Damon Mcknight
The Northern Territory of Australia is home to a diverse range of flora. From the iconic gum trees, which are a symbol of Australia, to the unique witchetty bush, found in the arid Central Australia region, the Northern Territory boasts a rich variety of plant life. The region's vegetation includes open woodlands with low eucalypts and tall grasses, as well as patches of monsoon forest in the Top End. The broad-leaved native cherry, which begins its life as a parasite, is also native to the area. In addition, the Northern Territory is known for its mangrove trees, which thrive in coastal areas that are covered by the daily tide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Group | Cycads, Grass, Mistletoes, Monsoon Forest, Native Cherry, Gum Trees, Mangroves, Witchetty Bush |
| Habitat | Tropical Woodlands, Coastal Areas, Arid Central Australia |
| Season | Wet Season |
| Other | The broad-leaved native cherry begins its life as a parasite |
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What You'll Learn
Ghost gum (Eucalyptus papuana)
Ghost gum is native to central Australia and is highly adaptable to different environments, including urban sites in the lower Sonoran Desert and the Phoenix metropolitan region. It is extremely drought-hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to 22°F. It is also heat and cold tolerant. Due to its strong limbs and branches, it is often used in freeway planting, feature driveway entrances, roadside medians, parks, and residential shade. It is a popular choice for these applications because it does not drop flowers or leaves, and its limbs and branches do not break in high winds.
The genus Corymbia, which includes ghost gum, was previously classified as part of the Eucalyptus genus. In 1995, the classification was changed, and Corymbia papuana was renamed from Eucalyptus papuana. The related species Corymbia aparrerinja is also commonly known as ghost gum and is native to central Australia.
The ghost gum tree has cultural significance in Australia and has been featured in various forms of media. Its smooth white trunk is considered aesthetically pleasing, and it has been used in landscaping and urban planning. However, it has also been the target of vandalism, with its trunk occasionally defaced by taggers and untrained tree professionals.
Overall, the ghost gum (Eucalyptus papuana) is a versatile and useful tree that is well-adapted to the Australian environment. It is valued for its aesthetic and functional characteristics and has become an integral part of the country's natural and cultural landscape.
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Grasslands and woodlands
The grasslands in the Northern Territory can be further categorized into monsoon tall-grass communities, tropical, and subtropical. Monsoon tall-grass communities are found in regions with annual rainfall greater than 750 mm and a distinct wet and dry season. These grasslands are dominated by perennial grasses such as Themeda triandra, Chrysopogon fallax, and Sorghum plumosum. Tropical and subtropical tall-grass communities are characterized by grasses such as Heteropogon contortus and Bothriochloa pertusa.
The woodlands in the Northern Territory are often referred to as savannas, similar to those in Africa. These woodlands have a mix of Eucalyptus tectifica (Darwin box), E. tetrodonta (Darwin stringybark), E. miniata, and various species of Corymbia. The open woodlands also include acacia and eucalypt species.
The grasslands and woodlands in the Northern Territory support a diverse range of wildlife. Small mammals, such as dunnarts, find shelter under the tussock grasses, while kangaroos, monitor lizards, and birds like kites and cockatiels are also commonly found in these habitats.
The grasslands and woodlands in the Northern Territory face threats such as overgrazing, changes in fire regimes, invasive plant species, and climate change. Conservation efforts are important to protect the natural flora and fauna of these unique ecosystems.
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Tropical trees
The Northern Territory of Australia is known for its diverse and unique plant life, including a wide variety of tropical trees. These trees are adapted to the region's hot, humid climate and can thrive in the tropical savanna and monsoon forests that cover much of the territory.
One of the most iconic tropical trees in the Northern Territory is the Darwin stringybark (Eucalyptus tetrodonta). This tree is a member of the
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Parasitic plants
The Northern Territory of Australia is home to a diverse range of flora, including parasitic plants. Parasitic plants are those that rely on other plants for their nutrition and growth, and they can be categorised into two groups: hemiparasites and holoparasites. Hemiparasitic plants can perform some level of photosynthesis but still rely on their host for water and additional nutrients. On the other hand, holoparasitic plants are completely dependent on their host and cannot photosynthesise.
Mistletoe is a common example of a hemiparasitic plant found in the Northern Territory. They grow on the branches of trees and shrubs, tapping into their host's vascular system to extract water and nutrients. Mistletoe is particularly interesting because it has a mutualistic relationship with some bird species, which feed on its fruits and help disperse its seeds, aiding in the plant's propagation.
The broad-leaved native cherry of the Top End is another example of a parasitic plant in the region. It begins its life as a holoparasite, completely dependent on its host, but as it matures, it transitions to partial parasitism and can perform some level of photosynthesis. This transition allows the plant to become more independent and eventually detach from its host, continuing its life cycle as a free-living organism.
In addition to these native parasitic plants, there are also introduced parasitic species in Australia that have become invasive. For example, the lantana bug (Aconophora compressa), introduced to control the lantana plant, has spread to attack other trees, including fiddlewood. Similarly, the elm leaf beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola) has caused significant damage to exotic elm trees, and parasitic insects like wasps and flies have been introduced to control its spread.
Understanding and managing parasitic plants in the Northern Territory is crucial for maintaining the delicate balance of the region's ecosystem and conserving native plant species.
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River red gum
The species is widespread across Australian inland river systems and seasonal floodplains, providing shade in the extreme temperatures of central Australia. It is particularly dominant in the Murray-Darling basin, spanning New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. River red gums have a deep sinker root system that allows them to access underground water supplies during droughts. This adaptation also enables them to alter the water flow of entire tributaries.
The river red gum plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. Its leaves and insect fall provide nutrients and energy for other species, and its fallen limbs create breeding habitats for various animals, including fish such as Murray cod, Golden perch, and River blackfish. The tree's preferred habitat in floodplains and watercourses also contributes to flood mitigation by slowing silt runoff. Additionally, river red gums help reduce bank erosion and increase the abundance of other native plants and animals.
While river red gums are native to Australia, they have become naturalised in other parts of the world, including Western Australia, Portugal, the Canary Islands, South Africa, Spain, Bangladesh, the United States, Ecuador, and the Galapagos. Due to their ability to tolerate drought and soil salinity, along with their prolific seed production, they have been declared invasive in some regions, including South Africa, California, Jamaica, Spain, and Hawaii.
The river red gum has cultural significance in Australia, with its leaves featuring on Australian stamps. It is also known by various names in different Aboriginal languages, including aper (Alyawarr, Anmatyerr), apere (Kaytetye), and yitara (Pitjantjatjara). However, it is important to note that camping or picnicking near these trees can be dangerous, as their limbs, or sometimes the entire tree, can fall without warning.
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Frequently asked questions
The Northern Territory is home to a diverse range of plants, including gum trees, mangroves, and various grasses. Some specific examples include:
- Ghost gum (Eucalyptus papuana)
- River red gum
- Witchetty bush
- Mitchell grass
- Flinders grass
- Mulga
The Northern Territory has a variety of ecosystems, including open woodlands, monsoon forests, and coastal habitats. The region experiences a wet season during which tall stands of green grass grow in the tropical woodlands.
Ghost gum trees are a notable species in the Northern Territory, growing amid the Olgas. River red gums are also widespread in Australia, found in all states except Tasmania.
The Top End is known for its wet-dry tropics and supports a diverse range of native plants, including termite-resistant shade trees, bird and butterfly-attracting plants, and fragrant flowering shrubs.
