CAMP-OUT TO MT. NUNNIONG February 2005

Four members of the BDFNC met at Bruthen on Saturday the 4 th . February 2005 to partake in a camp-out at Mt. Nunniong . Our leader, James Turner, particularly wanted to get up into this area to check on any rare plants that might have come up after the fire storms of two summers ago.

We arrived at the our camp site before lunch and set up our tents along the Blue Shirt Track, on the edge of a marshy plain on the top of Mt. Nunniong.

Most of the Snow Gums had been burnt here but there were areas that were untouched by the flames. There was a lot of horse manure about showing that this was a favorite place for the brumbies to graze. Some very attractive flowering plants nearby were found to be the Large-leaf Daisy Bush (Olearia megalophylla). Two orchid species were found amongst the long grass: the Mountain Greenhood (Pterostylis monticola) and the Mauve Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum alpestre). After lunch we set out by 4WD along Diggers Hole Track. Along the side of the road we could see the juvenile leaves of the Spinning Gum (Eucalyptus perriniana). This species can be found amongst Snow Gums on high plains such as Dargo High Plains and Nunniong Plateau. The juvenile leaves are opposite and joined at the bases and encircle the branchlets. As the leaves brown off and die, they come away from branchlet and spin when the wind blows. Also seen were the Silver Snow Daisy (Celmisia sp), which is a tall white daisy to 50cm high, covered in shining silvery hairs. The big flower heads to 5cm across are solitary on stems growing from a clump of long slender leaves. Also seen were the yellow Alpine Podolepis (Podolepis robusta). This is a tall herb with a single stem to 60cm high, with large crinkly basal and stem leaves. This robust daisy grows in grassy areas throughout the higher snow country above and below the tree line. Driving along the Diggers Hole Track were the larger Mountain Gums (Eucalyptus dalrympleana), which seemed to be a bit more tolerant of fire damage. The charred remains of the Mountain Banksia (Banksia canei) could also be seen.

The vehicle was parked on Reedy Creek Track and we headed off onto a spur James wanted to investigate.

A brilliant blue tall Lobelia sp was found beside the car growing out of the red stony track. A common species here was the Ivy-leaf Goodenia (Goodenia hederacea), a sprawling small plant with trailing stems up to 20cm long from a clump of leaves and crinkle-petalled yellow flowers. The edges of the rounded leaves are toothed. Broom Spurge (Amperea xiphoclada), Elderberry Panax (Polyscias sambucifolia), Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia xerophila), Trigger Plants (Stylidium graminifolium), were also common. As we proceeded onto the spur we began to find Parsnip Trachymene (Trachymene anisocarpa). This species can be seen as a robust leafy herb, perhaps a metre or more high topped with white flowers. Now we were finding more rare or unusual plants such as Mallee Ash (Eucalyptus kybeanensis) that occurs only in a Mallee form and Kydra Dampiera (Dampiera fusca). The latter only occurs at this site in Victoria . Then sand paper-like leaf of the Rough Coprosma (Coprosma hirtella), the Prickly Broom Heath (Monotoca scoparia), Mountain Boronia (Boronia algida) - algida coming from the Greek for - 'of the mountains'. This nearly prostrate multiple branching warty shrub has very aromatic leaves which invade the olfactory senses when walked upon. This is the only Boronia growing at these altitudes. James was intrigued with the Dampiera fusca plants, which were sitting upright instead of being prostrate. A particularly exciting find was many thousands of seedlings coming up of the Woolly-bear Wattle (Acacia lucasii). This being another species that only occurs in this area in Victoria .

On return to camp in late afternoon a fire was lit as the wind was quite chilly and the night became very cold especially for one of the party who had forgotten to pack his sleeping bag and pillow.

Sunday was a fine, sunny day with a cooling wind when walking in exposed positions. (Lovely conditions for the long walk to Brumby Point). Rounding a bend on the track to Brumby Point we observed another 4WD and camp, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. James recognized and met the botanist Neville Walsh out on a seed collecting field trip. Back on the track a Brown Antichinus (dead) was found. Along the way were beautiful grasses. After contemplation James told us a particularly striking looking grass was Silver-top Wallaby Grass (Joycea pallida) There were a few attractive plants of the prostrate Dwarf Geebung ( Persoonia chamaepeuce) with its small distinctive yellow flowers. It would make a very good rockery plant in our gardens. A small shrub with tiny rounded leaves 3mm long was the Leafy Bossiaea (Bossiaea foliosa). Not in flower at the moment, in early December it can paint whole hillsides yellow. In places were the deep purplish blue flowers of the Royal Bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa). Soon we were walking through shoulder high Wild Parsnip that we saw yesterday, which in East Gippsland is only found in this area and Mt Tingaringy. Once again the wild fires had been all through this area but we were afforded very good views of the surrounding mountains and plains with Forlorn Hope Plains just across the deep valley. As we got closer to Brumby Point we could see the weird formation of the burnt vegetation. There were wide straight alternate bands of mallee-like eucalypts mostly Mallee Ash, Black Sallee and Snow Gum with some Tingaringy Gum (Eucalyptus glaucescens) alternating with the blackened remains of Mountain Banksia (Banksia Canei). A search was on by the group for the prostrate Hill Flannel-flower (Actinotus forsythii), which apparently only comes up after a fire and its seed will sit in the earth for many years waiting for the right conditions.

When James was here last summer the Flannel-flower was blooming prolifically but this year not one was found. We had lunch behind some large boulders out of the keen wind. Diggers Speedwell (Derwentia perfoliata) was here, perfoliata meaning 'with leaves in pairs joined around the stem'.

On the way back to camp we stopped off to have a look at a grassy plain. Here we found the Alpine Trachymene (Trachymene humilis) a low herb with leaves radiating from the base and a cluster of small whitish flowers atop a thick stem. A few plants of the Mauve Leek Orchid were found as well as Fairies' Aprons (Utrichularia dichotoma) in a boggy patch. Like the Sundews, these Baldderworts grow in water-logged soil low in nitrogen. Tall Mauve Daisy (Brachyscome spathulata), Bidgee-widgee (Acaena novae-zelandiae) Native Geranium (Geranium solanderi), Mountain forget-me-not (Myosotis exarrhena) and many plants of the Alpine Shaggy Pea (Podolobium alpestre) which would be very colourful in early summer. Pale Everlasting (Helichrysum rutidolepis) the very showy Alpine Everlasting (Xerochrysum subundulatum) and Billy Buttons (Craspedia sp) were common among the grasses.

Monday saw the group breaking camp and moving out by 9.00am. It was a bright, dry, mild, windy day in the low 20 degrees C. while back down in Bairnsdale it was a hot 35°.

We headed north on the Nunniong Road and turned off onto Jam Tin Track. Topping a rise were glorious views of the snow capped Mt. Bogong with sleek, well-fed brumbies in the foreground grazing the side of the road. James was on the look-out for marshy plains to investigate. Seeing one from the road we walked down a steep track onto a marshy plain on the Limestone Creek. Waterproof boots turned out to be a good idea. Here we found Common Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) which despite its name is quite uncommon. A Native Fireweed sp. covered with hoverflies was observed. Introduced weeds such as Yorkshire Fog Grass and Scotch Thistles were well represented. Native Geraniums scrambled through the grasses and there were Yam Daisies (Microseris sp.), Willow-herb sp. also Alpine Water Fern (Blechnum penna-marina) and Mountain Tea Tree (Leptospermum grandifolium). A good find was several plants of Austral Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes sinensis): a native orchid to 50cm high, with erect grassy leaves to 15cm long. Up to 60 small flowers spiral up the stem from early summer. The brumbies had opened up good walking tracks for us to follow up the side of the creek and deeper into the valley. Painted Lady Butterflies were sipping nectar from Orange Everlastings. With the sound of Pied Currawongs calling and cold mountain water babbling over rocks one couldn't find a better place to be to have lunch.

After the long haul walking back up the steep track to the vehicles it was time to part company and head for home. Our tiny group thanked James for allowing us to tag along on his reconnaissance into the mountains.