Bailey's Indigo - 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: Indigofera baileyi

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 06 Dec 2002

Profile last updated: 21 Nov 2018

Description

Bailey's Indigo is an upright perennial herb to 0.4 m high with a woody rootstock and young hairy stems that are green to brown in colour. Leaves are 2.5-7.5 cm long and divided into 7-15 leaflets which are 4-19 mm long and 2-10 mm wide. Flower spikes are 11-17 cm long with pink to purple flowers, longer than leaves. Seed pods are 14-29 mm long, smooth and contain several seeds.

Distribution

Bailey's Indigo occurs in Queensland and reaches its southern limit in NSW. It is restricted to the far north-east corner of the State, north of a line between the lower Clarence Valley and Inverell. It is known from only five locations across two limited areas in the eastern fall, and also around Inverell and Ashford in the western inland slopes.

Habitat and ecology

Open woodlands on loam and clay loam soils, typically from granite or basalt, but also from sediments in the Clarence lowlands.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Road maintenance works including weed spraying and mowing/slashing verges.
Clearing of habitat.
High frequency fires.
Grazing.
Coolatai grass, African lovegrass, osage orange and other exotic invasive weeds.
Impacts from people trampling habitat and other disturbances associated with being in an urban area.
Incomplete knowledge of the species' abundance and distribution across its range.

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 1 priority actions to help recover the Bailey's Indigo in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Manage fire in open woodland habitat to maintain native understorey.
Manage grazing in open woodland habitat to maintain native understorey.
Identify roadside populations and protect during roadworks.
Protect areas of woodland and forest habitat from clearing, fragmentation or disturbance.

Information sources

NSW Scientific Committee (2002) Indigofera baileyi (a perennial herb) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
Wilson, P.G. (2002) Indigofera. In Flora of NSW, Vol. 2, G.J. Harden, ed. pp. 566-569. UNSW Press. Kensington, NSW.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Nandewar	Inverell Basalts	Known	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None

Images

Inflorescences and foliage. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/orkology" class="linkBlack100" target="_blank">Greg Steenbeeke, Orkology</a>

Inflorescences and foliage. Greg Steenbeeke, Orkology Image 1 of 5.
View slideshow.

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