Indicative distribution
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: Acrophyllum australe
Profile last updated:
04 Mar 2024
Description
A hairless, small shrub 1 - 2 m high. Leaves are in whorls of three or sometimes four or opposite, ovate to lanceolate, mostly 3 - 10 cm long, 10 - 45 mm wide, margins regularly toothed, upper surface green and hairless, lower surface more or less dull blue-green, often with a reddish tinge and sparsely hairy, strongly veined; more or less sessile; stipules about 5 mm long. Flowers heads more or less sessile. Petals 3 - 4 mm long, white tinged with pink. Capsule about 3 mm long. Flowers from November to December.
Distribution
Restricted, from Faulconbridge to Lawson, South of Bilpin and near Kings Tableland, in the Blue Mountains area, all within the Central Coast Botanical Subdivision, currently known from 27 sites.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in sheltered gullies beneath waterfalls and drip zones of rock overhangs and cliff faces, usually with a south-east to south-west aspect.
- Typically found in areas where there is a more or less constant supply of water.
- Usually grows in shale interbeds at the base of small cliffs, in crevices on the sandstone rock face or on talus slopes. The rock overhangs are of Hawkesbury or Narrabeen Sandstone.
- Associated species commonly include Callicoma serratifolia, Dracophyllum secundum, Todea barbata, Allania endlicheri and Blechnum ambiguum.
- Found adjacent to open forest of Eucalyptus piperita and Angophora costata and closed forest of Doryphora sassafras and Ceratopetalum apetalum.
- Frequently growing on very thick layers of moss.
- Flowers November - December.
- Seed is released when mature. Recent surveys suggested that few plants had produced seed in recent years.
- Recruitment occurs after fire and in the absence of fire and may be episodic in response to certain conditions. Small plants are killed by fire, but larger plants may resprout from a lignotuber.
- Given the separation of sites by both distance and geophysical features, and given an unknown proportion of plants are clonal, there may be limited genetic diversity within populations.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Landslip or disturbance to substrate causing damage to plants.
- Inappropriate fire regimes.
- Changes to hydrology that prevent substrate infiltration.
- Invasion from various weeds (e.g. Coreopsis, blackberry).
- Impacts such as trampling and other disturbance from visitation to sites.
- Poor knowledge about the full distribution and population dynamics of the species at some sites.
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
6 priority actions
to help recover the Acrophyllum australe in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Maintain an ex situ collection.
- Manage threats at sites.
- Increase the protection of sites outside conservation reserves.
- Monitor the size and reproductive status of populations.
- Undertake targeted surveys in potential habitat.
Information sources
- Benson, D. and McDougall, L. (1995) Ecology of Sydney plant species. Part 3: Dicotyledon families Cabombaceae to Eupomatiaceae. Cunninghamia 4(2): 143-431
- Benson, D.H. (1992) The natural vegetation of the Penrith 1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2(4): 541-596
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- Fairley, A. (2004) Seldom seen: rare plants of greater Sydney. (Reed New Holland, Sydney)
- Harden, G.J. (2000) Acrophyllum. Pp 520-521 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. Revised Edition (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)
- Henderson, M. (1994) Recovery Plan for Acrophyllum australe. Report by NSW NPWS, Hurstville, prepared for Australian Nature Conservation Agency Endangered Species Program Project No. 371/5.
- Keith, D.A. and Benson, D.H. (1988) The natural vegetation of the Katoomba 1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2(1): 107-144
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