Gorge Rice-flower - 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: Pimelea cremnophila

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Gazetted date: 01 Dec 2017

Profile last updated: 22 Feb 2024

Description

An erect shrub up to 2.5 m high. Stems are red-brown with white rigid, bristly hairs up to 3 mm long. Stems become hairless with age.

Leaves are narrow elliptic (oval, broadest at middle) to narrow ovate (broadest below the middle). Leaf stalks are densely hairy, up to 1 mm long. Leaf blades are 10-37 mm long and 2.5–6 mm wide. The side of the leaf blade facing away from the plant is hairy with scattered white rigid, bristly hairs. These hairs become denser and longer toward the margins of the leaf.

Flowers occur in clusters of 1 to 4 and are either functionally male, bisexual or functionally female.

The pale green fruit is egg-shaped and dry.

For a full species description see Copeland and Telford (2006).

Distribution

Endemic to NSW.

Known from a single population in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, approximately 40 km east of Walcha on the New England Tablelands.

The number of mature individuals is estimated to be very low, with fewer than 100 plants.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs in open forest along the rim of the Macleay River gorge at approximately 1,000 m altitude.
Grows on exposed cliff tops or more sheltered cliff-side sites with south-westerly to south-easterly aspects in shallow skeletal loam soils over metasediments.
Known to flower in October. Likely to flower throughout spring.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Risk of extinction from stochastic environmental events due to the highly restricted distribution and small population size.
Inappropriate fire regimes including fire frequency, intensity, seasonality and scale.
Competition and habitat degradation caused by feral goats.
Extreme drought.
Lack of ecological knowledge.

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

Survey of potential habitat.
Collection of seed or other material for ex situ storage.
Determine response to fire and manage local populations to protect mature plants and investigate recruitment.
Control of feral goats.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Gorges	Known	None

Images

Pimelea cremnophila, foliage and flowers
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