsertaria within subgenus
Symphyomyrtus. Eucalypts such as Eucalyptus coolabah, Eucalyptus microtheca,
Eucalyptus vitrix, Eucalyptus largiflorens, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus tereticornis
and Eucalyptus camaldulensis are widespread. The understorey may consist of a shrub
layer of species from the genera Acacia, Dodonaea, Eremophila, Muehlenbeckia, and
Rhagodia and the groundlayer has an abundance of forbs, chenopods, graminoids and
tussock grass (Keith 2004; Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2004;
Beard et. al 2013, Neldner et. al 2014).
o
Semi-arid upland woodlands (also represented in MVG 5) include species such as
Eucalyptus intertexta, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Eucalyptus
siderophloia (all in section Adnataria of subgenus Symphyomyrtus) and Callitris
glaucophylla (Keith 2004). In rocky locations Eucalyptus viridis and Eucalyptus vicina
occur. The understorey typically has a shrub layer of genera such as Acacia,
Allocasuarina, Dodonaea, Eremophila, Hakea, Myoporum and chenopods (Keith 2004;
Neldner et. al 2014). The groundlayer is rich in forbs and graminoids including species of
Aristida, Astrebla Austrostipa, Chloris, Dichanthium, Enteropogon, Heteropogon,
Panicum, Rytidosperma, Abutilon, Alternanthera, Brunoniella, Evolvulus, Fimbristylis,
Goodenia, Sida and a range of chenopods (Keith 2004; Neldner et. al 2014).
o
Desert eucalypt woodlands are a variable and poorly known group of communities
dominated by a sparse layer eucalypts over hummock grasses, with tussock grasses in
locally moist sites. At tropical latitudes, Eucalyptus leucophloia and Corymbia
dichromophloia are widespread with Eucalyptus leucophylla, Eucalyptus pruinosa,
Corymbia capricornia and Corymbia aspera in Queesland (Neldner et. al 2014), while
Eucalyptus brevifolia, Eucalyptus gamophylla and Eucalyptus kingsmillii occur in
Western Australia (Beard et. al 2013). Corymbia terminalis is widespread across the
central and northern deserts, Corymbia aparrerinja is characteristic of central Australia
and Eucalyptus gonglyocarpa occurs across the Great Victoria Desert region, sometimes
with smaller mallee trees such as Eucalyptus youngiana. The shrub layer is generally
sparse and represent by species from the genera such as Acacia, Atalaya, Callitris,
Dodonaea, Grevillea, Hakea and Senna. Hummock grasses are typically abundant and
include Triodia pungens thoughout, and Triodia brizoides, Triodia longiceps, Triodia
schinzii and Triodia wiseana in different parts of the range. Tussock grasses include
Aristida, Enneapogon and Thyridolepis (Keith 2004; Beard et. al 2013; Neldner et. al
2014).
Environment

Occur in warm arid climates where mean annual rainfall is generally in the range of 200 – 450
mm, at the limit of eucalypt distribution, except where run-on enhances soil moisture in drier
locations.

Soils range from clay loams on ephemeral semi-arid floodplains to sandy loams on rocky
uplands or outcrops.

Occasionally fire prone, especially in tropical latitudes and uplands, but rarely fire prone on arid
floodplains.
Geography

Extensive, particularly in the semi-arid interior and the tropics and cover many dry inland plains
and undulating landscapes (the “downs”) and some rocky outcrops.

Largely across northern Australia and eastern Australia, with scattered occurrences across the
central and Great Victoria Desert region of Western Australia.

Largest areas are in Northern Territory (222 030 km2) and Queensland (167 557 km2).
Change

Approximately 8% of the estimated pre-1750 extent cleared accounting for 3.9% of total
clearing in Australia, although clearing has occurred preferentially on the inland floodplains and
is limited on the uplands.

Approximately 40 000 km2 cleared since European settlement.

Cleared for cereal cropping and sheep grazing in the south-east and south-west of Australia and
for mining in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Remnant occurrences have been extensively modified. In the northern parts of Australia they
have been modified by pastoral activities and changes to fire regimes. In Queensland and New
South Wales pasture improvement and tree thinning have been extensively employed and the
shrubby understorey has often been removed to increase pasture growth.

Due to their presence in pastoral areas or proximity to intensive agricultural areas, fire regimes
have been modified leading to many Eucalypt Open Woodlands being impacted by invasive
species, especially aggressive introduced plant species, notably buffel grass.

Threats include clearing for cropping, pastoral development or mining, overgrazing and altered
fire regimes.
Tenure
Eucalypt Open Woodlands occur on a range of land tenures.
New South Wales:
freehold land, protected areas, state forests, some leasehold land
Northern Territory:
leasehold land, protected areas, some freehold land
Queensland:
leasehold land, freehold land, some protected areas and state
forests
South Australia:
protected areas, leasehold land, little on freehold land
Western Australia:
leasehold land, other crown land, protected areas, isolated small
areas on freehold land
Key values

Biodiversity at the arid limits of eucalypt woodland distribution.

Remnant populations of a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate species.

Ecotourism and scenic landscapes, particularly on arid ranges such as the MacDonnell’s,
Hamersley and Flinders.

Resources and cultural sites valued by Indigenous communities.
List of key management issues

Control of clearing and other threats on the edges of remnants.

Regional planning and design of mining projects.

Fire management, particularly the effects of increased fuel loads from introduced grasses and
grazing land management practices.

Weed control.

Total grazing pressure from domestic, feral and native animals.

Long term monitoring to inform future management strategies.
References
Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (1990) Atlas of Australian Resources. Volume 6
Vegetation. AUSMAP, Department of Administrative Services, Canberra, 64pp. & 2 maps.
Beadle N.C.W. (1981) The Vegetation of Australia. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 690pp.
Beard J.S., Beetson, G.R, Harvey J.M. Hopkins A.J.M and Shepherd D.P. (2013) The Vegetation of
Western Australia at 1:3,000,000 Scale. Explanatory Memoir. Second Edition. Science Division,
Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia
Brooker M.I.H. and Kleinig D.A. (1994) Field guide to Eucalypts, Volume 3, Northern Australia.
Inkata Press, Sydney, 383pp.
Fox I.D., Neldner V.J., Wilson G.W., et al. (2001) The Vegetation of the Australian Tropical Savannas.
Env. Prot. Agency, Qld and Tropical Savannas CRC, 2 map sheets and 1 legend; online at URL:
http://savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/ .
Hobbs R.J. and Yates C.J., eds. (2000) Temperate Eucalypt Woodlands in Australia. Biology,
conservation management and restoration. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney, 430pp.
Keith D. (2004) Ocean Shores to Desert Dunes. The native vegetation of New South Wales and the
ACT. Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), Hurstville.
National Land and Water Resources Audit (2001) Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001.
National Land and Water Resources Audit, Canberra, 332pp.
Neldner, V.J., Niehus, R.E., Wilson, B.A., McDonald, W.J.F. and Ford, A.J. (2014). The Vegetation of
Queensland. Descriptions of Broad Vegetation Groups. Version 1.1. Queensland Herbarium,
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.
Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment (2004). EVC Bioregion Benchmark for
Vegetation
Quality
Assessment.
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-andwildlife/biodiversity/evc-benchmarks [Accessed June 2015]
Data sources
Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 6.1.
Land Tenure in Australia's Rangelands (1955 to 2000), National Land and Water Resources Audit.
National Vegetation Information System, Version 4.1.
1996/97 Land Use of Australia, Version 2.
Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database – CAPAD 2004 – Terrestrial.
Species Profile and Threats (SPRAT) database Australian Government Department of the Environment
and Heritage; online at URL: http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl .
Notes





With new descriptions for Western Australia’s vegetation types, some areas previously treated
as Eucalypt Open Woodlands (MVG 11) were allocated to Eucalypt Woodlands (MVG 5) in
NVIS 3.0.
Vegetation types where Sorghum spp. are the dominant understorey grasses to eucalypts with an
open woodland structure have been assigned to Tropical Eucalypt Woodlands/Grasslands (MVG
12).
Larger areas of this group have been identified in Queensland, based on improved NVIS data.
A large area in South Australia’s far west derived from gap-filling (non-NVIS) data requires
improved vegetation mapping.
See the Introduction to the MVG fact sheets for further background on this series.
Semi-arid upland woodlands, near Hillston, NSW (Photo: B. Pellow)