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.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Rotala tripartita
Gazetted date:
28 Mar 2008
Profile last updated:
11 Oct 2022
Description
Rotala tripartita is an annual or short-lived perennial herb up to 40 cm tall, with branched stems that are often shortly creeping to sprawling at the base of the plant and erect above. Leaves are up to 20 mm long and 5 mm wide with the lower surface paler than the upper surface. Flowers are sessile, solitary and occur within the axils of bracts and scattered along stems. Flowers have three (or rarely four) sepals with appendages longer than sepals, three (or rarely four) elliptic, colourless petals and three (or rarely four) stamens inserted near the base of the hypanthium. The style is c. 0.5 mm long.
Distribution
Rotala tripartita occurs in New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. In New South Wales the species is currently known from few locations, generally between the Casino district and the South Grafton area, in the Southeast Queensland bioregion. These locations are separated by a distance of less than c. 100 km. The geographic distribution of the species in New South Wales is therefore highly restricted. There are no records of Rotala tripartita in any reserve or State Forest.
Habitat and ecology
- Rotala tripartita is a riparian species that often grows in free-standing water with sedges. There appear to be extreme fluctuations in abundance of the species, with plants observed to germinate prolifically and establish in large numbers after substantial rainfall. Individuals disappear above-ground during dry periods and may only persist during these times in the soil seed-bank.
- Surveys in the South Grafton area located two populations of Rotala tripartita growing in exposed silty clay on the edges of farm dams that were about 150m apart.
- Also known from Melaleuca freshwater coastal wetland.
- Near Ellangowan - Bungawalbyn it is found in open floodplain forest with melonhole gilgai soil.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Rotala tripartita is threatened in New South Wales by chance adverse environmental events due to its highly restricted geographic distribution and small number of locations.
- At Black Swamp the species is further threatened by the constructionand maintenance of an access road and a cleared alignment for a pipeline and powerline to a water supply dam. This infrastructure may result in sedimentation and changes to downstream swampland.
- Weed invasion of wetland sites.
- Grazing and trampling by domestic stock.
- Limited known sites for the species reducing NSW population viability
- Habitat degradation (e.g. water flow) and edge effects (e.g. weeds, human disturbance, degradation from cattle and blueberry farming activities)
- High frequency fire
- Pigs rooting and degrading vegetation
- Damage to plants from highway development including sedimentation
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
- Control and remove introduced weeds at known locations.
- Control grazing and trampling by domestic stock at known locations.
- Ensure the construction and maintenance of tracks, roads, powerlines and pipelines near occupied habitat are carried out in a manner which reduces erosion and sedimentation risk.
Information sources
- NSW Scientific Committee (2008) Rotala tripartita - endangered species. Final determination DEC (NSW), Sydney.
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