Plants

Undulating ranges and rocky outcrops are found in the western section of Boolcoomatta which supports open woodland of Mulga and other Acacia species. 

From the ranges are the River Red Gum and lemongrass edged creek lines that travel towards the north east of the reserve. Although with only an average rainfall of 190mm, these creeks are usually dry and sandy.  However they do contain a few waterholes that provide an important resource for species such as the Gould’s wattled bat, Blue Bonnets and Red backed Kingfishers.  These watercourses are often flanked by prickly acacia where spiny cheeked honeyeaters are continuously heard and variegated fairy wrens flutter between trees. 

The chenopod plains in the east are dominated with a mixture of Maireana, Rhagodia, Atriplex and Sclerolaena species.  Within this habitat orange chats, chirruping wedgebills, Goulds goannas, painted dragons, dunnarts and large flocks of emus are found.  Stands of Casuarina trees, bullock bush and a rare Acacia also occur in patches throughout this flat landscape.  Open grasslands of tussock grasses, ephemeral forbs and short lived saltbushes are the vegetation communities where the vunerable Murray Swainson-pea (Swainsona murrayana) and the small threatened bird, the plains wandered live.

Boolcoomatta Reserve Contributes to the protection of:

• Shrublands of cottonbush, canegrass and thorny saltbush and open tussock grasslands which are not currently protected elsewhere.

Threatened Species present:

• Rare Acacia AUS Vulnerable; SA Vulnerable
• Swainsona murrayana (Murray Swainson-pea), AUS Vulnerable; SA Vulnerable