More than 886 species of plants species have been recorded in the Adelaide Hills Council district since 1980. These include 113 state listed species, 290 regionally listed species and seven nationally threatened species:
- Veronica derwentiana ssp. homalodonta (Mount Lofty Speedwell);
- Euphrasia collina ssp. osbornii (Osborn's Eyebright);
- Caladenia behrii (Pink-lip Spider-orchid);
- Caladenia argocalla (White Beauty Spider-orchid);
- Caladenia rigida (Stiff White Spider-orchid);
- Prasophyllum pallidum (Pale Leek-orchid); and
- and Glycine latrobeana (Clover Glycine).
This data has been sourced from the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Biodiversity Database of SA. Recordset number DEWNRBDBSA161123-1.
Vegetation communities
Eucalyptus fasciculosa (Pink Gum) and E. cosmophylla (Cup Gum) prefer the shallower or sandy soils, whilst Eucalyptus goniocalyx (Long-leaved Box) Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon (SA Blue Gum) dominate the woodlands in the northern part of the region where the rainfall is lower. The SA Blue Gum dominated areas are mostly on steeper slopes, and have generally had the larger individuals logged out. They have also experienced grazing of the understorey at some time in the past and tend to be highly weed infested (e.g. Morialta, Blackhill and Montacute Conservation Parks and South Para Reservoir)2.
Eucalyptus viminalis ssp. cygnetensis (Rough-barked Manna Gum) is found in the wetter and cooler woodlands and E. odorata (Peppermint Box) characterises drier areas. The state endangered Mountain Gum (Eucalyptus dalrympleana ssp. dalrympleana) Open Forest occurs in the wetter, colder valleys on fertile soils between Mylor and Gumeracha. Due to the specific habitat and climatic conditions required by the association and due to the more fertile loamy soils, the association is generally confined to scattered trees and isolated small remnants. As it occurs on highly productive soils, it has been preferentially cleared but can still be found at Madurta Reserve and in small pockets throughout the central section of the District around Norton Summit and Bridgewater, with stands as far east as Mt Torrens.
1 Bechervaise, & Seaman. (2002). Adelaide Hills Open Space Strategy. Adelaide: Bechervaise & Associates.
2 Armstrong, D. M., Croft S. J., and Foulkes J. N. (2003). A Biological Survey of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, 2000-2001. (Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia).