Coastal and subcoastal floodplain wet heath swamp

Coastal and subcoastal floodplain wet heath swamp – Flora

• Wet
• Dry

Click on elements of the model or select from the tabs below

• Hydrology
• Geomorphology
• Fauna
• Flora
• Nutrients
• Associated habitat types
• Fire
• Photos

Coastal Floodplain Heath Swamp Flora

Coastal floodplain heath swamps are closed or wet heathland. Characteristic species include Melaleuca thymifolia, Banksia robur, Xanthorrhoea fulva, Hakea actites, Leptospermum spp. and Baeckea frutescens.

Wet heath are dominated by essentially treeless plant communities of low shrubs and various other ground flora. There are floristic similarities shared by both dry and wet heaths.

Plant communities are typically rich in species with the major plant families represented including myrtles (Myrtaceae), proteas (Proteaceae), ericas (Ericaceae), boronias (Rutaceae), wattles (Mimosaceae), peas (Fabaceae), lilies (Liliaceae), and grass-trees and mat-rushes (Xanthorrhoeaceae).

In some situations wet heaths may grade into true sedgelands dominated by rushes (Juncaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and node-sedges (Restionaceae).

Typically heath plants have small, evergreen leaves with a waxy cuticle that display adaptations to combat moisture stress and/or low oxygen soil conditions, as well as extensive root systems, often arising from lignotubers.

Heath species often have high oil and carbon content of their leaves, increasing their flammability

Last updated: 22 March 2013