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.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Prostanthera discolor
Profile last updated:
09 Jun 2022
Description
An open, erect shrub with a strong aroma and hairy branches, commonly growing 0.6–3 m high. Leaves are lanceolate to more or less oblong, 8–28 mm long, 1–5 mm wide, and the upper-surface of the leaves are dull dark green, while the lower surface is paler. Flowers are deep mauve to purple and dotted in throat.
Distribution
Restricted to only two known localities in Bylong Valley, with a potential distribution in the Baerami Valley within the Mid-Western Regional local and Musswellbrook local government areas.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in dry sclerophyll forest in the side gullies of main creeklines, often on rocky or well-drained alluvial substrates.
- Flowering usually occurs September to October and flowers are likely to be pollinated by insects.
- Fire sensitive, with adults killed by fire and recruitment occurring from a soil seed bank.
- Does not appear to reproduce vegetatively.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Inappropriate fire regime including high frequency fires impacts recruitment if successional fires occur during the species juvenile stage. As the species is a presumed obligate seeder the exclusion of fire will also impact recruitment.
- Given small population sizes, susceptible to local extinction due to environmental and demographic uncertainty.
- Impacts associated with goats
- Phytophthora cinnamomi infection causing population decline.
- Insufficient understanding of taxonomy.
- Insufficient understanding of distribution.
- Insufficient understanding of extent of feral goat browsing, especially during drought, on plants that impacts species survivorship.
- Climate change associated drought impacts, including increased frequency and length of dry conditions causing population decline and loss of foliage.
- Insufficient understanding of whether Phytophthora cinnamomi can infect plants and cause population decline
- Small population size increasing the risk of localised extinction from a single stochastic event.
- Inbreeding and hybridisation in populations limiting recruitment and increasing the risk of localised extinction from a single stochastic event.
Recovery strategies
A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click
here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click
here
Activities to assist this species
- Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing and further fragmentation.
- Survey and monitoring of known populations, and potential habitat, to gain greater insight into the current status of the species, threats to its persistence, and management actions required.
- Control feral goats in the vicinity of populations.
Information sources
- Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1992) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 3. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2000) Prostanthera discolor. Threatened species profile. NPWS, Sydney.
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