Approximately 196 species of indigenous vascular plants have been recorded above 1200m at Mt Buller. These species are found in characteristic vegetation communities called ecological vegetation classes (EVCs). Ecological vegetation classes are a convenient classification method for describing a collection of floristic communities occurring across a biogeographic range which, although differing in species present, has similar habitat and ecological processes operating. EVCs identified across Mt Buller include sub-alpine woodland, treeless sub-alpine mosaic, riparian  forest, shrubby dry forest, damp forest, wet forest, herb-rich foothill forest, montane dry woodland, montane damp forest and montane riparian thicket, each found at specific elevations. Treeless Sub-alpine Mosaic occupies most of the highest areas of the Resort above approximately 1650m, mostly on the tops of Baldy, Mt Buller and Mt Stirling. This vegetation type occurs above the tree line where the extreme climate prevents trees from growing. It is a mosaic of a number of distinct plant communities including heathlands, herbfields, grasslands and mosslands. On moderately sloping areas around the summits short dense heathland is dominated by Alpine Hovea (Hovea montana) and Snow Grasses (Poa sp.). On exposed rocky ridges Alpine Grevillea (Grevillea australis) dominates low shrubland. Another heath, Mountain Plum-pine (Podocarpus lawrencei) forms dense thickets in the headwaters of creeks on steep rock scree or boulder fields.  On permanently wet drainage lines with a shallow slope, low closed heathlands gradually give way to mossbeds. Although uncommon across the Resort, several mossbeds do occur on the northern slopes in the headwaters of Boggy Creek at Mt Buller, and along Baldy Creek at Mt Stirling. Mosslands are dominated by Sphagnum Moss (Sphagnum christatum) and the Tall Sedge (Carex appressa) and are very sensitive to disturbance. Grasslands and herbfields are found on well-drained soils, sheltered from strong winds. With increasing soil wetness and restricted drainage, herbfields grade into sod tussock grasslands. Herbfield species include Silver Daisy (Celmisia astelifolia), Mountain Gentian (Chionogentias muelleriana) and Yam Daisy (Microseris lanceolata). Grasslands are characterised by various species of Snow Grasses (Poa sp.).  Sub-alpine Woodland occupies the high ridges and upper slopes at elevations from about 1400m to 1700m. It is reasonably common in the higher mountainous regions of the Resort. The overstorey consists mostly of Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) although in the lower reaches of the altitudinal range Alpine Ash or Woollybutt (Eucalyptus delegatensis) and Mountain Gum (Eucalyptus dalrympleana) may have a minor presence. The understorey varies from a dense shrub layer to a layer dominated by a wide range of grasses and forbs with scattered shrubs. Common understorey shrubs are Leafy Bossiaea (Bossiaea foliosa), Dusky Daisy-bush (Olearia phlogopappa), Alpine Shaggy-pea (Podolobium alpestre) and Alpine Pepper (Tasmannia xerophila). The Mt Buller area is botanically significant because it is the type locality for at least nine species. Type locality is the locality from which the original named specimens of these species were collected. |