Allocasuarina diminuta subsp. mimica population in the Sutherland Shire and Liverpool City local government areas - 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: Allocasuarina diminuta subsp. mimica - endangered population

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Population

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 17 Oct 2014

Profile last updated: 04 Mar 2024

Description

Shrub or small tree, 1 to 5 m high, that has individuals that may be of a single or both sexes. Slender branches (‘branchlets’) to 23 cm long. Stem segments ('articles') often with a waxy bloom, each 5 to 12 mm long, 0.5 to 1.1 mm in diameter. Teeth on the upper end of each article broad-triangular with convex margins, and presented in a manner that has them from erect to spreading. Six to 10 teeth on each article, and ridges along the article angular to rounded convex. Male spikes are 0.5 to 5 cm long, with 5 to 10 whorls of flowers per centimetre of spike length. Fruit body ('cone') 5 to 20 mm long, 5 to 12 mm in diameter. The woody protuberances protecting the seed ('bracteoles') are broad and relatively flat (obtuse to broad-acute). The seed (a samara) is 3.5 to 5.0 mm long.

Distribution

The endangered population occurs along sandstone ridges and upper hillsides in the region northwest from Heathcote, towards Menai and Holsworthy, in heathy and low open woodland communities. It is restricted to the Local Government Areas listed in this instance (Sutherland and Liverpool). Other occurrences in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands (Blackheath to Bundanoon and Taralga), and also in the coastal communities from Kingsford to Little Bay) are not included in the Endangered population listing.

Habitat and ecology

Heathy woodland
Heathlands
Low open woodlands

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Sydney Basin

Threats

Population has a limited range and only occupies certain habitats.
Roadside populations will be affected by construction and maintenance of infrastructure related to the road and allied infrastructure.
Disturbance from recreational trail bike and off-road vehicle use as well as illegal dumping of domestic, commercial and construction waste affects the recruitment and survival of the population and increases the likelihood of other threats including fire, weeds, and clearing.
Too frequent fire (more often than every 5 years) leads to insufficient seed production and loss of mature individuals. Too infrequent results in shading out and reduced wind flow for pollination. The ideal fire regime for the population is unknown.
The majority of the eastern part of the habitat (Menai Ridge) has been developed and further development plans will affect the western part of the population along Heathcote Ridge and adjacent areas.
Fragmentation of the population due to clearing of habitat and individual plants for urban development, road maintenance and widening, and under scrubbing.
Several grasses will be likely weeds in the community including African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) and will affect the intensity of fire as well as be an impediment to recruitment.
Introduced grasses including African lovegrass, coolatai grass, whiskey grass, and African fountain grass increase the intensity of fire and impede recruitment of the species.

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 areas occupied by the species are considered in developing land use strategies for the area occupied.
Fencing, access restriction and signage may deter inappropriate activities (recreation, dumping) from areas occupied by the species.
Weed management will be necessary to ensure local populations are able to recruit following fire.
Signage regarding the sensitivity of the vegetation community to disturbance and dumping and maintaining viable areas of the community in the planning and development stages will be necessary.
restoration of areas affected by recreational use and road maintenance / construction may be required.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Sydney Basin

Sydney Cataract

Known

LGAs listed in the Determination

Related information

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Nature conservation

Threatened species