Carrington Falls Grevillea - 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: Grevillea rivularis

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Gazetted date: 01 Dec 2017

Profile last updated: 22 May 2024

Description

The Carrington Falls Grevillea is a large spreading, prickly shrub to 2.5 m tall and 3 m or more wide. Its stiff leaves are up to 6 cm long and wide and twice-divided, with up to nine narrow, sharp-pointed leaf lobes. The lower surface of the leaf is sometimes obscured by the rolled-back margins but has a prominent midvein when exposed. Drooping clusters of flowers form at the ends of branchlets. The individual flowers all develop on the upper surface of the flower cluster, forming a ‘toothbrush’. The flower tube is purplish cream to mauve-pink and the long style is pale mauve with a green tip. The fruits are up to 10 mm long, hairy with reddish-brown stripes or blotches.

Distribution

The Carrington Falls Grevillea is confined to the Carrington Falls area on the upper Kangaroo River west of Kiama, within Budderoo National Park.

Habitat and ecology

The Carrington Falls Grevillea is found mainly on moist creek-sides on sandstone in open heath or eucalypt woodland.
It had been regarded as restricted to the water’s edge but the recent discovery of a small population of mature individuals in woodland at least 500m from the water's edge raises doubt about this assumption. The woodland population may represent a rare establishment event although it is more likely that the species was once more widespread in the landscape and has been pushed to the waterside habitat by increased fire in the landscape.
Regenerates in abundance from seed after disturbance but seedling mortality is also great and few plants are recruited into the mature population.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Sydney Basin

Threats

This small population, located in a highly restricted area, is extremely vulnerable to extinction through disturbances such as severe wildfire or drought.
Council works along the road verge at Kangaroo River. General trail management within species distribution.
Too frequent fire and high intensity wildfire. Fire kills juvenile and mature plants. Species dependent on seedling recruitment to replenish the population.

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

Ensure that personnel planning and undertaking hazard reduction burns are able to identify the species and are aware of its habitat.
Develop a fire management plan for the population.
Mark Carrington Falls Grevillea sites and potential habitat onto maps used for planning hazard reduction work.

Information sources

Fairley, A. and Moore, P. (2000) Native plants of the Sydney district: an identification guide. 2nd Edition. (Kangaroo Press, East Roseville)
Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2, Revised Edition. UNSW, Sydney.
Pickup, M., McDougall, K.L. and Whelan, R.J. (2003) Fire and flood: soil-stored seed bank and germination ecology in the endangered Carrington Falls Grevillea (Grevillea rivularis, Proteaceae). Austral Ecology 28, 128-136.
Wrigley, J.W. and Fagg, M. (1989) Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas and all other plants in the Australian Proteaceae family. Angus and Roberston, Sydney.