Scented Acronychia - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Acronychia littoralis

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 17 Sep 2019

Description

Scented Acronychia is a small tree to 6 m high with 5 - 16 cm long oval-shaped glossy leaves on a short stalk. The lower surface of the leaves is paler than the upper surface and there are many oil dots visible. They have a pleasant aromatic smell when crushed. The small four-petalled yellowish flowers are produced in summer on a stalk growing from the junction of the leaf and stem. The fruit that follows is creamy-lemon in colour and 10 - 20 mm in diameter. It is a flattened oval shape and has four lobes with shallow fissures between them.

Distribution

Scented Acronychia is found between Fraser Island in Queensland and Port Macquarie on the north coast of NSW.

Habitat and ecology

Scented Acronychia occurs in transition zones between littoral rainforest and swamp sclerophyll forest; between littoral and coastal cypress pine communities; and margins of littoral forest.
The species mainly occurs within 2km from the coast on sandy soil.
Two forms of Scented Acronychia exist, one which can produce viable seeds, and one which can only reproduce vegetatively.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Destruction of habitat as a result of coastal development.
Vegetation clearing for agriculture.
Road and track development and maintenance.
Damage caused by inappropriate use of four-wheel drive vehicles.
Invasion by introduced weeds, particularly Lantana, Bitou Bush and exotic vines.
Potential for disturbance / damage to individuals via power-line maintenance activities and/or easement management.
Accidental disturbance due to people walking off the track, vandalism, rubbish dumping causing disturbance to habitat.
Risk of too frequent or too intense fires inhibiting growth or reproduction.
Dieback caused by exposure to salt-laden winds.
The species is susceptible to extinction via stochastic processes due to its small known population size.
Phosporous and other chemical runoff / pollutants from nearby roads pose potential risk to the habitat.
The full distribution of the species is unknown.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 17 priority actions to help recover the Scented Acronychia in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Protect areas of known habitat from disturbance.
Protect remaining areas of habitat from clearing and development.
Control weeds in areas of known habitat.
Always stay on designated four-wheel drive tracks.
Regernerate areas of known habitat, including planting of local rainforest species to protect Scented Acronychia from exposure to salt-laden winds.
Monitor population dynamics and threats of known populations.
Exclude domestic stock from known habitat.
Implement appropriate fire regime for habitat in which the species occurs.
Provide advice to consent and planning authorities about the location and ecological requirements of the species.
Maintain viable ex-situ collection.

Information sources

Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Management Plan - NSW & Queensland. (DECCW NSW, Sydney)
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan.
Hartley, T.G. and Williams, J.B. (1984) A new species of Acronychia (Rutaceae) from Australia. Brunonia 6(2): 251-5
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Lower North Coast of New South Wales. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Flora. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
Richards, P.G. and Harden, G.J, (2002) Acronychia. Pp 317-320 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2. Revised Edition (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)
Rossetto, M. (2005) A simple molecular approach for identifying a rare Acronychia (Rutaceae) provides new insights on its multiple hybrid origins. Biological Conservation 121: 35-43

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	Within 5 km of coast
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	Within 5 km of coast
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	None
Ocean	Manning Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	Within 5 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	Within 5 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	Within 5 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	Within 5 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	Within 5 km of coast

Images

Flowers, Scented Acronychia Image 1 of 4.
View slideshow.

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