Hannaford Reserve, near Tara

Author: Glenn Leiper

Published: Journal June 2021

The rains had been and gone, and the countryside touched by these rains was ablaze with flowers, especially with a diverse range of little herbaceous species amongst the native grasses. So it was time in early 2021 to go west with the Green Phantom and explore another small remnant of vegetation that hopefully was at its best.

About 50km west of Tara is a triangular government reserve in the Hannaford district, wedged between three roads, and harbouring one of the last healthy stands of Brigalow Acacia harpophylla in the district we surmised as we drove through the vast cleared landscape dotted with occasional trees. The cattle were sheltering in what shade they could gratefully find under these trees in this very flat landscape.

A Nardoo (Marsilea species)

Brigalow trees dominate the Hannaford Government Reserve

As we turned onto the dirt road off the main highway, we could see that our trip was worthwhile. The understorey and ground layer were splashed with the green of shrubs and herbs, and as we alighted from the car, flowers were everywhere. It wasn’t as colourful as some of the areas we’d visited in recent months further east on sandstone areas, but what we could see was mostly native plants without many weeds which was quite surprising. We’d anticipated encountering the insidious Buffel Grass or other pasture weeds, but none was to be seen here. Looking around, we realised that this was probably because the property across the road was only recently cleared of all its tree cover, with dead trees piled up ready to be burnt and therefore the plethora of pasture weeds hadn’t had a chance to infiltrate this area. Not yet anyway.

Brigalow dominated the low 6 to 8 metre canopy with an occasional Belah Casuarina cristata intermingled with them, and shrubby Wilga Geijera parviflora common in the understorey. The large colourful Orchard Swallowtail butterfly was seen numerous times on the wing here and eventually I spotted some larva munching away contentedly on a Wilga. Also fairly common in the understorey were shrubby plants of the viciously armed and aptly named Warrior Bush Apophyllum anomalum, related to Caper Bush and with tiny cream flowers. Sandalwood Santalum lanceolatum with its small 4-petalled white flowers and developing edible black-purple fruit was also common. Grey Mistletoes Amyema quandang were pumping out numerous yellow fruit as well, making the Mistletoe Birds happy I’m sure.

After recent rains, the Reserve is green throughout

Rain had fallen recently and had filled the numerous melon-holes dotted through the reserve, encouraging the growth of some interesting plant species that rely on these damp conditions. We could also see numerous birds such as Zebra Fiches drawn to this water source. Some plants encountered around and in the melon-holes included Jerry-Jerry Ammannia multiflora with the tiniest flowers both white and rich pink, a species of Nardoo Marsilea species, the apt-named Starfruit Damasonium minus, Yellow Eclipta Eclipta platyglossa, a Milfoil Myriophyllum species, an interesting type of Water Ribbons possibly related to Cycnogeton (formerly Triglochin), Floating Pondweed Potamogeton tricarinatus, and some decorative sedges Cyperus species.

As we wandered through this lovely reserve, there were flowers everywhere. You wouldn’t call it a riot of colour, more like a subtle-hued uprising. Some of the flowering herbs we saw were – Blue Trumpet Brunoniella australis, two species of native Wandering Jew Commelina diffusa and probably C. lanceolata, Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa, Narrow-leaved Parakeelya Calandrinia pickeringii, Black Cotton Bush Maireana decalvans, Twin- Leaf Zygophyllum apiculatum, a brilliant white form of Love Flower Pseuderanthemum variabile, and a couple of Goodenia species.

Starfruit Damasonium minus

Jerry-Jerry Ammannia multiflora

Yellow Eclipta Eclipta platyglossa

Floating Pondweed Potamogeton tricarinatus

This reserve certainly is a little gem. Its value as a conservation reserve is emphasised by the fact it’s a sizeable remnant of the local vegetation that has been mostly cleared. As such it’s an important representative of the once more extensive local flora and fauna diversity. A few years ago, a prominent state politician referred disparagingly to reserves like this as “lazy land” because it hasn’t been cleared for agriculture or producing timber for milling or being mined. We should be glad that reserves like this are still in their relatively original and seemingly pristine condition and are providing habitat for so many of the local flora and fauna that would otherwise be destroyed in the name of ‘progress’ for shortterm financial gain and long-term loss of biodiversity. Vigilance about such short-sighted attitudes of our representatives in the ‘towers of power’ is crucial if we are to maintain reserves like this.