Native Vegetation Group 16 - Heathlands

Native Vegetation Groups for Victoria home

Heathlands Native Vegetation Map

High resolution map of Simplified Native Vegetation Group 16 [PDF File - 707.8 KB] - includes major roads and towns.

Ecological Vegetation Class Descriptions

16.1 Heathlands - Sandy and/or well drained EVC 5 Coastal Sand Heathland EVC 6 Sand Heathland EVC 89 Dunefield Heathland EVC 90 Tea-tree Scrub
16.2 Heathlands - Not well drained EVC 7 Clay Heathland EVC 8 Wet Heathland EVC 49 Swamp Heathland Aggregate EVC 165 Damp Heath Scrub EVC 279 Heathland Thicket EVC 710 Damp Heathland
16.3 Heathlands - Sub-alpine EVC 170 Alpine Dwarf Heathland EVC 184 Montane Wet Heathland EVC 204 Sub-alpine Damp Heathland EVC 210 Sub-alpine Wet Heathland EVC 1004 Alpine Grassy Heathland EVC 1011 Alpine Peaty Heathland EVC 1013 Alpine Rocky Outcrop Heathland

Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks

16.1 Heathlands - Sandy and/or well drained

EVC 5 Coastal Sand Heathland
An open or closed coastal heathland dominated by a diverse shrub layer and a variable ground layer of sedges, lilies and grasses. The heathland is found on well-drained siliceous sands and is often wind-pruned due to extreme exposure to wind and salt-spray.

EVC 6 Sand Heathland
Treeless heathland (or with scattered emergent mallee-form eucalypts and/or banksias) occurring on deep infertile sands. Consists of a low, dense heathy shrub layer and a number of sedges and sedge-like species. Grasses and herbs are notably absent or infrequent.

EVC 89 Dunefield Heathland
Treeless heathland or low shrubland. Very scattered small mallee form trees may be present. In recently burnt stands (less than 20 years since fire) an open sub-shrub and ground stratum is also common. Occurs on deep siliceous sand on minor dunes and undulating sandplains where siliceous Lowan Sand of coastal origins has accumulated to some depth.

EVC 90 Tea-tree Scrub
A dense scrub of Mallee Tea-tree Leptospermum coriaceum associated with the Outlet Creek system. Tea-tree Scrub may represent the colonization of Lowan sand deposits that have either been derived from the riverine system or been recently blown across it. The natural firebreak that the riverine system provides may also be an important determinant of its composition. This vegetation community could also possibly exist as a result of an extremely long period without fire in the EVC Sandplain Heathland.

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16.2 Heathlands - Not well drained

EVC 7 Clay Heathland
Occurs on sites with impeded drainage, often on duplex soils. A variable shrubby EVC dominated by heath species. Occasional emergent eucalypts may be present. The ground layer is dense and diverse with a variety of lifeforms.

EVC 8 Wet Heathland
A low, generally treeless heathland although sometimes emergent eucalypts may be present. Occurs on lower slopes, flats or depressions, which are infertile and subjected to prolonged water logging. Understorey is often dominated by a range of sedges, grasses and shrubs.

EVC 49 Swamp Heathland Aggregate
Collective label for the various zones of densely shrubby vegetation associated with water-logged flats on acidic soils of the Central Highlands. Considered to include three component EVCs (Riparian Scrub, Wet Heathland and Damp Heathy Woodland).

EVC 165 Damp Heath Scrub
Scrub or shrubland on flat to gently sloping terrain subject to seasonal waterlogging. Dominated by a dense shrub layer and numerous graminoids on generally sandy soils.

EVC 279 Heathland Thicket
Heathland Thicket can form linear patches along drainage lines or form thicket islands in shallow depressions within expanses of Sand Heathland. A dense, impenetrable thicket of Totem Poles Melaleuca decussata dominates this EVC. Due to the dense nature of the thicket, very little light reaches the ground stratum, so the ground is mostly bare, with occasional moss cover.

EVC 710 Damp Heathland
Developed on sites of intermittent waterlogging, typically wet in winter and dry in summer, with low nutrient availability. Closed tall heathland, or scrub if long unburnt. There is a dense ground layer of rushes and sedges, and sometimes emergent eucalypts.

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16.3 Heathlands - Sub-alpine

EVC 170 Alpine Dwarf Heathland
A very low, open heathland occurring on rocky pavements with limited soil development on exposed ridges and peaks above 1700m ASL. It is subject to strong winds, frosts and high temperatures during the summer months which stunts plant development. This rare EVC is characterized by the layering growth habit and very low shrub.

EVC 184 Montane Wet Heathland
A low, generally treeless heathland although sometimes emergent, stunted eucalypts are present. Occurs in wet soak depressions, narrow gullies or headwaters of creeks in montane, high rainfall areas. A dense, heathy shrub layer over a ground layer dominated by sedges and rushes.

EVC 204 Sub-alpine Damp Heathland
A heath dampland occurring on broad shallow drainage-lines and seepage platforms on hillsides in sub-alpine areas and often fringing wetland habitats around bog communities. Characterised by a mixture of species indicative of both poorly drained and well-drained conditions. The better drained sites are associated with skeletal mineral soils associated with rock exposure whilst poor drainage conditions occur on peat soils.

EVC 210 Sub-alpine Wet Heathland
Virtually treeless and characterised by a dense layer of low heathy shrubs, with a number of sedges and rushes in the understorey. Occurs in soaks or along small streams in sub-alpine to alpine areas. Rainfall is generally greater than 1000 mm per annum, and during winter, this EVC can tolerate long periods of snow cover and low temperature. Deep, peaty, sodden soils are usually covered by a layer of Peat Moss Sphagnum spp.

EVC 1004 Alpine Grassy Heathland
High altitude open heathland with inter-shrub spaces dominated by tussock grasses and a wide range of forbs. It occupies a wide range of habitats generally on slopes above 1400m ASL where exposure and frost are limiting to tree growth.

EVC 1011 Alpine Peaty Heathland
A heathland occurring in alpine and sub-alpine valley floors or on gentle slopes with impeded drainage and with the water table at or near the surface throughout the entire year. The understorey is dominated by Peat Moss Sphagnum spp. and other bog and marsh forbs and sedges.

EVC 1013 Alpine Rocky Outcrop Heathland
A low heathland occurring on shallow soils of exposed peaks and ridges. It is widespread in actively eroded alpine areas generally above 1400m ASL where rock is at or near the surface. Lichens and mosses may constitute significant cover in some locations.

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Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks