Coast Headland Pea - 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: Pultenaea maritima

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 24 Sep 2004

Profile last updated: 07 Aug 2024

Description

Pultenaea maritima is a prostrate, mat forming shrub with hairy stems. Its leaves are 3.5-5 mm long, 1.8-2.8 mm wide, with incurved margins. The stipules (at the leaf bases) are 1.1-2 mm long. Inflorescences are leafy and appear at or towards the ends of branches. The pea-flowers are 6.5-10 mm long on stalks about 0.5 mm long. Pods are about 5 mm long. The species was first described in 2002 and was previously considered a prostrate maritime form of Pultenaea villosa.

Distribution

Occurs in New South Wales and Queensland. Within NSW, the species has been recorded from Newcastle north to Byron Bay on 16 headlands. Populations vary from a few plants to larger populations of many hundreds of individuals where the species is a major component of the Kangaroo Grass Headland community. Five sites occur within conservation reserves.

Habitat and ecology

The species occurs in grasslands, shrublands and heath on exposed coastal headlands and adjoining low coastal heath.
Found on clay or sandy loam or clay loam over sandstone at altitude 5–30 m .
Associated with Banksia integrifolia and Themeda australis.
Flowers from (June) August to March; fruit occurs from January to March.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Competition from weeds, mostly bitou bush.
Mowing and maintenance of headland reserves.
Recreational use of headlands reserves, including trampling of habitat from uncontrolled access.
Competition with native shrub species on headland habitat including coast banksia, and changing habitat structure from grassland to shrubland.
Potential for damage to plants during installation of permanent walking tracks and creation of illegal vehicle tracks throughout the habitat.
Inappropriate fire regime resulting in vegetation structural change in habitat.
Risk of stochastic events as a result of populations being restricted to isolated headland habitats.
Road and track development and maintenance.
Poor knowledge of species distribution and abundance.
Soil erosion affecting habitat and population.

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 2 priority actions to help recover the Coast Headland Pea in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Control weeds in known populations.
Ensure that the species is considered in the land use planning process, particularly conservation works (bush restoration and weed control programs).
Partition populations from recreation activities.
Stay on established tracks on coastal headlands.
Maintain habitat by managing weeds and native shrub encroachment in areas of known habitat.
Implement appropriate fire regime for the species and its habitat.
Undertake research into the ecological and fire management requirements of the species.
Monitor population dynamics and threats at known populations.
Maintain viable ex-situ seedbank.

Information sources

NSW Scientific Committee (2004) Pultenaea maritima (a shrub) - Vulnerable species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	Within 1 km of coast
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	Within 1 km of coast
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	Within 1 km of coast
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	Within 1 km of coast
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Predicted	Within 1 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	Within 1 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Predicted	Within 1 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	Within 1 km of coast
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Predicted	Within 1 km of coast
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	Within 1 km of coast

Images

Flowers close-up of Coastal Headland Pea Image 1 of 5.
View slideshow.

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