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: Almaleea cambagei
Profile last updated:
25 Feb 2024
Description
Torrington Pea is a short, spindly shrub up to 2 m tall, with small leaves and orange-yellow pea flowers. The leaves are 3 - 10 mm long and 0.5 -1.5 mm wide with rounded tips. They have a minutely warty or rough underside and are pressed against the stems. The stems are covered with soft hairs. The brightly coloured flowers are about 5mm wide and grow at the end of the stems, but plants may be quite inconspicuous when not in flower. Small seed pods, 3 - 5 mm long, follow the September-November flowering period.
Distribution
The majority of Almaleea cambagei populations occur within Torrington State Conservation Area on the New England Tablelands, with a few populations potentially occurring in the adjacent agricultural lands. There are records from the Mt Slow area near Henry River. The species is also reported from Girraween National Park in Queensland.
Habitat and ecology
- May require regular fire to maintain populations. Too-infrequent fire may lead to population decline, particularly if the fire interval is greater than 20 years.
- Usually grows in wet heath and acid swamp areas and along watercourses on granite, above 900 m altitude.
- Associated species include Baeckea omissa, Epacris microphylla, Callistemon sieberi, Leptospermum and Restio species.
- Flowers from September to November. The species does not spread vegetatively and is probably an obligate seeder.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing and drainage of habitat for agriculture and grazing.
- Inappropriate fire regimes (too frequent and too intense) including risk from prescribed burning and uncontrolled fires due lightning strikes and arson. The species is an obligate seeder with poor recruitment and is sensitive to fire.
- Grazing by domestic stock.
- Pig rooting in swampy areas where the species occurs destroys habitat and disturbs the seed bank for the species.
- Maintenance and construction of roads and tracks.
- Mining.
- Habitat degradation associated with recreational fossicking and camping.
- Insufficient understanding of distribution and/or abundance
- Weeds
- Browsing pressure from introduced herbivores (e.g. rabbits) and trampling/disturbance from feral ungulates (e.g. deer, horses).
- Development and human disturbance associated with ski resorts, such as slope grooming, expansion of ski run and accommodation facilities, picking of flowers by recreational visitors, and creation of bike tracks.
- Climate change associated changes in vegetation structure (change scrub cover from grassland to shrubland) within preferred habitat. Warming and drying of the alpine ecosystem reducing suitable habitat and ecological conditions (e.g. decreasing habitat moisture).
- Prolonged drought is likely to reduce soil moisture for adult plants and germination of seedlings. The species occurs in a narrow climatic envelope, is not deep-rooted and its rock habitat is susceptible to climate change impacts (e.g. drying out)
- Potential threat of browsing on plants by feral and native herbivores including feral goats and deer. This threat is exacerbated by drought and post fire when food resources are scarce
- Loss of habitat including fragmentation and lack of connectivity to surrounding habitat as a result of urban and rural development
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
19 priority actions
to help recover the Torrington Pea in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Support local Landcare groups.
- Assist with the control of feral pigs in habitat areas.
- Manage fire in areas of known habitat to maintain populations of Torrington Pea by ensuring habitat is not burnt more frequently than every 5 years, and assess need for burning every 20 years.
- Protect known populations and habitat areas from grazing stock.
- Protect roadside populations during road maintenance.
- Protect known populations and areas of potential habitat from clearing or disturbance, including mining.
- Restoration of degraded areas of potential swamp habitat.
- Notify the DPE of any new records of Torrington Pea.
- Identify roadside populations and mark on maps used for planning maintenance activities.
Information sources
- Clarke, P.J., Knox, K.J.E., Campbell, M.L. and Copeland, L.M. (2009) Post-fire recovery of woody plants in the New England Tableland Bioregion. Cunninghamia 11(2): 221–239
- Crisp, M.D. and Weston, P.H. (1991) Almaleea, a new genus of Fabaceae from south-eastern Australia. Telopea 4(2):307-311
- Hogbin, P. (2002) Review of the Threatened Species Conservation Act Flora Schedules: Recommendations to the Scientific Committee.
- Hunter, J.T., Clarke, P.J., Copeland, L.M., Nano, C.E., Williams, J.B. and Wills, K.E. (1998) The Vegetation and Plant Species of Torrington State Recreation Area (Division of Botany, University of New England, Armidale).
- Maiden, J.H. and Betche, E. (1908) Notes from the Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales Series 2(33):308
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Torrington State Conservation Area Plan of Management.
- Quinn, F., Williams, J.B., Gross, C.L. and Bruhl, J. (1995) Report on Rare and Threatened Plants of north-eastern New South Wales. Report prepared for the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency.
- Thompson, J. (1961) Papilionaceae. Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium Flora Ser. 101 Part I: 1-91
- Weston, P.H. and Crisp, M.D. (2002) Almaleea. Pp 540-541 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2, Revised Edition. (University of New South Wales Press, Sydney)
- Williamson, H.B. (1921) A revision of the genus Pultenaea, Part II. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 33:145
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|