Thirty people attended LUCI’ Native Grasses of the Lockyer workshop on Sunday 20th September at Ma Ma Creek Hall with Dr Darren Fielder of Red Leaf Environmental. We learned there are 12,000 species of grasses in the world, 929 taxa in Queensland including 208 exotic species and 407 species in the Moreton Region. Darren explained the ecology and habitat function of grassy woodlands and some of the threatened regional species they harbour. Then we got on to the tough bit – the anatomy and identification of native grasses. However, we had help applying this knowledge …
… thanks to participants bringing along specimens from their own collections. It was amazing to see amongst our local gatherings that around 50 native grass species were represented.
Then it was on to a site visit where the challenge to identify grass specimens was difficult without seed heads to provide clues. However, we did manage to find 15 different species and an added bonus was the flowering Xerochrysum bracteatum and Swainsona queenslandica among the grasses.
Post picnic lunch, the group discussed the next steps in this six month project: a citizen science project to monitor diversity of native grasses following specific weed control; development of a pressed native grasses collection; and the development of a native grasses field ID booklet. In six months time, the project will conclude with a second workshop with Darren where the three streams of activities will be brought together.
THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY A LOCKYER VALLEY REGIONAL COUNCIL COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT GRANT.