International
79-654: Central Australia , also sometimes referred to as the Red Centre , is an inexactly defined region associated with the geographic centre of Australia . In its narrowest sense it describes a region that is limited to the town of Alice Springs and its immediate surrounds including the MacDonnell Ranges . Commonly, it refers to an area up to 600 km (370 mi) from Alice Springs, in every direction. In its broadest use it can include almost any region in inland Australia that has remained relatively undeveloped, and in this sense
158-547: A supercontinent known as Gondwana . Antarctica's separation from Australia began roughly 85 million years ago, at a rate of a few millimetres per year. It took over 30 million years (53 million years ago), toward the end of the Palaeocene epoch , for Australia to fully separate from Antarctica and set course for where we see the two continents today. During the last ice-age around 35,000 years ago, sea levels (around Australia) dropped by 120 metres (390 ft), developing
237-579: A Liberal government), a feat that had last been achieved in 2007. This would last until 24 August 2024 Northern Territory general election when Labor lost Northern Territory to the Country Liberal Party (CLP) opposition. Losing its first mainland state/Territory level. The Liberal National opposition have never had this feat (control of the entirety of Mainland Australia at the federal and mainland state levels simultaneously) as of 2024. From 1788 to 1859, Britain established five colonies on
316-507: A continuous stretch of land between what is now Papua New Guinea , Australia and Tasmania . Over the next 6,000 years the ice gradually melted, increasing sea-levels, cutting off Papua New Guinea and Tasmania from mainland Australia. It has been estimated that Australian Aborigines occupied mainland Australia up to 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, well before the last ice-age. Although an exact figure has not been decided on, numerous DNA studies all confirm that Aboriginal Australians are one of
395-426: A cool and damp environment since water is required for reproduction, the majority of Australian species are found in bushland and rainforest, there are aquatic, epiphytic ( Platycerium , Huperzia and Asplenium ), and terrestrial species including large tree ferns from the genera Cyathea and Dicksonia . The algae are a large and diverse group of photosynthetic organisms. Many studies of algae include
474-438: A leaf vegetable; and, lemon aspen , lemon myrtle , mountain pepper as spices. A few Australian native plants are used by the pharmaceutical industry, such as two scopolamine and hyoscyamine producing Duboisia species and Solanum aviculare and S. laciniatum for the steroid solasodine . Essential oils from Melaleuca , Callitris , Prostanthera , Eucalyptus and Eremophila are also used medicinally. Due to
553-422: A range of native food crops began in the late 1970s with the assessment of species for commercial potential . In the mid-1980s restaurants and wholesalers started to market various native food plant products. These included wattles for their edible seeds; Davidson's Plum , desert lime , finger lime , quandong , riberry , Kakadu plum , muntries , bush tomato , Illawarra plum for fruit; warrigal greens as
632-536: A species of Acacia and Synaphea in 1768 as Adiantum truncatum and Polypodium spinulosum respectively by Dutch philologist Pieter Burman the Younger , who stated they were from Java. Later, both were found to be from Western Australia, likely to have been collected near the Swan River, possibly on a 1697 visit there of fellow Dutchman Willem de Vlamingh . This was followed by Cook's expedition making landfall at what
711-472: A vast assemblage of plant species estimated to over 21,000 vascular and 14,000 non-vascular plants , 250,000 species of fungi and over 3,000 lichens . The flora has strong affinities with the flora of Gondwana , and below the family level has a highly endemic angiosperm flora whose diversity was shaped by the effects of continental drift and climate change since the Cretaceous . Prominent features of
790-495: Is a major threat to floral biodiversity; 20 introduced species have been declared Weeds of National Significance . As of 2006, 61 plant species were known to have become extinct since European settlement; and a further 1,239 species were considered threatened. Protected areas have been created in every state and territory to protect and preserve the country's unique ecosystems. These protected areas include national parks and other reserves, as well as 64 wetlands registered under
869-421: Is about 25.9 million, 98% of Australia's total population. Mainland Australia has a variety of climatic regions, ranging from tropical rainforests and deserts to cool temperature rainforests to snow-covered mountains. It is in these mainland regions that much of Australia's native flora and fauna can be found. Early in the Cretaceous period, 130 million years ago, Australia (and Antarctica ) separated from
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#1732845005395948-457: Is also the center of origin of Eupomatiaceae , Pittosporaceae , Epacridaceae , Stackhousiaceae , Myoporaceae and Goodeniaceae . Other families with high occurrences are Poaceae , Fabaceae , Asteraceae , Orchidaceae , Euphorbiaceae , Cyperaceae , Rutaceae , Myrtaceae (specially Leptospermoideae ) and Proteaceae . Australia's terrestrial flora can be collected into characteristic vegetation groups. The most important determinant
1027-448: Is around 17% of the total land area, equivalent to 134,005,100 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, up from 133,882,200 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 131,614,800 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 2,390,300 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 18% of
1106-543: Is concentric and sparse, whereas there is higher intensity rainfall toward the mainland's tropics and coastal areas. Australia lies on the middle of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate and as a result is not influenced by any severe tectonic activity . Over millions of years, the shifting of these tectonic plates has seen the Australian mainland undergo many physical changes. Mountain ranges and seas have come and gone, and
1185-484: Is host to some of the world's largest open-cut and underground mines. Across the mainland states (besides the ACT), there are over 350 operating mines, producing 19 useful rocks and minerals . These mines allow Australia to be one of the world's largest producers of iron ore , coal , bauxite (aluminium ore), manganese , nickel , copper , gold , silver , cobalt , lead , copper , uranium , opal and diamond . Some of
1264-533: Is largely attributable to the radiation of some families like the Proteaceae , Myrtaceae , and Fabaceae . Data from Orchard modified to AGPII classifications. The native Australian flora contains many monocotyledons . The family with the most species is the Poaceae which includes a huge variety of species, from the tropical bamboo Bambusa arnhemica to the ubiquitous spinifex that thrives in arid Australia from
1343-812: Is not well characterised; Australia is estimated to have about 250,000 fungal species of which roughly 5% have been described. Knowledge of distribution, substrates and habitats is poor for most species, with the exception of common plant pathogens. Lichens are composite organisms comprising, in most cases, an Ascomycete fungus and a unicellular green alga, their classification is based on the type of fungi. The lichen flora of Australia and its island territories, including Christmas Island , Heard Island , Macquarie Island and Norfolk Island , currently comprises 3,238 species and infra-specific taxa in 422 genera, 34% of which are considered to be endemic. The first Australian plants recognised and classified in Linnaean taxonomy were
1422-543: Is now Botany Bay in April 1770, and the early work of Banks , Solander and Parkinson. Botanical exploration was enabled by the founding of the permanent colony at Port Jackson in 1788, and the subsequent expeditions along Australia's coastline. The Australian flora was utilised by the Indigenous inhabitants of Australia. Indigenous Australians used thousands of species for food, medicine, shelter, tools and weapons. For example,
1501-516: Is observed through the states and territories of mainland Australia representing 146 of the 151 members in Parliament . The 25 March 2023 New South Wales state election marked the second time in history that the Australian Labor Party gained control of the entirety of Mainland Australia at the federal and mainland state levels simultaneously (leaving Tasmania as the only state with
1580-659: Is one of 30 tree species from the Brachychiton . There are about 75 native mistletoes that parasitise Australian tree species, including two terrestrial parasitic trees, one of which is the spectacular Western Australian Christmas tree . Australia's salt marshes and wetlands are covered by a large variety of salt and drought tolerant species from the Amaranthaceae which include the saltbushes ( Atriplex ) and bluebushes ( Maireana and Chenopodium ). Many of these plants have succulent leaves; other native succulents are from
1659-460: Is rainfall, followed by temperature which affects water availability. Several schemes of varying complexity have been created. As of 2022, the NVIS (National Vegetation Information System) divides Australia's terrestrial flora into 33 Major Vegetation Groups , and 85 Major Vegetation Subgroups . According to the scheme the most common vegetation types are those that are adapted to arid conditions where
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#17328450053951738-778: Is sometimes considered a realm (Australian realm), while some authors unite the area with other regions to form the Australasian realm . In phytogeography, the area is considered a floristic kingdom (Australian kingdom), with the following endemic families, according to Takhtajan: Platyzomataceae (now included in Pteridaceae ), Austrobaileyaceae , Idiospermaceae (now part of Calycanthaceae ), Gyrostemonaceae , Baueraceae , Davidsoniaceae , Cephalotaceae , Eremosynaceae , Stylobasiaceae , Emblingiaceae , Akaniaceae , Tremandraceae , Tetracarpaeaceae , Brunoniaceae , Blandfordiaceae , Doryanthaceae , Dasypogonaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae . It
1817-841: Is synonymous with the term Outback . In a modern, more formal sense it can refer to the administrative region used by the Northern Territory government, as of 2022. Centralia is another term associated with the area, most commonly used by locals. There are six regions in the Northern Territory for the purposes of economic planning, as defined by the Northern Territory Government : This region has an estimated population of total regional population of 41,000, serviced by Alice Springs (population 28,000). The town also services parts of South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. Local Government Areas (LGAs) make up
1896-474: Is typically used when referring to the relationship between Tasmania and the other Australian states, in that people not from Tasmania are referred to as mainlanders. Tasmania has been omitted on a number of occasions from maps of Australia, reinforcing the divide between Tasmania and the mainland. The 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane left Tasmania off the map of Australia during the opening ceremony, as did
1975-600: The Cretaceous when Australia was covered in subtropical rainforest. Australian ferns and gymnosperms bear a strong resemblance to their Gondwanan ancestors, and prominent members of the early Gondwanan angiosperm flora such as the Nothofagus , Myrtaceae and Proteaceae were also present in Australia. Gondwana began to break up 140 million years ago (MYA); 50 MYA during the Eocene Australia separated from Antarctica, and
2054-470: The Cronquist system is also available. At the higher taxonomic levels the Australian flora is similar to that of the rest of the world; most vascular plant families are represented within the native flora, with the exception of the cacti , birch and a few others, while 9 families occur only in Australia. Australia's vascular flora is estimated to be 85% endemic; this high level of vascular plant endemism
2133-650: The Cyperaceae ; the genus Patersonia of temperate iris-like forbs from the Iridaceae ; and, the kangaroo paws from the family Haemodoraceae . The Xanthorrhoea grass trees, the screw palms of the Pandanaceae and palms are large monocots present in Australia. There are about 57 native palms; 79% of these only occur in Australia. The dicots are the most diverse group of angiosperms. Australia's best known species come from three large and very diverse dicot families:
2212-675: The Eastern Highlands (including the Great Dividing Range ) cover almost 10% of the mainland. Incorporating several mountain ranges which extend 3,700 km (2,300 mi) the Highlands run parallel to the east coast of the mainland; covering Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. The highlands were formed around 80 million years ago, and are some of the oldest and most prominent in
2291-514: The Fabaceae , the Myrtaceae and the Proteaceae . The Myrtaceae is represented by a variety of woody species; gum trees from the genera Eucalyptus , Corymbia and Angophora , Lillipillies ( Syzygium ), the water-loving Melaleuca and Bottlebrush and the shrubby Darwinia and Leptospermum , commonly known as teatrees, and Geraldton wax . Australia is also a centre of diversity for
2370-614: The Gibson Desert . Much of the Western Plateau receives minimal rainfall and thus appears red in colour. Conversely, the Northern Plateau experiences heavy rainfall throughout the wet season (November to April), due to its more tropical location compared to the Western Plateau. Australia's separation from the other continents resulted in a long period of uplift , erosion and thick terrigenous deposition in rift valleys . It
2449-504: The Nepenthaceae . Aquatic monocots and dicots both occur in Australian waters. Australia has about 51,000 square kilometres of seagrass meadows and the most diverse group seagrass species in the world. There are 22 species found in temperate waters and 15 in tropical waters out of a known 70 species worldwide. Aquatic dicots include the mangroves ; in Australia there are 39 mangrove species that cover 11,500 square kilometres and comprise
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2528-690: The Northern Territory and parts of South Australia . Over one-third of the mainland, the Plateaus are made of one stable block of igneous and metamorphic rock which is up to 3.6 billion years old. Despite this, the Plateau is a huge area of tablelands, averaging 500m above sea level in some parts. It is home to Uluru , Kata Tjuta , the Finke River , the Victorian Desert , the Great Sandy Desert and
2607-646: The Ramsar Convention and 16 World Heritage Sites . As of 2002, 10.8% (774,619.51 km ) of the total land area of Australia is within protected areas. Protected marine zones have been created in many areas to preserve marine biodiversity; as of 2002, these areas cover about 7% (646,000 km ) of Australia's marine jurisdiction. In 2003, the Australian Government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee identified 15 biodiversity hotspots in Australian and 85 characteristic ecosystems, as classified by
2686-735: The Rosales are notably represented by the Moraceae whose species include the Moreton Bay Fig and the Port Jackson Fig , and the Urticaceae whose members include several tree sized stinging nettles; Dendrocnide moroides is the most virulent. There are also numerous sandalwood species including the quandongs and native cherry, Exocarpus cupressiformis . The bottle tree of the Sterculiaceae
2765-668: The Rutaceae , with the fragrant Boronia and Eriostemon , the Myoporaceae with the Eremophila , and members of the Ericaceae with Victoria's Floral Emblem Epacris impressa . Amongst the most ancient species of flowering hardwood trees are the Casuarinaceae , including beach , swamp and river oaks, and Fagaceae represented in Australia by three species of Nothofagus . Trees of
2844-459: The Simpson Desert . A further 39% of native vegetation is covered by a combination of: Other groups with restricted areas of less than 70,000 square kilometres include tropical or temperate rainforest and vine thickets , tall or open eucalypt forests, Callitris and Casuarina forests, and woodlands and heath. Australia has over 21,077 described species of vascular plants, these include
2923-401: The angiosperms , seed-bearing non-angiosperms (like the conifers and cycads), and the spore-bearing ferns and fern allies. Of these about 11% are naturalised species; the remainder are native or endemic. The vascular plant flora has been extensively catalogued, the work being published in the ongoing Flora of Australia series. A list of vascular plant families represented in Australia using
3002-567: The cyanobacteria , in addition to micro and macro eukaryotic types that inhabit both fresh and saltwater. Currently, about 10,000 to 12,000 species of algae are known for Australia. The algal flora of Australia is unevenly documented: northern Australia remains largely uncollected for seaweeds and marine phytoplankton, descriptions of freshwater algae are patchy, and the collection of terrestrial algae has been almost completely neglected. The bryophytes – mosses , liverworts and hornworts – are primitive, usually terrestrial, plants that inhabit
3081-565: The golden peas , Glycine species and the Sturt's desert pea . The Mimosoideae is best known for the huge genus Acacia which includes Australia's floral emblem the golden wattle . Many plant families that occur in Australia are known for their floral displays that follow seasonal rains. The Asteraceae is well represented by its subfamily Gnaphalieae , which included the paper or everlasting daisies; this group has its greatest diversity in Australia. Other families with flowering shrubs include
3160-603: The mainland of the territory governed by the Commonwealth of Australia , and the term, along with continental Australia , can be used in a geographic sense to exclude surrounding continental islands and external territories . Generally, the term is applied to the states of New South Wales , Queensland , South Australia , Victoria , and Western Australia , as well as the Australian Capital Territory , Jervis Bay Territory , and Northern Territory . The term
3239-575: The 17th and 18th century, progressively mapping what we now know to be as (mainland) Australia. The most famous and well documented expedition of Australia occurred 164 years after Janszoon's journey, through British navigator and explorer James Cook . He documented the first interaction of the Eastern Australian coastline, and on 23 April 1770, Cook made the first recorded observation of Indigenous Australians at nowadays Brush Island . This journey, coupled with numerous other reports, ultimately led
Central Australia - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-417: The Australian flora are adaptations to aridity and fire which include scleromorphy and serotiny . These adaptations are common in species from the large and well-known families Proteaceae ( Banksia ), Myrtaceae ( Eucalyptus - gum trees), and Fabaceae ( Acacia - wattle). The arrival of humans around 50,000 years ago and the settlement by Europeans from 1788, has had a significant impact on
3397-620: The Australian mainland was by Willem Janszoon in 1606, as he sailed around Australia's north coast arriving in present-day Cape York, Queensland . These explorations led way to the term ' Terra Australis ', Latin for South Land, which was hypothesised on the notion there must be land in the Southern Hemisphere to balance the land mass in the Northern Hemisphere . This encounter led several other Dutch , Spanish , Portuguese and British journeyings to Terra Australis throughout
3476-495: The Australian mainland, and one in Tasmania . All six colonies were constitutionally connected to Britain , each with their own parliament and courts , with their respective laws subject to the laws of British Parliament . These colonies formed the six states of Australia; New South Wales , Victoria , Western Australia , South Australia (included the Northern Territory at this time), Queensland and Tasmania . In 1901,
3555-590: The Australian mainland, the Central Lowlands (and Deserts) are low-lying with an average height of under 200 metres (660 ft) above sea level. It is home to the Sturt and Simpson deserts and closer to Central Australia lie some desert mountain ranges ( MacDonnell and Musgrave ). The Central Lowlands incorporates three primary drainage basins : in the North, the Carpentaria Lowlands , Lake Eyre toward
3634-461: The British to establish a penal colony in Australia, firstly at Botany Bay . The Australian mainland's geology and climate is one of its defining features. Despite being surrounded by ocean, approximately 20% of the Australian mainland is classified as desert . This is due to the extremely variable rain patterns across the mainland. Toward the barren centre of the mainland, the rainfall pattern
3713-475: The Proteaceae, with woody, well-known genera such as Banksia , Dryandra , Grevillea , Hakea , the waratah and Australia's only commercial native food crop, the macadamia . Australia also has representatives of all three legume subfamilies. Caesalpinioideae is notably represented by Cassia trees. The Faboideae or pea-flowered legumes are common and many are well known for their flowers, including
3792-517: The annual rainfall falls during extreme rainfall events in the summer months. Moderate dry winters persist between May and October with hot, long summers from November to April. Mainland Australia Mainland Australia is the main landmass of the Australian continent , excluding the Aru Islands , New Guinea , Tasmania , and other Australian offshore islands . The landmass also constitutes
3871-428: The area has not been significantly reduced by human activities such as land clearing for agriculture. The dominant vegetation type in Australia is the hummock grasslands that occur extensively in arid Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It accounts for 23% of the native vegetation, the predominant species of which are from the genus Triodia . Zygochloa also occurs in inland sandy areas like
3950-523: The centre and the Murray-Darling Basin down South. The lowest point on the mainland is found in this division at Lake Eyre, at 50m below sea level. Approximately 144 to 65 million years ago ( Cretaceous period), there lay a great inland sea, stretching over one quarter of the mainland. The evaporation of this ocean left behind what we now know as the Western Plateau. The Western and Northern Plateaus incorporate nearly all Western Australia and
4029-523: The designs of the Australian Swim Team uniform for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow . The land mass covers 7,591,608 km (2,931,136 sq mi), about 98.7% of the area of the country of Australia and 1.5% of Earth 's surface. It is sometimes described as an island, in which case it would be the largest island by area –more than three times the size of Greenland . Its population
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#17328450053954108-515: The development of a more complex flora. From 25 to 10 MYA pollen records suggest the rapid radiation of species like Eucalyptus , Casuarina , Allocasuarina , Banksia and the pea-flowered legumes , and the development of open forest; grasslands started to develop from the Eocene . Collision with the Eurasian Plate also led to additional South-east Asian and cosmopolitan elements entering
4187-526: The establishment and maintenance of sclerophyll forest, especially on the east coast of Australia. Adaptations to fire include lignotubers and epicormic buds in Eucalyptus and Banksia species that allow fast regeneration following fire. Some genera also exhibit serotiny , the release of seed only in response to heat and/or smoke. Xanthorrhoea grass trees and some species of orchids only flower after fire. In biogeography and zoogeography, Australia alone
4266-639: The flora like the Lepidium and Chenopodioideae . The development of aridity and the old and nutrient poor soils of the continent led to some unique adaptations in the Australian flora and evolutionary radiation of genera – like Acacia and Eucalyptus – that adapted to those conditions. Hard leaves with a thick outer layer , a condition known as scleromorphy , and C 4 and CAM carbon fixation which reduce water loss during photosynthesis are two common adaptations in Australian arid-adapted dicot and monocot species respectively. Rising aridity also increased
4345-425: The flora. The use of fire-stick farming by Aboriginal people led to significant changes in the distribution of plant species over time, and the large-scale modification or destruction of vegetation for agriculture and urban development since 1788 has altered the composition of most terrestrial ecosystems, leading to the extinction of 61 plant species by 2006, and endangering over 1000 more. In Australia forest cover
4424-604: The forces of weathering and erosion have formed much of the mainlands current topography . These physical changes developed four primary landform divisions spread throughout the mainland states and territories; the Coastal Plains, the Eastern and Southern highlands , the Central Lowlands (and Deserts) and the Western and Northern Plateaus (and Basins). Along the Eastern seaboard of
4503-474: The forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 67% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership , 32% private ownership and 1% with ownership listed as other or unknown. Australia was part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana , which also included South America , Africa , India and Antarctica . Most of the modern Australian flora had their origin in Gondwana during
4582-541: The frequency of fires in Australia. Fire is thought to have played a role in the development and distribution of fire-adapted species from the Late Pleistocene . An increase in charcoal in sediment around 38,000 years ago coincides with dates for the inhabitation of Australia by the Indigenous Australians and suggests that man-made fires, from practices like fire-stick farming , have played an important role in
4661-536: The genera Athrotaxis , Actinostrobus , Microcachrys , Microstrobos , Diselma and the Tasmanian Huon pine , sole member of the genus Lagarostrobos . Callitris is a notable exception; species from this genus are found mainly in drier open woodlands. The most recently discovered species of conifer is the living fossil Wollemi pine , which was first described in 1994. Although many Australian conifers are referred to as 'pines', there are no members of
4740-567: The genera Carpobrotus , Calandrinia and Portulaca . Succulent stems are present in many of the Euphorbiaceae in Australia, though the best known members are the non-succulent looking fragrant Wedding bushes of the genus Ricinocarpos . Carnivorous plants which favour damp habitats are represented by four families including the sundews , bladderworts , pitcher-plants from the Cephalotaceae , which are endemic to Western Australia , and
4819-465: The genus Triodia . There are more than 800 described species of orchid in Australia. About one quarter of these are epiphytes. The terrestrial orchids occur across most of Australia, the majority of species being deciduous – their aboveground parts die back during the dry season and they re-sprout from a tuber when it rains. Other families with well-known representatives include the alpine Tasmanian button grass , which form tussock-like mounds from
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#17328450053954898-600: The largest mines on the Australian mainland are listed below: Gold Lead Uranium Gold Silver Copper Underground The Australian mainland's various geology and climate, has led to the increased utilisation of renewable energy ( solar , wind and hydro ) over recent decades. In 2021, approximately 28.9% of the mainland's total electricity generation was from renewable energy sources with South Australia at 66.5% renewable energy generation, Victoria at 33.4%, Western Australia at 31.5%, New South Wales at 26.0% and Queensland at 19.6%. The majority of this renewable energy
4977-535: The mainland are the Coastal Plains; a narrow strip of land along the East coast of Australia from Queensland to Victoria . This division is host to some of the mainland's major cities, namely, Brisbane , Sydney and Melbourne , due to its hospitable conditions. Some sources refer to the Coastal Plains as the entire coastline of the mainland, outspreading beyond the East Coast. Approximately 100 km (62 mi) inland,
5056-620: The official capital of Australia, and Parliament would sit in Melbourne until the city (now Canberra ) was built. In 1909, this compromise was agreed upon and was finally legislated in 1911. On 12 March 1913, Canberra was officially named as the capital of Australia. In 1915, Jervis Bay territory was added to the Australian Capital Territory to ensure the Commonwealth had a seaport . 27°S 133°E / 27°S 133°E / -27; 133 Flora of Australia Associated acts The flora of Australia comprises
5135-466: The oldest living populations in the world outside of Africa . Prior to the arrival of Europeans on the Australian mainland in the late 18th century, over 500 different clan groups (nations) each with unique cultures, beliefs and languages inhabited territories on the mainland. Currently, Indigenous people living on the mainland make up 2.4% of the total Australian population, encompassing over 250 language groups. The first documented encounter of
5214-518: The pastoral industry is based on native pasture species including Mitchell grass , saltbush , bluebush , wallaby grass , spear grass , tussock grasses and kangaroo grass . Until recently the macadamia nut and Tetragonia tetragonoides were the only Australian food plant species widely cultivated. Although commercial cultivation of macadamia started in Australia in the 1880s, it became an established large-scale crop in Hawaii . The development of
5293-485: The pine family ( Pinaceae ) native to Australia. Spore bearing vascular plants include the ferns and fern allies . True ferns are found over most of the country and are most abundant in tropical and subtropical areas with high rainfall. Australia has a native flora of 30 families, 103 genera and 390 species of ferns, with another 10 species being naturalised. The "fern allies" are represented by 44 native species of whisk ferns , horsetails and lycophytes . Ferns prefer
5372-590: The region: In more general usage, or when referring to the flora and fauna of Australia, the term "central Australia" may refer to a large area in the interior of the continent, including the Lake Eyre Basin , which stretches across three states and the NT. For many, the term " outback " is almost synonymous with central Australia. The region has a desert environment, meaning it is very dry, receiving on average just 150 millimetres (6 in) of rainfall annually. Most of
5451-553: The six states were united as the Commonwealth of Australia , under a new federal constitution . In 1911, the Northern Territory was transferred from South Australia to the Commonwealth and formed a territory . After Federation in 1901, it was always assumed the Australian capital would be on the mainland . However, the location of the capital sparked years of negotiating between politicians in New South Wales and Victoria,
5530-437: The starchy roots of Clematis microphylla were used in western Victoria to make a dough that was baked, and the leaves of the plant were used as a poultice applied to skin irritations and blisters. Forestry species include a number of eucalypts used for paper and timber, huon pine , hoop pine , cypress pine , Australian Blackwood , and sandalwood from Santalum spicatum and S. lanceolatum . A significant area used by
5609-425: The structure of native forests; wetlands have been filled in; and broad scale land-clearing for crops, grazing and urban development has reduced native vegetation cover and led to landscape salinisation, increased sediment, nutrient and salt loads in rivers and streams, loss of habitat and a decline in biodiversity. The intentional and unintentional release of invasive plant and animal species into delicate ecosystems
5688-634: The third largest area of mangroves in the world. Other native aquatic dicots here include water lilies and water milfoils . Gymnosperms present in Australia include the cycads and conifers . There are 69 species of cycad from 4 genera and 3 families of eastern and northern Australia, with a few in south-western Western Australia and central Australia . Native conifers are distributed across 3 taxonomic families ( Cupressaceae , Podocarpaceae , Araucariaceae ), 14 genera and 43 species, of which 39 are endemic. Most species are present in wetter mountainous areas consistent with their Gondwanan origins, including
5767-495: The tropics, cool-temperate regions and montane areas; there are some specialised members that are adapted to semi-arid and arid Australia. There are slightly fewer that 1,000 recognised species of moss in Australia. The five largest genera are the Fissidens , Bryum , Campylopus , Macromitrium and Andreaea . There are also over 800 species of liver- and horn-worts in 148 genera in Australia. The fungal flora of Australia
5846-549: The two most prominent states, who each wanted their capital, Sydney and Melbourne respectively, to become the new country's capital. After years of debate to no avail, the two states decided on a compromise that met the requirements of the Australian Constitution . A separate territory (the Australian Capital Territory ) was to be established on land given by New South Wales, however it must be at least 100 miles (160 km) from Sydney. This territory would contain
5925-480: The wide variety of flowers and foliage, Australian plant species are also popular for floriculture internationally. Modification of the Australian environment by Indigenous Australians and following European settlement has affected the extent and the distribution of the flora. The changes since 1788 have been rapid and significant: displacement of Indigenous Australians disrupted fire régimes that had been in place for thousands of years; forestry practices have modified
6004-521: The world. This area is very rugged and primarily consists of a series of tablelands and plateaus. The highlands are much more prominent toward the south east of the mainland and form the Southern Highlands, which are located across (south) New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. These Southern highlands experience snowfall for more than half the year during the winter due to their higher altitude. Occupying approximately 25% of
6083-405: Was generated through wind and solar , proportionally contributing 35.9% and 38.3% respectively. Australian political decisions are typically deliberated and enacted within the limits of homeland (mainland Australia) soil. Despite Tasmania being one of Australia's six British establishment colonies , Tasmania has often been looked over due to the state's small size and general isolation. This
6162-604: Was relatively isolated until the collision of the Indo-Australian Plate with Asia in the Miocene era 5.3 MYA. As Australia drifted , local and global climatic change had a significant and lasting effect: a circumpolar oceanic current developed, atmospheric circulation increased as Australia moved away from Antarctica, precipitation fell, there was a slow warming of the continent and arid conditions started to develop. These conditions of geographic isolation and aridity led to
6241-433: Was these processes which over millions of years has led to the accumulation of Australia's main known mineral , oil and gas resources. Most of Australia's oil and gas exploration occurs off the mainland. However, on the mainland, the abundance of minerals (and thus metals ) has formed the basis of Australia's dependence on mining ; exporting much of these natural occurring resources overseas. The Australian mainland
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