Kensington Bushland Reserve

Kensington bushland reserve is a significant remnant of Swan Coastal Plain vegetation, that has been reserved in the suburb of Kensington, in Perth, Western Australia, by the state government.[1]

Kensington Bushland, Kensington Bushland, Perth, Western Australia, with woolly bush & firewood banksias

Banksia menziesii. Kensington Bushland, Kensington, Perth, Western Australia

It is located west of Kent Street Senior High School, and lies on the north side of Kent Street. The portion of Jarrah Road that defined the western boundary of the reserve is a cul de sac, known as Baron Hay Court. Across the road is a Department of Agriculture complex. It is bounded to the north by Harold Rossiter Park, and George Reserve and has an area of 9.1 hectares (22 acres).[1] It is close to the Western Australian Herbarium. In 2000 it was designated as "Bush Forever Site 48" by the Government of Western Australia.[1]

It was made a reserve in the 1990s when the suburb was still located within Perth City council boundaries.[2][3][4] It is now within the Town of Victoria Park local government area, and is managed together with "The Kent Street Sand Pit" and the "George Street Reserve" (a contaminated landfill site) as a single entity, the "Jirdarup Bushland Precinct".[5]

Description

It lies on the Bassendean Dune system,[5][6] the oldest and most easterly of the sand dune systems of the Swan Coastal Plain.[7][8][9]

Flora

Key upper storey plant species within the bushland are Banksia menziesii, Banksia attenuata and Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata). As of 2003, some 207 plant species have been found, representing 42 families and 111 genera.[5] Major weeds are Asparagus asparagoides, perennial veldt grass, Gladiolus caryophyllaceus, while Ehrharta longiflora, Ursinia anthemoides, and Misopates orontium are also threatening also to become a problem.[5]

This bushland is part of the threatened ecological community (TEC), Banksia woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain, the main threats to which are: fragmentation, dieback,[10] weed invasion, inappropriate fire regimes and climate change.[5] In February 2016, a bushfire burned approximately 70% of the native vegetation of the reserve.[5]

List of native flora found in Kensington Bushland[5]

Acacia huegelii Acacia pulchella Prickly Moses Acacia rostellifera Summer-scented Wattle Acacia saligna Orange Wattle Acacia sphacelata Acacia stenoptera Narrow-winged Wattle Acacia willdenowiana Grass Wattle Adenanthos cygnorum Common Woollybush Alexgeorgea nitens Allocasuarina fraseriana Sheoak Allocasuarina humilis Dwarf Sheoak Amphipogon amphipogonoides- Amphipogon turbinatus Anigozanthos humilis Catspaw Anigozanthos manglesii Mangles Kangaroo Paw Arnocrinum preissii Astroloma macrocalyx Swan Berry Astroloma pallidum Kick Bush Austrostipa compressa Austrostipa elegantissima Austrostipa flavescens Austrostipa hemipogon Austrostipa mollis Banksia attenuata Slender Banksia Banksia ilicifolia Holly-leafed Banksia Banksia menziesii Firewood Banksia Billardiera fraseri Elegant Pronaya Billardiera fusiformis Australian Bluebell Billardiera heterophylla Gumug Bossiaea eriocarpa Common Brown Pea Brachyscome bellidioides Burchardia congesta Kara Caladenia discoidea Dancing Orchid Caladenia ferruginea Rusty Spider Orchid Caladenia filifera Blood Spider Orchid Caladenia flava Cowslip Orchid Caladenia latifolia Pink Fairy Orchid Caladenia longicauda Common White Spider Orchid Caladenia longiclavata Clubbed Spider Orchid Caladenia macrostylis Leaping Spider Orchid Calandrinia corrigioloides Strap Purslane Calandrinia granulifera Pygmy Purslane Calectasia narragara Calothamnus sanguineus Silky-leaved Blood Flower Calytrix angulata Yellow Starflower Calytrix flavescens Summer Starflower Calytrix fraseri Pink Summer Calytrix Cassytha racemosa Dodder Laurel Chamaescilla corymbosa Blue Squill Comesperma calymega Blue-spike Milkwort Conostephium pendulum Pearl Flower Conostephium preissii Conostylis aculeata Prickly Conostylis Conostylis aculeata subsp. aculeata Conostylis aurea Golden Conostylis Conostylis juncea Conostylis setigera Bristly Cottonhead Corynotheca micrantha Sand Lily Crassula colorata Dense Stonecrop Cyanicula sericea Dampiera linearis Common Dampiera Dasypogon bromeliifolius Pineapple Bush Daviesia divaricata Marno Daviesia nudiflora Daviesia triflora Desmocladus flexuosus Dianella revoluta Blueberry Lily Dianella revoluta var. divaricata Dianella revoluta var. revoluta Diuris brumalis Diuris magnifica Drosera erythrorhiza Red Ink Sundew Drosera huegelii Bold Sundew Drosera macrantha Bridal Rainbow Drosera menziesii Pink Rainbow Drosera menziesii subsp. penicillaris Drosera pallida Pale Rainbow Drosera stolonifera Leafy Sundew Eremaea pauciflora Eremaea pauciflora var pauciflora Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus Eucalyptus marginata Jarrah Eucalyptus todtiana Coastal Blackbutt Gastrolobium capitatum Gompholobium tomentosum Hairy Yellow Pea Haemodorum spicatum Mardja Hardenbergia comptoniana Native Wisteria Hemiandra pungens Snakebush Hibbertia huegelii Hibbertia hypericoides Yellow Buttercups Hibbertia racemosa Stalked Guinea Flower Hibbertia subvaginata Hovea trisperma Common Hovea Hyalosperma cotula Hybanthus calycinus Wild Violet Hypocalymma robustum Swan River Myrtle Hypolaena exsulca Isotropis cuneifolia Granny Bonnets Jacksonia furcellata Grey Stinkwood Jacksonia lehmannii Jacksonia sternbergiana Stinkwood Johnsonia pubescens Pipe Lily Kennedia prostrata Scarlet Runner Lagenophora huegelii Laxmannia squarrosa Lepidobolus preissianus Lepidosperma angustatum Lepidosperma squamatum Leptomeria cunninghamii Leptomeria empetriformis Leptospermum spinescens Leucopogon conostephioides Leucopogon parviflorus Coast Beard-heath Leucopogon propinquus Levenhookia stipitata Common Stylewort Lobelia tenuior Slender Lobelia Lomandra caespitosa Tufted Mat Rush Lomandra hermaphrodita Lomandra nigricans Lomandra odora Tiered Mat Rush Lomandra preissii Lomandra suaveolens Lyginia barbata Lysinema ciliatum Curry Flower Macarthuria australis Macrozamia riedlei Zamia Melaleuca seriata Mesomelaena pseudostygia Semophore Sedge Mesomelaena stygia Microtis media Tall Mignonette Orchid Monotaxis grandiflora Diamond of the Desert Neurachne alopecuroidea Foxtail Mulga Grass Nuytsia floribunda Christmas Tree Olearia paucidentata Autumn Scrub Daisy Patersonia occidentalis Purple Flag Persoonia saccata Snottygobble Petrophile linearis Pixie Mop Petrophile macrostachya Pheladenia deformis Blue Fairy Orchid Philotheca spicata Pepper and Salt Phlebocarya ciliata Pimelea suaveolens Scented Banjine Pimelea sulphurea Yellow Banjine Podolepis gracilis Slender gracilis Podotheca angustifolia Sticky Longheads Podotheca chrysantha Yellow Podotheca Podotheca gnaphalioides Golden Long-heads Poranthera microphylla Small Poranthera Pterostylis dilatata Pterostylis pyramidalis Snail Orchid Pterostylis recurva Jug Orchid Pterostylis sanguinea Pterostylis vittata Banded Greenhood Regelia inops Rytidosperma caespitosum Scaevola canescens Grey Scaevola Scaevola repens Schoenus brevisetis Schoenus curvifolius Schoenus lanatus Woolly Bog-rush Schoenus latitans Scholtzia involucrata Spiked Scholtzia Siloxerus humifusus Procumbent Siloxerus Sowerbaea laxiflora Purple Tassels Stachystemon vermicularis Stackhousia monogyna Stirlingia latifolia Blueboy Stylidium amoenum Lovely Triggerplant Stylidium androsaceum Stylidium brunonianum Pink Fountain Triggerplant Stylidium calcaratum Book Triggerplant Stylidium carnosum Fleshy-leaved Triggerplant Stylidium diuroides Donkey Triggerplant Stylidium junceum Reed Triggerplant Stylidium neurophyllum Coastal Plain Triggerplant Stylidium piliferum Common Butterfly Triggerplant Stylidium repens Matted Triggerplant Stylidium schoenoides Cow Kicks Styphelia tenuiflora Common Pinheath Synaphea spinulosa Taxandria linearifolia Thelymitra graminea Shy Sun Orchid Thelymitra macrophylla Scented Sun Orchid Thysanotus manglesianus Fringed Lily Thysanotus sparteus Thysanotus tenellus Thysanotus triandrus Trachymene pilosa Native Parsnip Tricoryne elatior Yellow Autumn Lily Tripterococcus brunonis Winged Stackhousia Verticordia densiflora Compacted Featherflower Wahlenbergia gracilenta Annual Bluebell Waitzia suaveolens Fragrant Waitzia Xanthorrhoea brunonis Xanthorrhoea preissii Balga, Grass Tree Xanthosia huegelii

List of Weeds found in Kensington Bushland[5]

Asparagus asparagoides (Bridal Creeper) Avena barbata (Bearded Oat) Brassica tournefortii (Mediterranean Turnip) Briza maxima (Blowfly Grass) Bromus diandrus (Great Brome) Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton Wax) Conyza bonariensis (Flaxleaf Fleabane) Corymbia citriodora (Lemon-scented Gum) Corymbia maculata (Spotted Gum) Ehrharta calycina (Perennial Veldt Grass) Ehrharta cf. longiflora/brevifolia? (Annual Veldt Grass) Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass) Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Gum) Euphorbia terracina (Geraldton Carnation Weed) Euphorbia peplus (Petty Spurge) Fumaria capreolata (Whiteflower Fumitory) Fumaria muralis (Wall Fumitory) Fumaria bastardii Gladiolus caryophyllaceus (Wild Gladiolus) Hordeum glaucum (Northern Barley Grass) Lupinus sp. (Lupin) Malva parviflora (Marshmallow) Medicago sp. (Medic) Misopates orantium (Lesser Snapdragon) Oxalis pes-caprae (Soursob) Pelargonium capitatum (Rose Pelargonium) Raphanus raphanistrum (Wild Radish) Romulea rosea (Guildford Grass) Solanum nigrum (Black Berry Nightshade) Sonchus asper (Rough Sowthistle) Sonchus oleraceus (Common Sowthistle) Ursinia anthemoides (Ursinia)

Fauna

Significant bird species which may be seen in the bushland are Carnaby's Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) - endangered, Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) - vulnerable, and the rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus),[5] with Forest Redtailed Black-Cockatoo being year-round residents of the area.[11] Pitfall trapping in 2017 found eight native reptiles. These included the western bobtail (Tiliqua rugosa), dugites (Pseudonaja affinis), the western bearded dragon (Pogona minor), and Buchanan's snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus buchananii).[5]

This tiny piece of remnant bushland has often been the subject of surveys.[12][13][14][15][16] Thus, one of the first Australian records for the aphid, Uroleucon erigeronense is from Kensington Bushland.[14] The day-flying moth,Pollanisus occidentalis, is found in abundance in the bushland.[13] A new species of robber fly, Cerdistus hudsoni, has so far (2011) only been found in two places, one of which is Kensington Bushland.[12]

Galleries

• Native plants found and photographed in Kensington Bushland reserve
• 
  Allocasuarina humilis 2018-06-21
• 
  Billardiera fraseri 2016-01-19
• 
  Calectasia 2007-10-08
• 
  Pimelea sulphurea 2016-10-09
• 
  Nuytsia floribunda 2015-10-19
• 
  Jacksonia furcellata 2017-12-20
• 
  Daviesia divaricata 2011-10-13
• 
  Anigozanthos manglesii 2007-10-09
• 
  Banksia attenuata 2007-10-19
• 
  Dasypogon bromeliifolius 2007-10-09
• 
  Petrophile linearis 2007-10-16
• 
  Synaphea spinulosa 2007-10-16
• 
  Scaevola canescens 2018-06-21
• 
  Daviesia nudiflora 2014-07-12
• 
  Philotheca spicata
• 
  Stirlingia latifolia
• 
  Hemiandra pungens
• 
  Macarthuria australis
• 
  Podotheca gnaphalioides
• 
  Eucalyptus marginata

• Weeds found and photographed in Kensington Bushland reserve
• 
  Gladiolus caryophyllaceus
• 
  Wahlenbergia capensis
• 
  Fumaria capreolata
• 
  Lupinus cosentinii
• 
  Ursinia anthemoides
• 
  Trifolium campestre

References

1. Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth, Western Australia (2000). "Bush Forever Volume 2: Directory of Bush Forever Sites: Kensington Bushland, Kensington" (PDF). Government of Western Australia [WA]. Retrieved 20 August 2018.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Perth City Council. Department of Parks, Gardens and Landscape (1993), Kensington Bushland Management Plan : Draft, Perth City Council, ISBN 9789900058052
3. Perth (W.A. : Municipality). Dept. of Parks, Gardens and Landscape (1993), Draft Kensington Bushland management plan, The Dept, retrieved 19 August 2018
4. Perth (W.A (1993), Kensington bushland management plan, City of Perth, retrieved 19 August 2018
5. Eco Logical Australia 2017. Kensington Bushland Management Plan. Prepared for Town of Victoria Park.’ Retrieved 20 August 2018.
6. Broun, L. (2004), Banksia woodland resilience to groundwater drawdown on the Gnangara Mound, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, retrieved 20 August 2018
7. Laliberté, E.; Turner, B. L.; Costes, T.; Pearse, S. J.; Wyrwoll, K.-H.; Zemunik, G.; Lambers, H. (2012). "Experimental assessment of nutrient limitation along a 2-million-year dune chronosequence in the south-western Australia biodiversity hotspot". Journal of Ecology. 100 (3): 631–642. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.01962.x. ISSN 0022-0477.
8. Kendrick, G.W.; Wyrwoll, K.-H.; Szabo, B.J. (1991). "Pliocene-Pleistocene coastal events and history along the western margin of Australia". Quaternary Science Reviews. 10 (5): 419–439. doi:10.1016/0277-3791(91)90005-F. ISSN 0277-3791.
9. McArthur, W.M, Bettenay, E, 1974. The development and distribution of the soils of the Swan Coastal Plain. Soil Publication No. 16. C.S.I.R.O.PDF
10. Hill, T.C.J.; Tippett, J.T.; Shearer, B.L. (1994), "Invasion of Bassendean Dune Banksia Woodland by Phytophthora cinnamomi", Australian Journal of Botany, CSIRO PUBLISHING, 42 (6): 725–738, doi:10.1071/bt9940725, ISSN 1444-9862. pdf
11. Byrne, M, Barrett, G, Finn, H, Blythman, M, Williams, M (2015) 'The 2015 Great Cocky Count.' At http://birdlife.org.au/documents/GCC-report-2015.pdf
12. Lavigne, Robert. 2011. A New Species of Asilidae (Insecta: Diptera) from Western Australia [online]. South Australian Naturalist, The, Vol. 85, No. 1, Jan-Jun 2011: 14-20. https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=251913066834750;res=IELHSS. ISSN 0038-2965
13. Williams, M.R.2009. Butterflies and day-flying moths in a fragmented urban landscape, south-west Western Australia: patterns of species richness. Pacific Conservation Biology Vol. 15: 32–46. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney.
14. Brumley, C.; Watson, L. (2017). "First records of Uroleucon erigeronense (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Conyza (Asteraceae) from Australia, with descriptions of morphological variation, biological notes and an update for commonly used keys". Austral Entomology. 56 (3): 339–344. doi:10.1111/aen.12241. ISSN 2052-174X. pdf
15. Stenhouse, R.N. (2005). "Assessing Disturbance and Vegetation Condition in Urban Bushlands". Australasian Journal of Environmental Management. 12 (1): 16–26. doi:10.1080/14486563.2005.10648630. ISSN 1448-6563.
16. Heliyanto, Bambang; He, Tianhua; Lambers, Hans; Veneklaas, Erik J.; Krauss, Siegfried L. (2009). "Population Size Effects on Progeny Performance in Banksia ilicifolia R. Br. (Proteaceae)". HAYATI Journal of Biosciences. 16 (2): 43–48. doi:10.4308/hjb.16.2.43. ISSN 1978-3019.

External links

• Media related to Kensington Bushland at Wikimedia Commons

• Eco Logical Australia, 2017. Kensington Bushland Management Plan. Prepared for Town of Victoria Park.’
• SERS. 2016,Preliminary Environmental Site and Impact Assessment - Flora and Fauna: Harold Rossiter Park and Kensington Bushland
• Facebook: Friends of Kensington Bushland