Spiny Everlasting - 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: Acanthocladium dockeri

Conservation status in NSW: Extinct

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2017

Description

Acanthocladium is a genus of the daisy family Asteraceae represented by a single species, the Spiny Everlasting Acanthocladium dockeri. It is a low shrub (about half a metre in height) with spindly branches that end in a ‘tick-shaped’ (ü) spine. The shrub is whitish grey in colour due to the fine pale-grey felt that covers the small oval-shaped leaves and the branches. The flowers are small and yellow, with grey felted bracts and lack the ring of showy ray petals that is characteristic of many daisy species. Spiny Everlasting has a well developed, woody perennial root system that suckers readily.

Distribution

The only NSW record of Spiny Everlasting is from the Burke and Wills Expedition of 1860, collected near Menindee near the Darling River (probably in the vicinity of Lake Pamamaroo). It was then collected near Overland Corner in South Australia in 1910 but was then thought to be extinct. In 1999 the species was rediscovered in the Mid-North of South Australia, and is currently known from several scattered populations.

Habitat and ecology

In NSW knowledge of the habitat of the species is limited to notes included with the herbarium specimens (“low sand hills near Darling River”). Possible habitat inlcudes black box riverine communities.
In South Australia, the habitat varies from low hills covered with Scented Mat-rush (Lomandra effusa), Spear Grasses (Austrostipa spp.) and Wallaby Grasses (Rytidosperma spp.), to shrubland of Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa subsp. spinosa), Umbrella Bush (Acacia ligulata) and Mealy Saltbush (Rhagodia parabolica) on sandy loam.
Observations of the SA populations suggests reproduction is via root suckering and a poor survival rate for seedlings.

Threats

In South Australia weed invasion, grazing from introduced herbivores including stock and the Common White Snail, the small isolated populations and lack of genetic diversity and adjoining landuse (e.g. chemical drift, roadside disturbance) are regarded as some of the threats to extant populations.
Threats to Spiny Everlasting in NSW are difficult to quantify without the rediscovery of species populations.

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

Searches are required in suitable habitat in the Wentworth Shire and Unincorporated Area.
Monitor any newly discovered populations for persistence and threats
Increase public awareness

Information sources

Clarke, A., Robertson, M.A. and Pieck, A. (2012) Draft Recovery Plan for Acanthocladium dockeri (Spiny Daisy). (Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Clare, South Australia)
Everett, J. (1992) Acanthocladium. Pp. 243-4 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 3. (University of New South Wales Press, Kensington)
Gillbank, L. (2011) The botanical legacy of Ferdinand Mueller and Hermann Beckler. Pp. 97-129 in Joyce, E.B. and McCann, D.A. (eds.) Burke & Wills. The Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition. (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria)