Hawkweed - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

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. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Picris evae

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 21 Mar 2022

Description

Hawkweed is a soft-stemmed annual plant to 130 cm tall with most of the leaves growing around the base of the plant. The leaves are sometimes toothed, have a pointed tip, and are sparsely hairy with split-end hairs (the hairs divided into two for half their length). Leaves are 2.5 - 15 cm long and 4 - 30 mm wide. The small, yellow flowers grow in dense heads 8 - 10 mm wide at the ends of the stems.

Distribution

Known in NSW north from the Inverell area, in the north-western slopes and plains regions. It has been collected from Elsmore and Myall Creek (both near Inverell) as well as in Inverell, Oxley Park (Tamworth) and also from Dangar Falls in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park in the northern tablelands of NSW. The species also occurs in the Darling Downs and Moreton regions of south-eastern Queensland.

Habitat and ecology

Where collected, the species abundance has been rare, locally occasional and locally frequent.
All recent collections appear to come from modified habitats such as weedy roadside vegetation and paddocks.
Its main habitat is open Eucalypt forest including a canopy of Eucalyptus melliodora, E. crebra, E. populnea, E. albens, Angophora subvelutina, Allocasuarina torulosa , and/or Casuarina cunninghamiana with a Dichanthium grassy understory.
Soils are black, dark grey or red-brown (specified as shallow, stony soil over basalt for one collection) and reddish clay-loam or medium clay soils.
The flowering and fruiting period is mainly October to January, with a few plants collected in flower or fruit until May.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Clearing of habitat for cropping and grazing.
Habitat fragmentation.
Invasion of habitat by introduced weeds.
Accidental damage during road maintenance activities
Accidental or illegally lit fires on adjacent properties

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 6 priority actions to help recover the Hawkweed in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Support local Landcare groups to protect known sites.
Protect known populations and habitat areas from grazing stock.
Control weeds in areas of known and potential habitat.
Protect known populations and areas of potential habitat from clearing or disturbance.
Expand and reconnect isolated areas of habitat.
Ensure habitat is only burnt within the recommended fire regiem for the vegetation type which is usually between 5 and 50 years frequency.
Investigate optinal fire regime and other ecological requirements for the species.
Ensure viable ex-situ seedbank is maintained.
Local council and others working on and near roadsides should be aware of the species favouring the habitat and survey appropriately before works.

Information sources

BRI Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the Queensland Herbarium (Brisbane Botanic Gardens: Toowong).
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)
Holzapfel, S. (1994) A revision of the genus Picris (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) s.l. in Australia. Willdenowia 24: 97-218.
Holzapfel, S. and Lack, H.W. (1993) New species of Picris (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) from Australia. Willdenowia 23: 181-191.
Lack, H.W. (1979) New species of Picris (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) from Australia. Phytologia 42(3): 209-214.
MEL Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of Victoria (Royal Botanic Gardens: Melbourne).
Murray, L. and Brown, E.A. (1992) Picris. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 3 (New South Wales University Press: Sydney).
NSW Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of New South Wales (Royal Botanic Gardens: Sydney).
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
Scarlett, N.H. and Parsons, R.F. (1989) Needs in Taxonomic Research for the Effective Conservation of the Southern Australian Grassland Flora. In Hicks, M. and Eiser, P. (eds) The Conservation of Threatened Species and their Habitats. Occasional Paper No. 2 (Australian Committee for IUCN: Canberra), pp. 256-260.
Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. (1986) Flora of South-Eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Nandewar	Inverell Basalts	Known	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Severn River Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Tingha Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Ellerston	Known	None

Images

Illustration, Hawkweed <a href="http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/" class="linkBlack100" target="_blank">Botanic Gardens Trust</a>

Illustration, Hawkweed Botanic Gardens Trust Image 1 of 4.
View slideshow.

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