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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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Phyllanthus maderaspatensis
Profile last updated:
01 Nov 2022
Description
Rigid forb 30-50 cm high, with slender angular branches. Leaves arranged in 2 regular rows on opposite sides of the branches, oblong-linear or wedge-shaped, 10-25 mm long, rounded or with a short point at tip, with white-rimmed stipules at the base. Flowers tiny and without petals, male and female on the one plant, borne in clusters in the leaf axils. Fruit a slightly flattened 3-lobed capsule about 3 mm in diameter, containing seeds covered with 10-12 rows of minute warts. In the past the species name has also been spelt Phyllanthus maderaspatanus.
Distribution
Recorded for the Brewarrina and Collarenebri districts in the north-western plains of NSW. Very widely distributed across the tropics of Qld, the NT, and WA, with additional records from SA.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in floodplain areas on heavy soils and may rely on appropriate and intermittent rainfall and flooding events for its survival. The species is described as being a summer-growing annual and is thus dependent on seasonal conditions.Often associated with open grasslands and eucalypt woodlands in or near creek beds, and grassy flats and levees near watercourses.
- Flowering time is spring to summer, and the species is a summer-growing annual. Seeding is recorded in March. Occurs after summer rains and readily drops its leaves as it dries off.
- Plants are usually infrequent in abundance but have been recorded as common in disturbed areas.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing of floodplain habitat (cracking clays) for irrigation and agriculture crops such as wheat and cotton, and clearing associated with rural subdivisions.
- Roadside clearing.
- May be limited by competition from other summer-growing annuals.
- Uncertainty about the species abundance and distribution, including whether it is rarer than predicted.
- It is unknown whether the species is taxonomically homogenous across its range, and whether the occurrences in NSW are genetically distinct from the remainder of the distribution.
- Trampling and grazing by domestic stock.
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 roadside sites from clearing and roadworks.
- Seasonal monitoring of populations.
- No further loss of extant populations.
- Survey for new populations
Information sources
- Allen, G.H. (1949) Notes on the plants of South-western Queensland. Mimeo: 83.
- Bentham, G. (1878) Flora Australiensis. Volume 6. (Reeve, London)
- 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)
- Harden, G.J. and Murray, L.J. (eds) (2000) Supplement to Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 1. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
- Hunter, J.T. and Bruhl, J.J. (1997) Two new species of Phyllanthus and notes on Phyllanthus and Sauropus (Euphorbiaceae: Phyllantheae) in New South Wales. Telopea 7(2): 149-165.
- James, T.A. and Harden, G.J. (2000) Phyllanthus. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. Revised Edition (New South Wales University 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)
- Linnaeus, C. von (1753) Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L. Species Plantarum 982.
- 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
- Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. (1983) Flora of South-Eastern Queensland. Volume 1. (Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane)
- Wheeler, J.R. (ed.) (1992) Flora of the Kimberley Region. (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth)
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