The importance of seasonality in the timing of flora surveys in the South and Central Western Slopes of New South Wales.

Semi-permanent quadrats, located in the South and Central Western Slopes botanical regions of New South Wales, were assessed to indicate suitable periods of the year to conduct surveys of botanical diversity. The quadrats were located in woodland communities with a generally herbaceous understorey, and subject to a wide range of domestic stock grazing intensities. In the mid to western South Western Slopes (SWS) the greatest number of species was generally recorded in an October survey. The main exception was in degraded areas (low species diversity, high proportion of annual weed species), where similar results were recorded in September and October. In the cooler and wetter eastern SWS a relatively high proportion of species were recorded in October to early December surveys. However, when compared to species totals compiled from multiple assessments in all seasons, or from August to November, a single optimal survey usually recorded only 60'75% of the plant species at a site. Surveys in mid to late summer, autumn and early winter usually recorded less than 50% of the plant species present. The results reflect the prevailing Mediterranean-type climate, and that the ground layer vegetation (primarily comprised of annuals and herbaceous perennials) dominates the species diversity.