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: Ipomoea diamantinensis
Profile last updated:
03 Jan 2019
Description
Small hairless annual forb, with thick and hollow trailing stems. Leaves lance-shaped to oblong, 5-15 cm long, 2-8 cm wide, the base blunt or with 2 spreading lobes, the stalk 2-10 cm long. Flowers trumpet-shaped, creamish white, swollen at the top and faintly 5-lobed. Fruit an almost spherical capsule, 9-17 mm in diameter, 2-segmented and usually containing 3 woolly seeds each 6 mm long.
Distribution
Occurs north from near Goodooga, in the north-western slopes and plains of NSW. Localities include Narran River and Inverell. The species is distributed widely across northern Australia in Qld, SA, the NT and WA.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows on clay soils on floodplains, often in shallow water and mud on cracking grey clay.
- Interstate habitats include low-lying grasslands with scattered Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia georgensis, gums and boxes, swamp margins and billabongs, a small floodway with Acacia stenophylla, and the water surface of a watercourse with other aquatic plants.
- Associated species include Astrebla squarrosa, Astrebla elymoides, Eremophila bignoniiflora and Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii.
- Flowers mainly summer to autumn.
- Plants recorded as occasional to frequent in populations, with several sites recording only one plant.
- Plants often grow in mud with stems trailing out and over the water. As a prostrate climber, the species can cover areas as large as 10 x 10 m, producing stunning, white-edged, deep-pink throated flowers.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Grazing (stock and possibly native herbivores).
- Habitat disturbance (the damp habitats vulnerable to pugging and trampling, clearing, drainage and irrigation).
- Competition from other seasonal annuals may limit the species.
- Lack of knowledge on priority sites and management requirements for the species.
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 grazing.
- Seasonal monitoring of populations.
- Report new sightings of the species to the Department of Environment and Conservation.
- No further loss of extant 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 lll. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- Johnson, R.W. (1992) Ipomoea. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 3. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.
- 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
- Robertson, E.L. and Black, J.M. (eds) (1957) Diagnoses to new taxa: Ipomoea diamantinensis J.M. Black ex C.M. Eardley. In Flora of South Australia, 2nd Edition 4: 945-946.
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