We have finally started to receive some regular showers and I have been very busy trying to keep up with the seemingly endless cohorts of germinating weeds in my “restoration” plots. It is a priority of mine to never let weeds flower and seed in these plots, so that eventually their seed banks will be exhausted, reducing the demands on future maintenance. Many of our weeds reproduce extremely quickly after germinating (especially Creeping Cinderella Weed Calyptocarpus vialis, Cobblers’ Pegs Bidens pilosa, Paddy’s Lucerne Sida rhombifolia and the exotic grasses Melinis repens and Megathyrsus maximus), so getting to them all in time has been a real challenge.
However, for the first summer since commencing forest restoration on our property, native groundcovers have begun to far outnumber the weeds. This is obviously a positive development, and a long-term goal, but it has complicated the weeding process immensely. When I first start working on a new area of our property, exotic plants make up more than 98% of the biomass of the understorey. This allows me to slash and/or spray herbicide with little regard to avoiding collateral damage to the remaining native species (I am however careful to avoid as many natives as I can). For two or three years thereafter, carpets of weed seedlings germinate on the bare ground after every major rain event. Removing them is a straightforward (even if repetitive) task of broad-scale spraying the young weeds before they seed.
By the third year, the spacing between germinating weeds is such that it becomes easier to spot (and avoid killing) the occasional native species that sprouts to take advantage of the reduced competition. Most of these natives are fast-maturing and short-lived grasses, sedges and herbs. It only takes one or two individuals of a species to colonise the weeded areas for them to rapidly form carpets of greenery over the subsequent one or two growing seasons.
By and large, most of these native species are entirely unremarkable to the untrained eye. They lack spectacular flowers or the typically hard, shiny leaves we associate with our native trees, shrubs and vines. In fact, most people undoubtedly dismiss them as weeds. So I decided to dedicate this blog post to all (native) things small, drab, scrawny, unattractive and/or ignored.
By far the most widespread native groundcover on our property, and the most likely to be present (in very low densities) among the weeds at a new site, is the small sedge Cyperus gracilis. Sometimes known as Whisker Sedge, Dainty Sedge or Fairy Grass, this clumping plant forms large colonies in partly shaded sites without too much litter. It makes a soft lawn in shaded sites, and is the dominant species to grow along our mown tracks beneath trees. In open, sunny areas, it tends to be out-competed by grasses.
A similar-looking sedge, Carex inversa, is far less common locally, but often grows with C. gracilis. It is also far less prone to rapidly invade the gaps created when weeds are removed. While the foliage of the two species is very similar, C. inversa has large, more-rounded clusters of fruits (it is sometimes called Knob Sedge).
While I wasn’t going to mention native grasses in this post—there are so many, they merit their own entry—there is one species that deserves special mention: Oplismenus aemulus. Sometimes called Beard Grass or Basket Grass, this prostrate groundcover sprouts in damp, protected spots in dappled shade and rapidly spreads via runners to form large, thick carpets. It is one of the more abundant native groundcovers in our weeded sites. It resents mowing and tends to die back in dry weather, so is unsuitable as a lawn. However, in the bush it is fast-growing and provides protective cover for reptiles, frogs and other small animals. It is also a host plant for several butterfly species.
There are two local saltbushes that behave very similarly to O. aemulus, in that they are also among the first natives to germinate within a weeded site, and they rapidly form dense, low carpets. Sometimes, they can grow a little too vigorously, smothering young tree seedlings. I prevent this by removing them by hand from around the base of planted trees.
The most abundant of the two is Einadia trigonos, sometimes called Fishweed, due to the repulsive smell of the crushed leaves (like rotten fish). The smell is actually the easiest way to identify it, as it otherwise looks similar to Einadia polygonoides, which is also common on our property. Einadia polygonoides can also be distinguished by its narrower leaves, and it tends to grow a little less vigorously. There are other species of Einadia found in southeast Queensland, but these can be identified by their red fruits, which are lacking in our two common local species.
Native daisies (plants in the Family Asteraceae) are mostly absent from weed-infested areas of Pine Mountain, but the diversity of species that colonise after the weeds are removed is remarkable. When most people think of daisies, a suite of ornamental species come to mind (sunflowers, chrysanthemums, marigolds, gerberas, zinnias etc). However, all our local native species are inconspicuous, scrappy-looking things that no-one would want in their garden. Two of these, Vittadinia sulcata and Senecio tenuiflorus form large colonies in open, sunny areas devoid of weeds. Their flowers are barely noticeable, but they protect the soil from erosion and provide cover for reptiles and invertebrates.
Other local native daisies never form dense carpets like the above two. The following two species are confined to sheltered locations (part-shade), and only where there is little to no leaf litter on the ground, which can smother the germinating seedlings.
Another small daisy that only grows where leaf litter is lacking is Glossocardia bidens (Native Cobbler’s Pegs). Unlike its vigorous and invasive cousin Bidens pilosa, this is a small, nondescript daisy that is often hidden among grass. The prickly “pegs” can stick to socks, but never in the quantities typically associated with the various weed species of Bidens. Unlike the previous two species, this daisy prefers very sunny sites. However, for some reason this species rarely proliferates in weeded sites (unlike weed Bidens).
The remaining groundcover species belong to a range of different plant families, and all form small colonies in sheltered, weed-free sites.
While most of the species presented above may not be particularly attractive or appealing, they all contribute to the biodiversity of our bushland. Not only do they provide cover for small animals, but they protect the soil from erosion until trees establish, and they are food for a range of insects. Even while going through photos I took of these species, I noticed the larvae of several unidentified butterflies and moths feeding on the foliage (have a close look at the photo of A. nana above).
Two butterflies that I photographed over the past month are in fact dependent on native groundcovers for their host plants.
Continuing the theme of providing representation to our drab and under-appreciated native plants and animals, I figured it was appropriate to include a local bird that personifies the term “nondescript”.
The Large-billed Scrubwren is best identified by the absence of any of the markings or colours that characterise related small birds (thornbills, gerygones, and other scrubwrens). They don’t even have a remarkable song to make up for their aesthetic short-comings. Nevertheless, something about them is endearing. They move around in pairs or small groups, busily foraging up and down the branches of the forest midstorey and canopy. They often travel with mixed flocks of other small birds, like the White-browed Scrubwren, but the latter normally keeps to within a few metres of the ground, while Large-billed Scrubwrens tend to forage higher up. At Pine Mountain, Large-billed Scrubwrens are largely restricted to remnant vine-scrubs and well-developed regrowth. They are absent from open areas with scattered trees and shrubs. We have two or three pairs that inhabit our property, but they are yet to move into areas I planted almost five years ago. They prefer to forage along lichen- and moss-covered branches, as well as among tangles of dead debris that get caught among foliage, habitat features that will take some time to develop in planted areas.
An impressive 11 species of native pigeons and doves have been recorded on our property over the past five years, and the title of “dullest” is probably a toss-up between the Brown Cuckoo-dove and Peaceful Dove. As the cuckoo-dove has already made several past appearances on this blog, I figured I’d dedicate this space to the Peaceful Dove.
They may not be as colourful as their relatives, but Peaceful Doves are by no means unappealing. Their finely barred neck feathers and sky-blue eye-ring is quite elegant.
Peaceful Doves are absent from the vine-scrubs of Pine Mountain, but are relatively common in the eucalypt forests and semi-open farmlands. They are only occasional visitors to our property, which is slightly too densely vegetated for their liking. When they do visit, they keep to the open areas around the house and near the road. We currently have three individuals visiting our feeders each morning, which is the most I’ve seen on our property at one time.
Our other birdlife is in a state of transition right now, as the summer migrants are leaving or about to leave, and the first of the winter migrants arrives. Large groups of 15 to 20 Channel-billed Cuckoos have been silently (unusual for them!) gathering around the house each day, in preparation for their imminent departure northwards. The mix of adults and immatures (which somehow manage to find their kin after being raised by crows or other species) have been having one final feed on our fruiting Ficus rubiginosa.
Life at World's End 
As usual, your reports provide a fascinating insight into our local ecology. You have inspired me to investigate native ground cover species and how I might add them to my suburban garden in Brisbane. I have enjoyed reading your blog for some time and I look forward to your monthly instalments.
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Many local groundcover species propagate easily from cuttings or seed, so plant away!
Cheers,
Chris
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