Nature conservation

Threatened species

Tadgell's Bluebell in the local government areas of Auburn, Bankstown, Baulkham Hills, Canterbury, Hornsby, Parramatta and Strathfield - 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: Wahlenbergia multicaulis - endangered population
Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Population
Commonwealth status: Not listed
Gazetted date: 07 Nov 2003
Profile last updated: 04 Mar 2024

Description

A perennial, tufted herb, typically few-stemmed, 10 - 75 cm high. Hairless or sometimes with few hairs. Leaves are mostly long and thin, smooth edged or with small serrations. The flowers are blue, with the petals 2 - 10 mm long and forming a tube, with a corolla. The styles are deeply constricted less than a third of the way down.

Distribution

There are 13 known sites, two of which are in northern Sydney (Thornleigh and Mt Ku-Ring-Gai) with the remainder in western Sydney (Rookwood, Chullora, Bass Hill, Bankstown, Georges Hall, Campsie, South Granville and Greenacre). There are likely to be more sites than those listed here.

Habitat and ecology

  • In Western Sydney most sites are closely aligned with the Villawood Soil Series, which is a poorly drained, yellow podsolic extensively permeated with fine, concretionary ironstone (laterite). However, the sites in Hornsby LGA are on the 'Hawkesbury' soil landscape.
  • Found in disturbed sites and grows in a variety of habitats including forest, woodland, scrub, grassland and the edges of watercourses and wetlands. Typically occurs in damp, disturbed sites (with natural or human disturbance of various forms), typically amongst other herbs rather than in the open.
  • In Hornsby LGA it occurs in or adjacent to sandstone gully forest. In Western Sydney it is found in remnants of Cooks River/ Castlereagh Ironbark Forest.
  • Usually flowers throughout the year, although a late spring/early summer peak has been observed at some locations Creek.
  • Usually a perennial, particularly in protected situations which provide greater protection during the summer months. However, in more exposed situations, the species may be more annual in its life cycle due to exposure and/or lack of soil moisture.
  • Responds favourably to disturbance of soil in some situations with high exposure to sunlight. However, too much disturbance can eventually exhaust the seedbank and lead to local extinctions.

Regional distribution and habitat

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


Threats

Recovery strategies

Activities to assist this species

Information sources

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
Sydney BasinCumberland Known Check for updated LGA names
Sydney BasinPittwater Known Check for updated LGA names