Mossgiel Daisy - 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: Brachyscome papillosa

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 16 Aug 2018

Description

The Mossgiel Daisy is a multi-stemmed, perennial herb that grows to 40 centimetres tall. The young shoots are woolly. Its stemless leaves are up to 7 cm long. Leaf edges vary from being smooth-edged to deeply indented. Its flower-heads, mauve with a yellow centre, are solitary and 6 - 11 mm in diameter. The flowering stem is 10 - 25 cm long. Flowers appear between June and December. The 1-seeded fruit (achene) is important to confirm identification and has wings as broad as the body. In the past the spelling of the genus has been listed as Brachycome.

Distribution

The Mossgiel Daisy is endemic to NSW and chiefly occurs within the Riverina Bioregion, from Mossgiel in the north, Murrumbidgee Valley (Yanga) National Park in the south west to Urana in the south east. Sites are scattered across this Bioregion including the Jerilderie area, the Hay Plain (Maude and Oxley) and around Darlington Point. In addition, there are a number of records from the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area (including Mungo National Park) with a north-western outlier at Byrnedale Station, north of Menindee. The only known site on South Western Slopes is Ganmain Reserve.

Habitat and ecology

Recorded primarily in clay soils on Bladder Saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) and Leafless Bluebush (Maireana aphylla) plains, but also in grassland and in Inland Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) - Cypress Pine (Callitris spp.) woodland.
Flowers from June to December.
Recorded as locally occasional to common in populations.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Population size, habitat requirements and threats are poorly known. The latter may include damage by feral pigs, competition with introduced weeds and changes to fire regime.
May be affected by changes in agricultural practices, such as cropping.
Grazing is a potential threat to populations as the species is possibly palatable to stock and feral herbivores such as goats.
Possible habitat disturbance during road maintenance.
Insufficient understanding of distribution.
Insufficient understanding of species ecology.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Alert land managers to the presence of populations and their appropriate management.
Surveying is recommended prior to developments in suitable habitat within the range of the species.
Investigate regeneration including seed-set, germination and seedling survival.
Conduct experimental studies on the effects of fire and grazing disturbance.
Mark known sites and potential habitat onto maps used for planning maintenance work.

Information sources

Benson, J.S., Ashby, E.M. and Porteners, M.F. (1996) The native grasslands of the southern Riverina, New South Wales. Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
Benson, J.S., Ashby, E.M. and Porteners, M.F. (1997) The native grasslands of the Riverine Plain, New South Wales. Cunninghamia 5(1): 1-48
Burrows, G.E. (1999) A survey of 25 remnant vegetation sites in the South Western Slopes, New South Wales. Cunninghamia 6(2): 283-314.
Clements, A., Rodd, T., Moore, R.J., Crane, A.G. and Simpson, J. (2000) Surveys of areas having potentially high botanical diversity near Pooncarie, South Far Western Plains. Cunninghamia 6(3): 611-643.
Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
Everett, J. (1992) Brachycome in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 3. (New South Wales University Press, Kensington)
Murray Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment. (Murray CMA, Albury)
Porteners, M. and Robertson, G. (2003) Threatened Plants in Western New South Wales: Information Review. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Predicted	South of the Barrier Highway
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Known	South of the Barrier Highway
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Predicted	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	South and West of the Coolamon to Ardlethan Road, west of Lockhart and north of Rand
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None

Images

Mossgiel Daisy habitat, Peter Ewin Image 1 of 5.
View slideshow.

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