Turnip Copperburr - 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: Sclerolaena napiformis

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 06 Aug 1999

Profile last updated: 02 Mar 2022

Description

Low subshrub to about 30 cm high, branches slender and sparsely covered with short curled hairs. Leaves linear to narrow, 5-15 mm long. Fruit hard and 2-3 mm long, with 5 or 6 widely-spreading stout spines, each 1-4 mm long, radiating outwards with 2 considerably shorter than the others.

Distribution

Known from only a few small populations in remnant grassland in the southern Riverina of NSW and north-central Victoria. NSW populations are confined to the area between Jerilderie and Moama on travelling stock routes and road reserves.

Habitat and ecology

Confined to remnant grassland habitats on clay-loam soils. Grows on level plains in tussock grassland of Austrostipa nodosa and Chloris truncata, in grey cracking clay to red-brown loamy clay.
Sites are roadside travelling stock routes and reserves subject to sheep grazing.
Associated species include Austrodanthonia duttoniana, Enteropogon acicularis, Austrostipa nodosa, Chloris truncata, Lolium rigidum, Swainsona murrayana, S. plagiotropis, S. procumbens, Rhodanthe corymbiflora, Calotis scabiosifolia, Microseris lanceolata, Acacia pendula and various chenopods.
Fruiting period is from November to May.
Grows in areas with intermittent light grazing. Based on past land use, this regime may promote the growth of the species, or at least not be detrimental to it.
Plants grow as low shrubs within an open to mid-dense tussock grassland with herbaceous ground layer.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Riverina

Threats

Weed invasion (most sites situated within cleared farmland, along disturbed roadsides and in small unfenced plots).
Clearing for agriculture and infrastructure.
Infrastructure maintenance (road, rail, and power) has the potential to negatively impact on populations.
Increased grazing pressure (domestic grazing prevalent at most remaining sites).
Altered grazing regimes (the species has adapted to remnant grassland habitats that have not been continuously heavily grazed or cultivated, but only intermittently grazed).
Localised extinction (susceptible to catastrophic events due to the small size of populations and their limited extent).

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

No further degradation or loss of potential habitat.
Light intermittent grazing at sites, based on past land use.
Weed monitoring and control in population areas.
Monitoring and protection of populations from overgrazing.
No further loss of extant populations.
Baseline surveys required to confirm known and locate new populations.

Information sources

Benson, J.S., Ashby, E.M. and Porteners, M.F. (1996) The native grasslands of the southern Riverina, New South Wales. Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
Benson, J.S., Ashby, E.M. and Porteners, M.F. (1997) The native grasslands of the Riverine Plain, New South Wales. Cunninghamia 5(1): 1-48
Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Jacobs, S.W.L. (1990) Sclerolaena. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.
Leigh, J.H. and Briggs, J.D. (eds.) (1992) Threatened Australian Plants - overview and case studies. (Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra)
NSW Scientific Committee (1999) Sclerolaena napiformis (a small perennial shrub) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1998) Flora of Victoria; Volume 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)
Wilson, P.G. (1984) Chenopodiaceae. In George, A.S. (ed.) Flora of Australia vol. 4. (Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra)