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: Indigofera leucotricha
Profile last updated:
01 Nov 2022
Description
Small spreading shrub to 1 m high, with a dense white woolly covering. Leaves up to 4 cm long, composed of 9-13 wedge-shaped leaflets, each 2.5-8 mm long and 1-7 mm wide. Flowers pea-like, deep pink to red. Pod cylindrical, densely woolly, 20-35 mm long.
Distribution
Restricted to rocky hills near Depot Glen, west of Milparinka in the far north-western plains of NSW. Also occurs in Qld, the NT and SA, with populations of the latter found in the Lake Eyre region.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows mainly on rocky hill-slopes, ridges and creek beds. Soils are skeletal to shallow red loamy sands, on granite, ironstone or sandstone. At Depot Glen it grows as a few plants in rock crevices in a minimal amount of soil. It is found mostly on the slopes of rocky shale ridges, in skeletal to shallow fine reddish sandy soil, but has also been recorded from a stony creek bed in the area.
- Associated species at Depot Glen include Eremophila freelingii, Ptilotus atriplicifolius, Ptilotus obovatus and Acacia tetragonophylla. Interstate species include Eremophila latrobei, Acacia aneura, Acacia.ligulata, Senna artemisioides subsp. helmsii, Crotalaria eremaea, Crolataria cunninghamii, Scaevola depauperata, Triodia and Prostanthera spp.
- Flowers in spring, or from June to September.
- Plant abundance is recorded as locally occasional to abundant, with small populations at Depot Glen (only 8 plants at one site).
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Feral goat activity (rocky outcrop habitats and skeletal soils are highly susceptible to erosion).
- Lack of regeneration (populations may contain too few plants to maintain genetic integrity and diversity).
- Human disturbance (e.g. trampling, picking) from tourism at the site.
- No formal agreement in place to secure future conservation at the site.
- Potential impact from browsing by goats.
- A lack of known sites for the species limiting population viability in NSW.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Protect existing populations from feral goats through appropriate fencing or controls.
- Report new sightings to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
- No further loss of extant populations.
- Survey for new populations
Information sources
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
- Jessop, J.P. (1981) Flora of Central Australia. (Australian Systematic Botany Society, Sydney)
- Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part ll. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
- Pritzel, E. (1918) Indigofera leucotricha E. Pritzel. Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 15: 357.
- Wilson, P.G. (2002) Indigofera. In Flora of NSW, Vol. 2, G.J. Harden, ed. pp. 566-569. UNSW Press. Kensington, NSW.
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