Chambigne Bertya - 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: Bertya sp. (Chambigne NR, M. Fatemi 24)

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 27 Apr 2007

Profile last updated: 26 May 2025

Description

Bertya sp. Chambigne NR is a monoecious shrub to 2 (rarely 3) m high. Branchlets are terete with a variably dense covering of stalked stellate hairs. Leaves are petiolate, spirally alternate, spreading; leaf lamina linear, 15-30 mm long, 1-2 mm wide; upper surface green and sparsely covered in short, weak, soft hairs; lower surface densely covered with white stellate hairs; margin recurved to the midrib; leaf apex rounded; sessile marginal glands present at base of lamina. Inflorescences are mostly single-flowered and axillary. Male flowers are sessile, greenish to brown; calyx 5-lobed, hairless outside. Female flowers are sessile or shortly pedicellate; calyx 5-lobed, light green; lobes equal, revolute, hairless outside, with entire margins; petals absent; ovary 3-locular, sparsely covered with stellate hairs; style initially columnar, splitting into 3 long spreading red branches 3-3.5 mm long. Capsules are ellipsoid, 9 mm long, 4.5 mm wide, sparsely hairy, 1-seeded, calyx lobes persistent. Seeds are ovoid, 7.5-7.7 mm long, 3.7-3.9 mm wide; caruncle pyramidal and yellowish in colour.

Distribution

Bertya sp. Chambigne NR occurs in the NSW North Coast Bioregion within the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority management area. The species is known from Chambigne Nature Reserve, the Shannon Creek Catchment Area, two population in Yuraygir State Conservation Area, Kremnos and Stockyard Creek. A single specimen collected in 1967 from Whitemans Creek north of Grafton, represents a population now thought to be extinct.

Habitat and ecology

At Chambigne Nature Reserve and Shannon Creek Dam the habitat is dominated by an open forest cover of Eucalyptus psammitica, Angophora robur, Corymbia trachyphloia and Eucalyptus pyrocarpa. The shrub layer includes Allocasuarina littoralis, Xanthorrhoea latifolia, Acacia complanata and Boronia hapalophylla. Erinacine pallescens and Entolasia stricta are common in the ground layer. The endangered Grevillea beadleana co-occurs with the Bertya at the Western Chambigne escarpment sub population. The first population in Yuraygir State Conservation Area co-occurs with Eucalyptus pachycalyx subsp. waajensis over a rocky shrubland Leptospermum microcarpum, Baeckea diosmifolia, Calytrix tetragona, and Acacia granitica. The second is a Eucalyptus planchoniana, Angophora robur, Eucalyptus pachycalyx sub. banyabba, shrubby woodland with Pultenaea rostrata, Monotoca scoparia, Acacia quadrilateralis, Caustis flexuosa and Caustis blakei. The sites did not burn intensely in the 2019 fire. The outcropping nature of the site and low ground fuel may act as a fire refuge. The second population at Yuraygir State Conservation Area is found in an open shrubby woodland with Eucalyptus planchoniana, Corymbia gummifera, Leptospermum trinervium, Acacia complanata, Banksia collina, Pultenaea rostrata, Persoonia stradbrokensis, Lepidosperma laterale, Acacia hispidula, Caustis flexuosa, Eriachne pallescens, and Entolasia stricta.
Its longevity, breeding system, seed biology, and most aspects of its ecology are unknown.
Adult plants are killed by fire and the species recruits by seed. The Yuraygir State Conservation Area populations appear patchily burnt. There is a much higher representation of mature individuals in this population than at the Chambigne/Shannon Creek Dam site.
Total population size for the species is 2027 plants, including 308 mature plants.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

South Eastern Queensland

Threats

At risk from stochastic events due to small population size.
At risk from stochastic events due to highly restricted distribution.
High frequency fire which does not allow adequate time for seedbank replenishment.
Unidentifiable factor (potentially not infectious) causing general decreases in vigour, no foliage discolouration or obvious symptoms.
Mortality of seedlings during severe drought.

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

Undertake research into the ecological requirements of the species, factors preventing wider dispersal and fire ecology.
Monitor mortality, reproduction and threats within the population.
Protect species from inappropriate fire regime.
Maintain viable ex-situ seedbank and/or living collection.
Establish new populations in suitable habitat.
Undertake surveys to identify unrecorded populations.

Information sources

Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (2006) Koukandowie and Chambigne Nature Reserves Plan of Management. (DEC NSW, Sydney)
Fatemi, M. (2005) A systematic analysis of Bertya (Euphorbiaceae: Ricinocarpeae). PhD thesis, Faculty of Sciences, University of New England, Armidale NSW.
Fatemi, M., Gross, C.L. and Bruhl J.J. (2007) The first phenetic analysis of species limits in Bertya (Euphorbiaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 20(5): 448-463
NSW Scientific Committee (2007) Bertya sp. (Chambigne NR, M. Fatemi 24) - Endangered species determination - final.