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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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Eucalyptus langleyi - endangered population
Gazetted date:
17 Dec 2010
Profile last updated:
07 Jun 2022
Description
Mallee to 5 m high. Bark smooth, brown, shedding in long ribbons. Young shoots prominently 4-winged. Juvenile leaves glossy green, broad-lanceolate to ovate. Adult leaves alternate, lanceolate, with a pointed tip, leathery, glossy green, 8-18 mm long, 1.8-4.0 mm wide; leaf stalks 8-18 mm long, winged, wings decurrent with wings on twigs; lateral veins obscure and at 10-20° to midrib; intramarginal vein obscure, leaf margin prominently thickened. Flower buds in clusters of 7 that are borne on a flattened stalk (peduncle), 8-12 mm long and to 7 mm wide; individual flower stalks (pedicels) 0-2 mm long, angular. Mature buds irregularly pyriform, rugose, 11-14 mm long, 4-6 mm diam.; bud cap less than ¼ as long as hypanthium, hemispherical, very broadly obtuse. Stamens cream in clour and the filaments inflexed into hypanthium in bud. Fruits cup-shaped, 3- or 4-chambered, sometimes constricted near the top, 8-10 mm long, 8-10 mm in diameter, sometimes with 1-3 vertical ridges; valves enclosed, tips often exserted. Seeds dull, grey-brown, angular, kidney shaped, to 2.5 mm long; chaff similar, smaller.
Distribution
This endangered population of the Albatross Mallee occurs north of the Shoalhaven River in the Shoalhaven local government area. The population occurs as a series of fragmented stands across approximately 1.3 km2 and occurs on both sides of the boundary between Bomaderry Creek Regional Park and land owned by Shoalhaven City Council (Barratt in litt.). In 1998 the population was estimated at 32 plants but a survey in 2008 found only 20 of these still alive (Barratt in litt). The endangered population is approximately 5 km from the closest population of the main Albatross Mallee (a listed Vulnerable species) occurrences which is located to the southwest across the Shoalhaven River.
Habitat and ecology
- Occurs on skeletal soils on rocky sloping Nowra Sandstone outcrops along Bomaderry Creek.
- The endangered population occurs at an altitude of 30-40 m above sea level whilst the general E. langleyi population occurs at an altitude of between 130 and 255 m.
- Occurs as a midstorey species in woodland dominated by Grey Gum (E. punctata), but sometimes with Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata) present.
- The woodland habitat has a shrubby midstorey comprising species such as Sweet Pittosporum, Tick Bush, Bracelett Honey-myrtle, Black Sheoak, Tea-tree and Sandpaper Fig.
- The woodland habitat has a mostly shrubby ground layer, but in some places there are significant patches of Blady Grass.
- Vigorous regrowth has been observed from plants that have been burnt only occasionally, however regrowth becomes weak on frequently burnt plants.
- No seedling regrowth has been observed within the endangered population, but whether this is due to lack of seedling vigour or other environmental factors has not yet been established.
- Insects are presumed to be the primary pollinators of Eucalyptus langleyi (John Briggs pers. comm. Nov 2009), limiting the distance over which pollen will be exchanged between plants and populations. Current estimates of pollen movement for eucalypts are <1 km with rare events >5 km (Potts et al. 2003).
- The genetic distinctiveness of the population is unknown, but it is likely that the population may have gene combinations not present in other populations.
Regional distribution and habitat
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Threats
- Highly vulnerable to stochastic events such as fire and drought due to its small population size and restricted distribution.
- Frequent fire combined with drought conditions is believed to have been responsible for the death of several individuals over the past 20 years.
- Weed invasion supressing seedling establishment
- Some plants close to pipeline and power line easements are at risk of further physical damage from unauthorised vehicular access, rubbish dumping and maintenance works.
- Trampling of seedlings and damage to new growth from stems and lignotubers by recreational users of the area in which the population occurs.
- Some individuals are likely to be impacted if the central route of the proposed Bomaderry Link Road is selected and approved.
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
- Ensure that Shoalhaven City Council is aware of the presence of this species and that the population is adequately protected when planning or approving any infrastructure development in the vicinity of the plants
- Design and maintain walking tracks so as to minimise risk of recreational users damaging any individuals
- Develop fire management plan for area that prescribes a burn interval of no more than once every 20 years
- Ensure presence and location of this species is recorded in the fire mangement plan for this area and that wildfire supression to exclude fire from the population is a high priority.
- Control weed species known to be competing with potential seedling establishment using spot spraying or hand removal techniques
- Consider propagation and enrichment planting of the population to replace those individuals known to have died since monitoring of the population commenced in the 1990s
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