Australian Forest Walk
The Australian Forest Walk is one of the largest collections in Melbourne Gardens, extending over half a kilometre along the southern boundary of the Gardens. Recent collecting trips have brought in taxa from areas with a strong match to Melbourne's projected future climate, serving the two-fold purpose of showcasing Australian dry rainforest flora and conserving threatened species.
The Collection is important because:
- It is a ex-situ collection of flora that is threatened by climate change in the wild.
- It showcases the natural biodiversity of native flora for education and research purposes.
- It demonstrates plants suitable to Melbourne’s future climate.
Key Plants
Agathis robusta
Queensland Kauri Pine
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Leptospermum wooroonooran
Wurunuru
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Capparis arborea
Caper Tree
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Syzygium cormiflorum
Bumpy Satinash
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Eucalyptus botryoides
Southern Mahogany Gum
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<em>Agathis robusta</em>
Queensland Kauri Pine
This giant is a tropical conifer native to Queensland. Points of interest for this tree are the sheer size and its beautifully textured bark.
Notes from the Curator
In the cooler months, regenerative pruning is carried out on certain species such as Lomandra hystrix. The build-up of oak leaves from nearby Oak Lawn can also pose an issue, so careful removal is required. Bare areas are spot mulched to improve soil structure and water retention.
Myrtle rust is an introduced plant pathogen that affects the Myrtaceae family. As part of an ongoing project with the Australian Botanic Garden Mt Annan, Myrtle Rust susceptible (and critically endangered) species Rhodamnia rubescens and Rhodomyrtus psidioides, have been planted throughout the Australian Forest Walk to assist in the conservation of these species.