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: Wilsonia rotundifolia
Gazetted date:
15 Sep 2000
Profile last updated:
17 Aug 2018
Description
Round-leafed Wilsonia is a prostrate, perennial plant with succulent leaves. Its leaves are rounded and shiny, to 7 mm long and 3 mm wide, and more or less stalkless. The leaves are arranged in neat rows along the spreading stems. When young the leaves are hairy. The five-lobed 5 mm long, white, cream or yellow, tubular flowers occur singly in the angle between the leaf and the stem (axil). The fruit is an oval capsule containing one black seed.
Distribution
Round-leafed Wilsonia is known from several sites in the Jervis Bay area, Royal National Park, near Deniliquin and on the lakebeds of Lake George and Lake Bathurst when these are exposed during droughts. The Lake George and Lake Bathurst populations appear to be locally extensive. Also found Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in mud in coastal saltmarsh and inland saline or brackish lake beds.
- In undisturbed habitat, it can be a good coloniser as the creeping stems root from the nodes.
- Flowers appear mainly in spring and summer.
- May be a clonal species so that what appear to be large populations at some sites may actually be composed of only limited numbers of genetically distinct individuals which are the result of vegetative (asexual) reproduction.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Disturbance of vegetation by recreational use including off-road vehicles, particularly during dry periods.
- Coastal populations may be affected by changes in tides, including localised flooding resulting from the opening or lack of opening of lagoons to the sea.
- Grazing and trampling by domestic livestock leading to alteration of ground layer composition resulting in loss of palatable plants, tree recruitment, and the spread of weeds.
- Invasion of exotic plants including serrated tussock, African lovegrass, Chilean needle grass and blackberry.
- Inappropriate land management, including use of salt-tolerant grasses for the
mitigation of salinity.
- Increase in temperatures and extreme weather events from climate change including more frequent drying of lakes, loss of groundwater inundation, and increasing invasion by weeds leading to an alteration of the species’ habitat structure, composition and resource availability.
- Rabbit browsing and burrowing.
- Erection of structures holding of public events in the lakes.
- Damage to plants from road and track maintenance and widening.
- Installation of drainage channels to convert wetlands into pasture.
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
- Negotiate the withdrawal of grazing from sites on leasehold land if grazing is found to be detrimental to the species.
- Limit vehicle movement through populations.
- If weed control is necessary, ensure that only methods that target weeds are used; prevent overspraying and spray-drift.
- Assess the impact of hydrological changes.
- Assess the impact of grazing animals.
- Mark sites and potential habitat onto maps used for planning lagoon maintenance work.
Information sources
- 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. (ed.) (1992) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 3. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
- Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part lll. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- NSW Scientific Committee (2000) Wilsonia rotundifolia (a perennial dwarf subshrub) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
- Society for Growing Australian Plants, Maroondah (1993) Flora of Melbourne; a guide to the indigenous plants of the Greater Melbourne Area. Hyland House, South Melbourne.
- Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1999) Flora of Victoria; Volume 4, Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|