White-flowered Wax Plant - 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: Cynanchum elegans

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 26 May 2020

Description

A climber or twiner with a highly variable form. Mature stems have a fissured corky bark and can grow to 10 metres long and 3.5 cm thick. The leaves are paired (or rarely in threes), ovate to broadly ovate in shape, 1.5 to 10.5 cm long, and 1.5 to 7.5 cm wide. The flowers are white, tubular, and up to 4 mm long and 12 mm wide. The fruit is a dry pointed pod to 8 cm long, which contains up to 45 seeds with long silky hairs attached to one end.

Distribution

Restricted to eastern NSW where it is distributed from Brunswick Heads on the north coast to Gerroa in the Illawarra region. The species has been recorded as far west as Merriwa in the upper Hunter River valley.

Habitat and ecology

The White-flowered Wax Plant usually occurs on the edge of dry rainforest vegetation. Other associated vegetation types include littoral rainforest; Coastal Tea-tree Leptospermum laevigatum – Coastal Banksia Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia coastal scrub; Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis aligned open forest and woodland; Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata aligned open forest and woodland; and Bracelet Honeymyrtle Melaleuca armillaris scrub to open scrub.
Flowering occurs between August and May, with a peak in November. Flower abundance on individual plants varies from sparse to prolific.
The fruit can take up to six months to mature.
Seed production is variable and unreliable. Seeds are wind dispersed. It is considered to be unlikely that a soil seed bank for this species exists.
Plants are capable of suckering from rootstock in response to occasional slashing or grazing. The fire response of the species is unknown although it has been know to reshoot following fire. Annual burning at one site has been shown to result in population decline.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Loss and fragmentation of habitat as a result of clearing for agriculture.
Loss and fragmentation of habitat as a result of residential development.
Habitat invasion and competition by multiple weeds (including coastal Morning Glory, Bitou Bush, Asparagus Fern, Mothers Tongue) reduces habitat suitability and suppresses recruitment and growth of the plant. Inappropriate weed control methods and the misidentification of C.elegans as a weed has potential to damage the species or its habitat.
Loss of habitat as a result of quarry development and expansion.
Inappropriate fire regimes including, increasing intensity and frequency of burns from climate induced drought and extreme weather events and too frequent asset protection and hazard reduction burns, degrading species habitat. Littoral rainforest does not typically burn, and too frequent fire can destroy the seed bank if it occurs before plants reach maturity.
Disturbance as a result of natural catastrophes or environmental changes.
Disturbance as a result of landfill development and track construction/widening.
Hydrological disturbance including urban runoff may impact on the species and its habitat.
Grazing by domestic stock.
Small population size puts the species as risk of local extirpation as a result of natural or human induced impacts.
Maintenance of easements and roads (including slashing, widening and stockpiling of material) may threaten roadside populations and impact Littoral Rainforest habitat.
Damage or loss due to climate change and associated impacts of drought and dust. Vehicle activity increases impacts by covering roadside populations with dust and contaminants. Too frequent dust and wind can be abrasive on the thick waxy coatings and ability to withstand fire and heat and effectively photosynthesise.
Habitat loss as a result of extreme weather events, particularly increasing temperatures drying out plants
Increased disturbance by recreational users including clearing for camping, rubbish dumping and illegal firewood collection
Human disturbance from illegal mountain bike trails
Herbivory and damage by feral deer
Intensive forestry harvesting activities potentially disturbing sites, including logging around sites. Regular disturbance impacts subterranean fungi and regrowth potential and promotes weeds.
Identify, remove and minimise understorey weeds particularly within areas where the species occurs. Use appropriate methods of weed management, such as splatter guns.

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 9 priority actions to help recover the White-flowered Wax Plant in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Determine and implement appropriate fire management practices.
Consider off-site impacts in the assessment of nearby developments.
Ensure stormwater runoff does not impacts on know sites.
Install fencing to exclude livestock and machinery, and control access where required.
Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing and further fragmentation.
Restore degraded habitat using bush regeneration techniques (note that it is crucial that workers are able to distinguish the species from the exotic Moth Plant Araujia sericifera).
Undertake monitoring of know populations to assess population dynamics, ecological requirements and threats.
Map known populations and conduct searches of potential habitat for new sites.
Mark sites and potential habitat onto maps used for planning maintenance work.

Information sources

Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1992) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 3. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Range	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Ellerston	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Gorges	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Hunter	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Predicted	None
Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Manning Shelf	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None

Images

Flowers and foliage, White-flowered Wax Plant Image 1 of 4.
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