extent; sandy slopes less than 1%; with pebble patches. high in laterite gravels and shale fragments: Elliott (6) and Tableland (5) families. Eucalyptus brevifolia alliance (1d, 5). 2 30 Stripped surfaces: up to 3.2km in extent; slopes up to 5%, with frequent laterite exposures. Shallow, red sands high in lateritic gravels on laterite: Cockatoo family (7, 23); some laterite outcrop. Open woodland with moderately dense shrub layer and Triodia bitextura, E. phoenicea - Corymbia ferruginea community (7). CSPP 3 48 Rocky surfaces: interfluve crests up to 1% and 1.6km wide with marginal slopes up to 10%; hill and scarp slopes up to 35%; surfaces with much outcrop. Much outcrop with shallow, yellowish gravelly soils: Tableland family (5, 23). Open woodland with moderately dense shrub layer and Triodia bitextura and Aristida hygrometrica. E. brevifolia and E. tectifica alliances (1d, 14d); also 36. CAHP 4 9 Unchannelled valley floors: up to 400m wide, gradients I in 80 to I in 200; sealed surfaces with sand and pebble Mainly yellowish sandy to loamy soils: Elliott family (6), With dark brown heavy clays: Grassy woodland with patches of paperbarks, with Chrysopogon spp., Aristida hygrometrica, and frontage grasses. E. brevifolia and C. polycarpa alliances (1e, 25, RGRP 50% FRGP 50% strewn
Table of Tanmurra land system – land units. + Pasture types described in Appendix 1; Note: Proportions and occurrence of pasture types within land units are subject to change over time due to invasion by native and introduced species, seasonal conditions, fire frequency and grazing management. Unit Approx. area (%) Landforms Soils Vegetation Pasture type+ 1 60 Very bouldery limestone hills Limestone outcrops or boulders. Deciduous sparse low woodland (Terminalia spp., Bauhinia cunninghamii, Cochlospermum fraseri) with upland tall grass (Sorghum stipoideum). ASHP 2 15 Gently sloping limestone boulder areas of short steep strike scarps Shallow soils with limestone outcrops or boulders. As for unit 1 ASHP 3 15 Gentle slopes Tippera - brown loam merging into red clay; some areas of Elliott - grey sandy loam merging into mottled yellow clay; minor Tobermorey - shallow grey to yellow-brown calcareous loamy soil on limestone. Northern woodland (Eucalyptus tectifica, Corymbia foelscheana, C. latifolia) and Tippera tall grass (Themeda triandra, Sehima nervosum, Chrysopogon fallax). TTGP 4 4 Lower gentle slopes Cununurra - grey cracking heavy clays. Bluegrass tall grass (Dichanthium spp., Sorghum spp., Ophiuros exaltatus). BGAP 5 4 Gentle slopes near streamlines Variable light to alluvial soils. Northern woodland (E. tectifica, C. foelscheana, C. grandifolia) with frontage tall grass (Chrysopogon RGRP bloodwood bloodwood
1 18 Domes: smooth, convex, outcrop slopes, up to 80%, with cappings. Predominantly outcrop. Much bare rock. Vegetated only in cracks, crevices, and pockets of soil. Very open woodlands with sparse ground storey of tussocks of Triodia bynoei and other grasses. Corymbia cadophora - Adansonia gregorii - C. dichromophloia community (32). CAHP 60% XXNP 40% 2 58 Interfluves: up to 1.6km wide with slopes less than 0.5%, attaining 3% adjacent to domes; marginally dissected up to 9m with slopes up to 20% and local outcrop; sandy, surfaces. Greyish sands over tough loamy subsoils: Tarraji family (18). With deep brown sands: Katyeeda family (9). Open woodlands with patches of paper- bark trees, scattered shrubs with Triodia bitextura, short grasses, and, Chrysopogon spp. Eucalytpus brevifolia, C. dichromophloia, and E. tectifica alliances (1d, 1f, 8d, 14b). RGRP 40% CSPP 30% ASGP 30% 3 8 Valley plains: up to 4.8km in extent with slopes less than 0.2%; lightly firmed, locally scalded surfaces with grit patches. Weakly mottled yellowish loamy soils: Elliott family (6). Grassy woodland with Chrysopogon spp. E. tectifica community (14b). RGRP 4 8 Drainage floors: up to 1.6km wide, gradients 1 in 100 to 1 in 500. Clayey alluvial soils with loose subsoils: Fitzroy family (22). Grassy woodland with frontage grasses. C. bella alba community (23). FRGP 5 8 Channels: up to 60m wide and 6m deep. Channels, bed-loads of deep sand and pebbles. Banks, Fringing forests and woodlands. E. camaldulensis - Terminalia platyphylla fringing community FRIP
Unit Approx. area (%) Landforms Soils Vegetation Pasture type+ 1 2 Undulating to steep low hills on sedimentary rocks Red and brown stony soils (203). Very sparse woodland of Corymbia opaca, Eucalyptus brevifolia (occasionally E. pruinosa) with understorey of Triodia bitextura or Triodia spp. (hard spinifex). HSHP 2 48 Gently undulating to rolling rises on sedimentary rocks Stony red and brown sandy and loamy duplexes (400, 500), minor red shallow loams (522), brown cracking clays (600) and stony soils (203). Very sparse woodland of C. opaca, E. brevifolia (occasionally E. pruinosa) with understorey of Triodia bitextura or Triodia spp. (hard spinifex). CSPP 70% HSHP 30% 3 30 Level to undulating colluvial plains Stony red and brown sandy and loamy duplexes (400, 500), minor red shallow loams (522), brown cracking clays (600) and stony soils (203). Very sparse woodland of E. pruinosa, C. opaca or E. brevifolia; or isolated to Acacia spp. or Carissa lanceolata shrubland; with understorey dominated by Triodia bitextura, Triodia spp. (hard spinifex), Dichanthium fecundum or Chrysopogon fallax. CSPP 80% HSPP 10% RGRP 10% 4 6 Level to undulating gilgai plains Hard or cracking clays (600), usually brown or grey Grasslands of Chrysopogon fallax, Dichanthium fecundum, Aristida latifolia, Astrebla RAPP 50% BGAP 30% MGUP
Image of the sandplains (unit 1) of the Wanganut land system supporting characteristic pindan vegetation on red sandy soils. Pindan consists of trees such as variable barked (Corymbia dichromophloia) and other eucalypts over a dense tall acacia shrub layer with a ground storey of curly spinifex (Triodia bitextura) and ribbon grass (Chrysopogon fallax). Photo: DAFWA Stylised block diagram showing location of land units for the Wanganut land system (numbers on diagram represent land units in table below) Table of Wanganut land system – land units. * Numbers in brackets refer to soil family or vegetation community/alliance in ‘General report on lands of the West Kimberley area, WA’ (Speck et al. 1970); + Pasture types described in Appendix 1; Note: Proportions and occurrence of pasture types within land units are subject to change over time due to invasion by native and introduced species, seasonal conditions, fire frequency and grazing management. Unit Approx. area (%) Landforms Soils* Vegetation* Pasture type+ 1 37 Sandplain: up to 4.8km in extent; broadly undulating, with relief up to 1.2m and slopes up to 2%, or gently sloping, less than 1%. Deep red sands: Cockatoo family (7) Woodlands (pindan) with prominent Acacia shrub layer and Triodia bitextura - Chrysopogon spp. Corymbia dichromophloia alliance (10). parts: Eucalyptus miniata alliance (28, 29); also l4c. PINP 2 11 Linear dunes: up to 9m high and 19km long, with flank slopes up to 15%. Mainly deep red sands: Cockatoo family (7). Pindan dunes with reddish sandy soils: Yabbagoddy family (I) common. Low woodland (pindan) with patches of dense Acacia shrubs and Triodia bitextura - Chrysopogon spp. and Aristida spp. ground storeys. C. dichromophloia and Bauhinia cunninghamii alliances (10, 38c). High-rainfall parts: E. miniata community (28). PINP 3 43 Dune swales and low-lying sandplain: Mainly yellowish sandy soils: Grassy woodlands with patchy Acacia shrub layer, Triodia bitextura PINP 90% BUGP rainfall
swales up to 1.6km wide with concave marginal slopes up to 5%, rapidly decreasing to less than 1%; low-tying sandplain up to 16km extent with slopes less than 0.3%, attaining 1% locally. Tableland family (5). Minor amounts of reddish sandy soils: Yabbagoddy family (1). and T. bitextura - Chrysopogon spp. ground storeys. C. dichromophloia, E. tectifica and E. microtheca alliances (10, l4c, 21). [Introduced buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) now common in parts]. 10% 4 5 Pans and depressions: linear, up to 800m wide and 4.8km long, commonly in linked series; depressions shallow with lightly firmed sandy surfaces, and pans up to 1.5m deep with heavily cracking surfaces and microrelief; short marginal slopes to l%. Yellowish, strongly mottled loamy soils: Elliott family (6) on depressions. Brownish, massive, intractable heavy clays (30) in pans. Ribbon grass grasslands with patches of Triodia bitextura and fringing paperbark and woodlands. C. polycarpa, E. microtheca, and Melaleuca spp. alliances (21, 26, 36). RGRP 5 2 Drainage floors: mainly less than 800m wide but up to 1.6km locally, with marginal slopes about 0.5% hummocky, extensively scalded surfaces. Complex of yellowish sandy soils: Tableland family (5); and scalded greyish and brownish sands and loams over tough clays: Hooper family (20). Complex of ribbon grass and paperbark trees. Melaleuca spp. community (36) and Chrysopogon spp. community (49). RGRP 6 2 Channels: up to 30m wide and Channels, bed-loads of Fringing forests and woodlands. FRIP
Table of Wave Hill land system – land units. + Pasture types described in Appendix 1; Note: Proportions and occurrence of pasture types within land units are subject to change over time due to invasion by native and introduced species, seasonal conditions, fire frequency and grazing management. Unit Approx. area (%) Landforms Soils Vegetation Pasture type+ 1 5 Low stony rises Mostly basalt boulders and rock outcrops with pockets of red clayey soils. Deciduous sparse low woodland (Terminalia spp., Bauhinia cunninghamii, Cochlospermum fraseri) with upland tall grass (Sorghum stipoideum); snappy gum sparse low woodland (Eucalyptus brevifolia) with soft spinifex (Triodia pungens). ASHP 50% SSPP 50% 2 10 Steep to gentle slopes Shallow stony red clay soils, some Frayne - brown loam merging into dark red clay. Bloodwood-southern box sparse low woodland (Corymbia opaca, E. limitaris, E. tephrodes) with arid short grass (Enneapogon spp.) or threeawn mid-height grass (Aristida pruinosa, Chrysopogon fallax). ASGP 60% TAPP 40% 3 70 Moderate to gentle slopes, may be stony Cununurra, Barkly and Argyle - grey and brown cracking clays. Mitchell and other mid-height grasses (Astrebla pectinata, Dichanthium fecundum, Panicum spp.). MGUP 4 5 Lower slopes near drainage lines Tobermorey - shallow grey to calcareous loamy soils. Bloodwood-southern box sparse low woodland (C. opaca), with arid short grass (Enneapogon spp.) ASGP 5 5 Flats adjacent to drain lines Cununurra - grey cracking clay. Bluegrass tall grass (Dichanthium spp., Aristida latifolia, Eulalia aurea). BGAP
patches of skeletal soils and shallow red and yellow soils. (Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Corymbia dichromophloia, C. ferruginea, C. aspera) or deciduous sparse low woodland (Xanthostemon paradoxus, Owenia vernicosa, Terminalia spp.), both with upland tall grass (Sorghum stipoideum, Triodia bitextura, Triodia stenostachya). CAHP 50% 2 15 Gentle lower slopes Cockatoo - deep red sand; Pago - deep yellow sands. Stringybark - bloodwood woodland (E. tetrodonta, E. miniata, C. dichromophloia) or frontage woodlands (C. polycarpa, C. bella, E. apodophylla), both with upland tall grass (Sorghum stipoideum, Triodia bitextura, Aristida spp.). LCSP 3 5 Small stream channels Fringing communities. FRIP Image of Hidden Valley National Park, a popular tourist destination just east of Kununurra, provides an impressive example of the rugged sandstone hills of Weaber land system. Photo: Paul Müller (alias Peter Mueller, Panoramio.com) Wickham land system (Wic)*, size: 5200km2, publication source: OVC * Wickham land system is essentially equivalent to Pinkerton (OVC), Buldiva (NKY) and Precipice (WKY) land systems. The different names are a result of surveys being undertaken at different times combined with differences which are reflected in the vegetation. Rugged stony country formed on sedimentary rocks widespread in the southern half of the Ord-Victoria survey area. Location map showing coverage of Wickham land system defined by black region.
2 8 Steep to gentle slopes Shallow stony red clay soils and Frayne - brown loam merging into dark red clay; minor Elliott. Northern woodland (E. tectifica), or box sparse low woodland (E. pruinosa), both with Tippera tall grass (Themeda triandra, Sehima nervosum, Chrysopogon fallax). TTGP 3 70 Moderate to gentle slopes Cununurra and Argyle - grey and brown cracking clays. Bluegrass tall grass (Dichanthium spp., Sorghum spp., Eulalia aurea, Ophiuros exaltatus). BGAP 4 8 Flats adjacent to drainage floors Cununurra - grey cracking clays. As for unit 3 BGAP 5 8 Drainage floors Not described Frontage grass communities FRGP 6 3 Stream channels Not described Fringing communities FRIP Windjana land system (Wij), size: 1382km2, publication source: WKY Rocky limestone hill ranges, outcrop and shallow calcareous earths, spinifex and scattered trees. Local grasslands on cracking clay soils. Location map showing coverage of Windjana land system defined by black region. State land type: Hills and lowlands with eucalypt woodlands and spinifex Geology: Dipping or gently folded limestone, calcareous sandstone, and shale of Devonian age. Geomorphology: Formed by dissection of the Kimberley surface - hill lands: strike belts up to 6.4km wide and 80km long, comprising hill ranges, plateaux and cuestas, with narrow bevelled crests and with short lower slopes; restricted cracking clay plains in the lowest parts; sparse to moderately dense rectangular or branching pattern of incised valleys with strike-directed trunk drainage; relief up to 75 m. Land management: Hills, plateaux and cuestas (unit 1) are poorly accessible, high scenic amenity; lower slopes (unit 2) support hard spinifex pastures of very low
with alluvial fans, gradients 1 in 20 to 1 in 30; surfaces with local outcrop. loamy to clayey calcareous soils: Oscar family (11). alliances (8a, 9a). 3 5 Cracking clay plains: up to 800m wide, with slopes less than 0.5%; hummocky surfaces. Dark, strongly heavy clays: Cununurra family (12), with minor gilgai formation. Mitchell grass and ribbon grass-bluegrass grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs, Astrebla spp. and Chrysopogon spp. - Dichanthium fecundum communities (47, 48); also 37a. MGAP 50% RAPP 50% 4 4 Channels: up to 30m wide and 3m deep, gradients 1 in 100 to 1 in 500. Channels, bed-loads range from sand to boulders on bedrock. Banks, outcrop with local areas of shallow brownish loamy alluvial soils: Robinson family (21). Fringing woodland Eucalyptus camaldulensis - Terminalia platyphylla fringing communities (42, 43); smaller streams 38b. FRIP Image of Geikie Gorge is an often visited expression of the Windjana land system. Photo: DAFWA Winnecke land system (Wnk), size: 3451km2, publication source: OVC A number of irregular areas or linear bands of stony hills associated with the red sandy ‘deserts’ in the southern part of the Ord-Victoria survey area. Location map showing coverage of Winnecke land system defined by black region. State land type: Hills and lowlands with eucalypt woodlands and spinifex