Deane's Boronia - 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: Boronia deanei

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 20 Dec 2023

Description

A small erect shrub to 1.5 m tall, with simple, narrow, paired and strongly-aromatic leaves to about 12 mm long. Leaves are partly cylindrical and conspicuously warty below. Four-petalled flowers are white to bright pink occurring between September to November with fruits present in December.

Distribution

There are scattered populations of Deane's Boronia between the far south-east of NSW and the Blue Mountains with the species found on Newnes Plateau (Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area), Nalbaugh Plateau (South East National Park), Kanangra-Boyd National Park, Budderoo National Park and Morton National Park. The species mainly occurs in conservation reserves and once grew profusely in Morton National Park near Bundanoon but has rarely been seen in that area since being impacted by devastating bushfires of the 1960s. The 2019/20 black summer bushfires impacted populations at Newnes Plateau, Nalbaugh Plateau and Kanangra-Boyd National Park.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in wet heath, often at the margins of open forest adjoining swamps or along streams.
Fire ecology is poorly understood, but too intense or too frequent fires are considered a threat to this species limiting populations ability to reach maturity and set seed.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Pigs rooting for food cause direct damage to the species and to the swamp and stream bank habitat.
There is a strong likelihood that unrecorded populations could be unintentionally affected by development or other land management actions.
Frequent burning may threaten the survival of this species.
Drying of swamps due to drought and climate change reducing quality of habitat.
Coal and coal seam gas exploration and extraction causing subsidence and drainage of swamps, leading to changed hydrology and swamp ecosystem collapse.
Invasion and competition from various woody and herbaceous weed species including Blackberry, Agapanthus, Erigeron (Sea-side daisy) and Holcus lanatus.
Drainage works associated with trails and tracks.

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 1 priority actions to help recover the Deane's Boronia in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Inform local government, RFS and OEH staff about populations to ensure that plants are considered when fire suppression activities are planned.
Undertake pig control to protect habitat and control of other herbivores to protect the plant and its habitat.
Avoid burning populations before new seed has been produced by plants.
Undertake monitoring of populations affected by fire in order to determine an appropriate fire interval for the species.
Searches should be conducted in suitable habitat in Budderoo, Morton and South East Forests National Parks and proposed developments on private land on the upper Kangaroo River and Endrick River.

Information sources

Auld, T.D. (2001) The ecology of the Rutaceae in the Sydney region of south-eastern Australia: poorly known ecology of a neglected family. Cunninghamia 7(2): 213-239
Benson, D. and McDougall, L. (2001) Ecology of Sydney plant species. Part 8: Dicotyledon families Rutaceae to Zygophyllaceae. Cunninghamia 7(2): 241-462
Duretto, M. (2003) Notes on Boronia (Rutaceae) in eastern and northern Australia. Muelleria 17: 19-135
Fairley, A. (2004) Seldom seen: rare plants of greater Sydney. (Reed New Holland, Sydney)
Fairley, A. and Moore, P. (2000) Native plants of the Sydney district: an identification guide. 2nd Edition. (Kangaroo Press, East Roseville)
Fletcher, A.T. and Erskine, P.D. (2012) Mapping of a rare plant species (Boronia deanei) using hyper-resolution remote sensing and concurrent ground observation. Ecological Management & Restoration 13(2): 195-8
Weston, P.H. and Duretto, M.F. (2002) Boronia. Pp. 265-275 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Revised Edition Volume 2. (University of New South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kanangra	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Oberon	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Ettrema	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Moss Vale	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None

Images

Deane's Boronia, John Briggs Image 1 of 4.
View slideshow.

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