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: Lasiopetalum behrii
Gazetted date:
16 Jul 2010
Profile last updated:
18 Oct 2022
Description
Pink Velvet Bush is a shrub that is up to 1.5 m high, with narrow oblong leaves 4-9 cm long and 0.5-3 cm wide, which are hairless above and covered with rusty hairs below. Flowers with calyx lobes 5-8 mm long which are covered with white, star-shaped hairs on the outer surface, and petals 1-1.5 mm long and red-brown. The fruit capsule is 4-8 mm in diameter and is densely hairy.
Distribution
Pink Velvet Bush is known in NSW from a single record made in 1997 on leashold land to the south east of Pooncarie in the far south western plains. The species is common in mallee areas of north western Victoria, with an outlier in the whipstick mallee near Bendigo. It is also widespread in south eastern South Australia.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in mallee and red dune and swale country. In Victoria recorded in Eucalyptus gracilis mallee woodland with an understorey of Acacia and Triodia, Halgania andromedifolia and Eutaxia microphylla, on deep sand.
- In South Australia, associated species include Eucalyptus diversifolia, E. socialis, Melaleuca uncinata, Casuarina stricta and Prostanthera, Eremophila and Templetonia species.
- Flowering period is late winter to spring.
- Recorded as a single plant in NSW, however in interstate populations plants are frequent to very common.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Localised extinction (susceptible to catastrophic events such as fire, and clearing due to the small population size and extent).
- Lack of seedling recruitment.
- Lack of information on the species in NSW to inform a conservation management strategy.
- Grazing by stock and feral goats is potentially a major threat.
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
- If grazing is a threat, implement strategies such as fencing and water point closure to reduce total grazing pressure.
- Investigate regeneration including seed-set, germination and seedling survival.
- Survey for new populations
Information sources
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- Clements, A., Rodd, T., Moore, R.J., Crane, A.G. and Simpson, J. (2000) Surveys of areas having potentially high botanical diversity near Pooncarie, South Far Western Plains. Cunninghamia 6(3): 611-643.
- Costermans L. (1981) Native Trees and Shrubs of South-Eastern Australia. Rigby, Melbourne.
- Harden, G.J. (2000) Lasiopetalum. In: Harden, G.J. (ed.). Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 1. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
- Harden, G.J. and Murray, L.J. (eds) (2000) Supplement to Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 1. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
- Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part ll. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- Mueller, F.J.H. von (1855) Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants. Transactions of the Philosophical Society of Victoria 1.
- NSW Scientific Committee (2002) Lasiopetalum behrii (a shrub) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), 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
- Seberg, O. (1986) New information on Ferdinand J. H. Mueller’s early taxonomic papers (1854-1856). Taxon 35(2): 262-271.
- Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1998) Flora of Victoria; Volume 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)
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