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.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Asterolasia rupestris subsp. recurva
Gazetted date:
05 Apr 2024
Profile last updated:
14 Oct 2024
Description
Upright shrub to 1.5m tall. Stems with a stellate indumentum. Leaves shortly petiolate, or frequently sessile; lamina obcordate or obdeltate, 9–20 mm long, 6–15 mm wide, papery, apex emarginate, sometimes truncate, base attenuate, slightly conduplicate, margins recurved or flat; adaxial surface with a dense indumentum of hyaline multiangular stellate trichomes (15–31 trichomes per mm2); abaxial surface cobwebbed with stalked, multi angular stellate trichomes; petiole when present somewhat thickened and flat, often appressed to the stem. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary umbel of3–5 flowers; peduncles 4–9 mm long; pedicels 6–15 mm long. Sepalsinconspicuous, 0.5–1 mm long. Petals 5, elliptic, 5–9 mm long, yellow, abaxialsurface with an indumentum of rust coloured stellate trichomes; adaxial surfaceglabrous. Stamens 10; filaments glabrous; anthers 1–2 mm long, each with aterminal gland. Carpels 5, stellate-tomentose; style glabrous; stigma hemispherical.Cocci beaked. Seed not seen.”
Distribution
Asterolasia rupestris subsp. recurva is restricted to the Parlour Mountains north west of Armidale on the New England Tableland, northern NSW. Only one population is known, with all individuals occurring along a single creekline on private freehold land (Mole et al. 2002; Copeland 2021).
Habitat and ecology
- All plants observed were in a layered open forest dominated by Apple Box (Eucalyptus bridgesiana), Youman’s Stringybark (E. youmanii), Silvertop Stringybark (E. laevopinea) and New England Blackbutt (E. andrewsii). Common shrubs included Grey Teatree (Leptospermum brevines), Blunt Beard-heath (Leucopogon muticus) and Broad-leaf Geebung (Persoonia cornifolia), while the ground layer was dominated by Silvertop Wallaby Grass (Rytidosperma pallidum). This community occurred either side of a small drainage line and all plants of Asterolasia rupestris subsp. recurva were within 100 m of the creek line, though they were in relatively dry areas and not necessarily associated with the creek or a riparian habitat. Interestingly, all plants occurred in loamy soils derived from acid volcanics, while no plants were seen immediately to the west where the geology changed to Parlour Mountains Leucoademellite, a type of granite. The altitude ranged from 1120-1150 m above sea level.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Extreme heat events and prolonged drought causing mortality of mature individuals and reduction of general plant health.
- Excessive browsing on plants and habitat degradation by feral herbivores such as pigs, goats and deer. This threat may be exacerbated by drought and post-fire when food resources are scarce.
- Potential for the subspecies to be susceptible to Phytophthora, causing dieback and death of plants.
- Inappropriate fire regimes.
- Small population size leading to increased risk of loss and rapid extinction of population.
- Insufficient understanding of the subspecies biology and ecology.
- Insufficient understanding of subspecies distribution and/or abundance.
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 Asterolasia rupestris subsp. recurva in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Develop a targeted seed collection program for ex situ seed banking
- monitor feral goat populations in the area, and install fencing if shown to be negatively impacting on individuals of their habitat •
monitor feral pig populations in the area, and install fencing if shown to be negatively impacting on individuals of their habitat
- undertake research to enable development of an appropriate fire regime for the taxon, focusing particularly on the impacts of frequent recurrent fire and the resilience of the soil seed bank.
- monitor population and its response to drought.
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