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: Banksia conferta
Gazetted date:
10 Aug 2007
Profile last updated:
22 Oct 2021
Description
Banksia conferta subsp. conferta is a shrub growing to 4 m, irregular in shape, with bark roughly tessellated and grey in colour. Branchlets can be hairy to hairless and varying in colour from orange to red or brown. The leaves are whorled, elliptic to oval shaped, 3.5-12 cm long by 0.7-4 cm wide, with coarse short hairs on the upper surface and hairy to smooth on the lower surface. The flower clusters are cylindrical, 7-19 cm long and 5-6 cm wide at flowering. Individual flowers are yellowish-green to pinkish-brown in bud and golden when open, the styles are pale yellow and the old flowers may persist for several years. The seeds are egg-shaped 14-17 mm long; the seed body is crescent shaped, 8-9 mm long, 2-3.5 mm wide and smooth.
Distribution
In NSW, Banksia conferta subsp. conferta has a highly restricted geographic distribution. It is currently known only from a number of populations occupying about 23 ha in a small area of Coorabakh National Park, north west of Lansdowne on the Mid North Coast. Banksia conferta subsp. conferta is also known from the Lamington Plateau and the Glass House Mountains in Queensland, more than 400 km to the north.
Habitat and ecology
- Detailed survey of the Coorabakh National Park population in 2009 estimated a total population of about 5,000 to 10,000 individuals with about 65% being mature plants,30% immature and 5% seedlings.
- Adult plants are single-stemmed and likely to be killed by fire. Seeds are held within woody cones, and are mostly released after fire. Regeneration mainly occurs from canopy-stored seed released after fire although evidence based on population structure and fire history suggests that some seed leakage and regeneration can occur without fire.
- Extreme fluctuations in population size may occur depending on the time between fires and establishment success of seedlings. Because of this populations are susceptible to declines or extinctions when fires recur at very short or very long intervals.
- Banksia conferta subsp. conferta is found on exposed rocky slopes in well-drained skeletal soil derived from high-quartz conglomerate or occasionally trachyte. It occurs in comparatively low open forest with a dry sclerophyll understorey.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Banksia conferta subsp. conferta is threatened because of its very restricted distribution and small population size.
- Road maintenance and fire management operations pose a potential threat to parts of the population adjacent to roadsides.
- Inappropriate fire regimes may pose a threat to the continued survival of this species.
- Potential for infection by Phytophthora to cause mortality or reduced species condition.
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
4 priority actions
to help recover the Banksia conferta in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Banksia conferta subsp. conferta needs to be protected from inappropriate fire regimes, with the survival of the population being dependent on medium term fire frequency. Fire reoccurrence at very short or very long intervals could result in the extinction of this population. The likely ecologically sustainable fire interval is 7 - 30 years.
- Continue to monitor the Coorabakh National Park population.
- Conduct searches for further populations.
- Consider installing bollards or fencing to protect plants from road maintenance.
Information sources
- Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan.
- George, A.S. (1999) Banksia. Pp. 175-251 in Wilson, A. (ed.) Flora of Australia 17B - Proteaceae 3 Hakea to Dryandra. (Australian Biological Resources Study/
CSIRO Publishing, Canberra/Melbourne)
- Griffith, S.J. (2005) Banksia conferta subsp. conferta in Coorabakh National Park: Preliminary observations and guidelines for fire management. Report to the Manning Area of the Parks and Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW).
- Keith, D.A. (1996) Fire-driven mechanisms of extinction in vascular plants: a review of empirical and theoretical evidence in Australian vegetation. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 116: 37-78
- NSW Scientific Committee (2008) Banksia conferta subsp. conferta - Critically endangered species determination - Final.
- Redpath, P., Steed, A., Kendall, P. and Snelson, B. (2009) Banksia conferta A.S.George subsp. conferta: A Critically Endangered Species, It's Habitat, Condition, Extent and Management. (Scientific Services Division and Conservation Protection and Regulation Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Coffs Harbour)
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|
| NSW North Coast | Comboyne Plateau |
Known
| South and east of the Wauchope to Wingham Road |
| NSW North Coast | Macleay Hastings |
Known
| West of the Pacific Highway, south of Oxley Highway and south and east of the Wauchope to Wingham Road |
| Other State | QLD |
Known
| None |