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: Maireana cheelii
Profile last updated:
17 Aug 2018
Description
Perennial forb to about 20 cm high, with slender striped woolly stems and a fleshy swollen taproot. Leaves narrow-cylindrical and slender, to about 6 mm long, hairless. Flowers solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils. The fruiting body is whitish, often slightly woolly or cottony above, 5-6 mm in diameter, with 5 distinctly wheel-like wings, each fan-shaped and radiating up to 2.5 mm long.
Distribution
Restricted to the southern Riverina region of NSW, mainly in the area between Deniliquin and Hay. Also has a limited distribution in Victoria where very rare. NSW collections have mainly been from the Moulamein, Deniliquin and Hay districts, including Tchelery and Zara Stations. There is an outlying record from “Wangareena east of Wanaaring”.
Habitat and ecology
- Usually found on heavier, grey clay soils with Atriplex vesicaria (Bladder Saltbush). Recorded on the Hay Plain in Atriplex vesicaria, Maireana aphylla and Acacia homalophylla shrublands. Soils include heavy brown to red-brown clay-loams, hard cracking red clay, other heavy texture-contrast soils.
- Tends to grow in shallow depressions, often on eroded or scalded surfaces, and does not extend to the higher soils in the habitat. It has been found on the edges of bare, windswept claypans, in shallow depressions of eroded surfaces where rainwater collects and on a “shelf” in the crabhole complex of heavy grey soils.
- Associated species include Atriplex vesicaria, Maireana pentagona, M. excavata, M. ciliata, Cressa cretica, Avena fatua and Acacia homalophylla.
- Flowering time is mostly spring to summer. Bears fruits mostly from September to November.
- The species is never common, with small localised occurrences in scattered localities. It has been recorded as common, dense and very abundant in its localised populations.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Habitat removal and modification (through clearing for cropping, stock grazing and sowing for improved pasture).
- Grazing (the species is not a preferred forage plant but is grazed readily by stock in the absence of the more palatable annual species).
- Little ecological information available for the species.
- Insufficient understanding of distribution.
- Insufficient understanding of threats.
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 stock grazing through appropriate fencing.
- No loss of extant populations.
- Investigate regeneration including seed-set, germination and seedling survival.
- Survey for new populations
Information sources
- Anderson, R.H. (1934) Notes on Australian Chenopodiaceae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 59(3-4): 270-272.
- 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)
- Jacobs, S.W.L. (1990) Maireana. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.
- Porteners, M.F. (1993) The natural vegetation of the Hay Plain: Booligal-Hay and Deniliquin-Bendigo 1:250 000 maps. Cunninghamia 3(1): 1-122
- 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
- Semple, W.S. (1986) Plant species lists from four exclosure sites in the Hay district of south-western New South Wales. Cunninghamia 1(4): 491-502.
- Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1998) Flora of Victoria; Volume 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)
- Wilson, P.G. (1975) A taxonomic revision of the genus Maireana (Chenopodiaceae). Nuytsia 2(1): 2-83, p. 20.
- Wilson, P.G. (1984) Chenopodiaceae. In George, A.S. (ed.) Flora of Australia vol. 4. (Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra)
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IBRA Bioregion
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IBRA Subregion
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Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
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|---|
| Mulga Lands | Cuttaburra-Paroo |
Known
| None |
| Riverina | Murray Fans |
Known
| West of Finley |
| Riverina | Murrumbidgee |
Known
| West of Darlington Point, west of Jerilderie |