Leafless Indigo - 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: Indigofera efoliata

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 29 Jun 2022

Description

Broom-like subshrub to 40 cm high, with a woody rootstock. The shrubs are erect and multi-stemmed, and older plants appear leafless with their naked leaf stems. When present, leaves are 1.5-3.5 cm long, composed of 5-9 rounded leaflets up to 4 mm long and 2 mm wide, which are only present at the base of the annual growth. Flowers pea-like and pink. Pod cylindrical, 20-25 mm long and sparsely hairy. Indigofera efoliata is also different to all other Australian species with which it could be confused in having a much shorter inflorescence (flower bearing system)(4-15 mm long).

Distribution

Very rare and was presumed extinct with the last known collection made in 1955 with three unvouchered reports from Goonoo State Forest in 1963. In spring 2021 the species was rediscovered near Geurie.
Indigofera efoliata was only known only from a few collections in the Dubbo area. Known sites were located along the Dubbo to Minore railway line and road, on Wallaringa and Geurie properties and in Goonoo State Forest.

Habitat and ecology

Dies back to a substantial underground rootstock in unfavourable seasons and it is possible that aerial parts do not appear at all unless there is significant rainfall.
Associated species include Allocasuarina luehmannii, Exocarpos cupressiformis, Alectryon oleifolius, Geijera parviflora, Eucalyptus melliodora, Acacia deanei, Acacia buxifolia, Acacia hakeoides, Acacia spectabilis, Acacia lineata, Acacia oswaldii, Eremophila mitchellii, Myoporum platycarpum, Hakea leucoptera, Dodonaea viscosa, Apophyllum anomalum, Cassinia aculeata and Lissanthe strigosa.
Herbarium records indicate that Indigofera efoliata flowers from August to October and fruits from November to February.
Recorded in Goonoo State Forest in Eucalyptus crebra and Callitris glaucophylla dry sclerophyll forest, and in Eucalyptus microcarpa and Callitris glaucophylla tall woodland. Herbarium records note the species as growing on slight rises amongst ironstone formation in stony red-brown sandy loam.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Available ecological information indicates the species is extinct from almost all known localities.
Clearing and habitat disturbance.
Over-collecting may have contributed to the decline of the species.
Insufficient understanding of threats.
Risk of stochastic events destroying few known individuals.

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

Report any sightings of Indigofera efoliata to the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Priority targeted surveys to determine if the species still exists.

Information sources

Biddiscombe, E.F. (1963) A Vegetation Survey in the Macquarie Region, New South Wales. Division of Plant Industry Paper No. 18. CSIRO, Australia.
Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Kalin Arroyo, M.T. (1981) Breeding systems and pollination biology in Leguminosae. In Polhill, R.M. and Raven, P.H. (eds) Advances in Legume Systematics. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Mackay, D. (1997) Indigofera efoliata Field Survey Strategy. Report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NPWS, Sydney.
Mackay, D. (1997) Indigofera efoliata Survey 1997. Report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NPWS, Sydney.
Mackay, D. (1998) Field Surveys for Indigofera efoliata - Spring 1998. Report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NPWS, Sydney.
Mackay, D. and Gross, C.L. (1997) A Review of the Biology and Ecology of Indigofera efoliata. Report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NPWS, Sydney.
Mackay, D. and Gross, C.L. (1998) Indigofera efoliata Survey - Part 1. Draft Interim report. Report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NPWS, Sydney.
Maiden, J.H. (1908) Illustrations of New South Wales Plants. Part 2. Government Printer, Sydney.
Mueller, F.J.H. von (1883) Notes on Australian Indigoferas. The Australasian Chemist and Druggist 6: 55.
Wilson, P.G. (2002) Indigofera. In Flora of NSW, Vol. 2, G.J. Harden, ed. pp. 566-569. UNSW Press. Kensington, NSW.