Pluchea rubelliflora and Pterocaulon sphacelatum (Asteraceae): new to Victoria's semi-arid floodplains

Environmental watering or flows are being implemented by Governments to improve the health of river and floodplain ecosystems. A key component of environmental watering is monitoring vegetation responses to these managed flood events. As such, an increase in botanical surveys in these riparian systems has occurred over recent years. While undertaking recent botanical surveys on the semi-arid (mean annual rainfall -300 mm, ABOM 2019) floodplains of Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Sunset National Parks, in north-western Victoria, two species new to the state were discovered. Specimens submitted to the National Herbarium of Victoria were identified as Pluchea rubelliflora (F.Muell.) B.LRob. and Pterocaulon sphacelatum (Labill.) Benth. ex F.Muell. Subsequent to these discoveries, in February 2019, Pterocaulon sphacelatum was also discovered on the Lindsay River anabranch creek floodplain. This part of north-west Victoria is arid, with approximately 270 mm mean annual rainfall (ABOM 2019). Thus far, Victoria has been Two species of Asteraceae, Pluchea rubelliflora (F.Muell.) B.L.Rob. and Pterocaulon sphacelatum (Labill.) Benth. ex F.Muell., have been discovered