Philotheca papillata - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

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: Philotheca papillata

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Gazetted date: 21 May 2021

Profile last updated: 14 Oct 2024

Description

Philotheca papillata is described by Telford and Copeland (2006) as: “Shrub, erect,multistemmed, to 60 cm tall, bearing root suckers. Branchlets pilose, pale greenbeneath the white indumentum. Leaves incurved, narrow-elliptic, 9–12 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, acute, the margins recurved, crenate, verrucose with 4 or 5 glands oneach side of lower surface, both surfaces papillate. Stipules minute, dark purple tolack. Flowers solitary, terminal, on pedicels c. 0.5 mm long. Sepals 5, suborbicular,1.5–2 mm long, pubescent. Corolla of 5 free petals, white to pale pink. Petals elliptic,7–10 mm long, pubescent on both surfaces, the abaxial surface sparsely verrucose.Stamens 10, 6.5–8 mm long. Filaments fused at base for 4–5 mm. Anthers ovate,apiculate, c. 1.2 mm long, the apicula glabrous or minutely papillate. Gynoecium of5 basally-fused carpels, the carpels tomentose, pale green; style terete, broadeningtowards the base, c. 4 mm long, pilose on lower three-quarters; stigma capitate,minutely 5-lobed. Disc obscure. Fruit not seen.” Flowering has been recorded in August (Sheringham 2019) and September (Telford and Copeland 2006).

Distribution

The geographic distribution of Philotheca papillata is very highly restricted. The species is known only from the type locality of a sandstone cliff escarpment in Sherwood Nature Reserve, east of Glenreagh, northern NSW.

Habitat and ecology

The species occurs primarily in areas of low heath with emergent Needlebark Stringybark (Eucalyptus planchoniana), and a sparse shrub layer of Black She-oak (Allocasuarina littoralis) and Old Man Banksia (Banksia serrata). There is a dense layer to about 1.5 metres high of Fern-leaved Banksia (Banksia oblongifolia), Leptospermum trinervium, Mountain Devil (Lambertia formosa), Phebalium woombye, Woolsia pungens, Pseudanthus pauciflorus, Baeckea diosmifolia, Pultenaea rostrata Lepidosperma laterale, Caustis flexuosa, Pultenaea rostrata and Dillwnia trichopoda. A small number of individuals extend into the adjoining Needle bark Stringybark tall shrubland This habitat comprises an upper layer of Needlebark Stringybark with a dense lower shrub layer of Hakea laevipes, Fern-leaved Banksia (Banksia oblongifolia), Pultenaea rostrata, Shannon Creek Boronia (Boronia hapalophylla), Xanthorhhoea sp. There is a sparse layer of Philothrix deusta, Lepidosperma laterale and Caustis flexuosa. The endangered Shannon Creek Boronia (Boronia hapalophylla) occurs sporadically though this community.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

South Eastern Queensland

Threats

Too frequent fire.
Species Is susceptible to Phytophthora and root fungus.
Low genetic diversity and inbreeding.
Lack of knowledge surrounding the pollinators for this species.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 0 priority actions to help recover the Philotheca papillata in New South Wales.