Square Raspwort - 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: Haloragis exalata subsp. exalata

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Gazetted date: 30 May 2014

Profile last updated: 13 Jan 2022

Description

Square Raspwort is a shrub that reaches 1.5 m tall with square, four-ribbed stems. Its leaves are opposite up to the flower clusters (60 - 100 mm long and 13 - 25 mm wide) with coarsely-toothed margins. Its flowers are insignificant; the petals are only about 3 mm long and yellowish-green to reddish, although the spike-like flower cluster may be prominent at the ends of branches. Subspecies exalata differs from subspecies velutina (also listed as vulnerable and occurring in the Grafton to Kempsey area) in having longer, broader and more coarsely toothed leaves. Haloragis exalata subsp. exalata has two varieties: variety exalata and variety laevis. The former has stems and leaves finely rough to touch, dichasia (in which flower branches appear in regular opposite pairs at the ends of stems) 3-7-flowered. Variety laevis has hairless, scaleless stems and leaves and 7-15-flowered dichasia.

Distribution

Square Raspwort occurs in 4 widely scattered localities in eastern NSW. It is disjunctly distributed in the Central Coast, South Coast and North Western Slopes botanical subdivisions of NSW.

Habitat and ecology

Square Raspwort appears to require protected and shaded damp situations in riparian habitats.
Flowering specimens in NSW are recorded from November to January.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Square Raspwort grows in damp places near watercourses; habitats which are vulnerable to many threatening processes, including grazing, flooding, clearing, weed invasion, pollution and water regulation.
Weed invasion (e.g. from lantana, prickly pear, madeira vine, morning glory, Trad)
Lack of disturbance, which the species requires for recruitment and colonisation
Climate change including sea level rise and changes to the opening and closing of Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons (ICOLLs)

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 15 priority actions to help recover the Square Raspwort in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Searches should be conducted in suitable habitat in proposed development areas.
Avoid clearing in riparian areas.
Conduct surveys for this species as part of weed control programs in the vicinity of known populations.

Information sources

Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2, Revised Edition. UNSW, Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Australian Alps	Snowy Mountains	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Predicted	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Ettrema	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None