PROTECTING ICONIC GRASSLAND SPECIES OF THE VICTORIAN VOLCANIC PLAIN

We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) and Greening Australia to protect iconic species in the Victorian Volcanic Plain grasslands of Wadawurrung Country.

The target species are endangered plants that hold Cultural significance for Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.

We have had a busy spring of treasure hunting for tiny, endangered plants, which often feels like looking for a needle in a very, very large haystack! Excitingly, we have now found populations of all six species. The target species are Matted-flax lily (Dianella amoena), Small milkwort (Comepserma polygaloides), Plains yam daisy (Microseris scapigera), Button wrinklewort (Rutidosis leptorrynchoides), White sunray (Leucochrysum albicans subsp. Tricolour) and Hairy tails (Ptilotus erubescens).

The next stage is to wait with bated breath whilst the plants get ready to seed, and to swoop in to collect seeds when they are ready to drop. This is to create a genetically diverse and robust seedbank for endangered plants at the WTOAC nursery, where a seed propagation area will be set up so we can bolster wild populations of the plants in the future.  

There is little remaining of Volcanic Plains Grasslands (less than 1%).  Most patches are fragmented and within small road, rail and cemetery reserves. While all the species have proved a challenge to find, none more so than the Comesperma polygaloides (Small milkwort), this small herb is literally like trying to find a needle in a haystack (or in this case grassland!). We love a challenge though, so we set out day after day combing through grassland sites and historical GPS marks to finally hit pay day (there may have been a round of high fives and some fist pumps).

The Wadawurrung Grassland Seedbank project is supported by the Victorian Government’s Icon Species Program 2023-2025.