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.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Gentiana wingecarribiensis
Gazetted date:
05 Nov 2010
Profile last updated:
24 Jan 2024
Description
Wingecarribee Gentian is an erect annual herb, to 9 cm tall, with a reddish, unbranched or sparsely-branched stem. The four to seven pairs of leaves are spread along the stem, with none at the base. They are broadly oval-shaped, to 8 mm long and 6 mm wide. There are up to six tubular flowers per plant, to 17 mm. Each is greenish on the outside and sky-blue inside. Flowers have been recorded in October and November.
Distribution
Wingecarribee Gentian is known only from Hanging Rock Swamp and Wingecarribee Swamp on the Southern Highlands.
Habitat and ecology
- Wingecarribee Gentian grows in bogs, in Sphagnum Moss humps and in sedge communities.
- It is an annual herb.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- At Wingecarribee Swamp, grazing and pasture improvement resulted in the clearing of some swamp margin habitat and cattle trampling destroyed patches of Sphagnum mounds on which the Gentian also grew. These activities are believed to have caused the loss of much of the original population around the margins of Wingecarribee Swamp.
- Peat mining in Wingecarribee Swamp is believed to have contributed to the collapse of the swamp during a flood event in August 1998. This collapse has significantly altered the hydrology of the swamp and led to the general drying of the swamp margins. This hydrological change has led to increased growth of pasture grasses and some native species around the margins which threaten to out-compete the Gentian.
- At Hanging Rock Swamp Wingecarribee Gentian grows in an area between the swamp and a forestry road bordering pine forest. This area has been regularly slashed by State Forests. This slashing appears necessary to maintain the Gentian by reducing competition from shrubby native species growing on the margins of the swamp.
- The species is susceptible to extinction via stochastic processes due to its small known population size and restricted distribution.
- Change in hydrological regime from the sandmining in the area.
- Potential for increased competition from encroaching vegetation without regular slashing.
- Potential for increased competition from encroaching vegetation without regular slashing.
- Invasion and competition from various woody and herbaceous weed species including blackberry, willow and pasture grasses.
- Current or potential future land management practices do not support conservation
Recovery strategies
A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click
here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click
here
Activities to assist this species
- Sydney Catchment Authority has now fenced the margins of Wingecarribee Swamp to prevent further stock damage to the swamp.
- Regular slashing of known sites on the swamp margins is proposed to control competition from other vegetation.
- Regular slashing should be maintained and care taken to ensure that maintenance of the adjacent forestry track does not impact on the site.
Information sources
- Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1992) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 3. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
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