Winged Peppercress - 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: Lepidium monoplocoides

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 03 Jan 2019

Description

Erect annual herb or perennial forb, 15-20 cm high, with angular and striped stems roughened with small warts. Leaves narrow and linear, mostly 2-7 cm long. Flowers small, borne in elongated clusters, the petals minute or absent. Fruit a 2-celled, flattened circular pod on a spreading stalk, 5 mm long and about 4 mm wide, with pointed wings extending to a narrow notch at the tip.

Distribution

Widespread in the semi-arid western plains regions of NSW. Collected from widely scattered localities, with large numbers of historical records but few recent collections. There is a single collection from Broken Hill and only two collections since 1915, the most recent being 1950. Also previously recorded from Bourke, Cobar, Urana, Lake Cargelligo, Balranald, Wanganella and Deniliquin. Recorded more recently from the Hay Plain, south-eastern Riverina, and from near Pooncarie.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs on seasonally moist to waterlogged sites, on heavy fertile soils, with a mean annual rainfall of around 300-500 mm. Predominant vegetation is usually an open woodland dominated by Allocasuarina luehmannii (Bulloak) and/or eucalypts, particularly Eucalyptus largiflorens (Black Box) or Eucalyptus populnea (Poplar Box). The field layer of the surrounding woodland is dominated by tussock grasses.
Recorded in a wetland-grassland community comprising Eragrostis australasicus, Agrostis avenacea, Austrodanthonia duttoniana, Homopholis proluta, Myriophyllum crispatum, Utricularia dichotoma and Pycnosorus globosus, on waterlogged grey-brown clay. Also recorded from a Maireana pyramidata shrubland.
Flowers from late winter to spring, or August to October.
The species is highly dependent on seasonal conditions. Occurs in periodically flooded and waterlogged habitats and does not tolerate grazing disturbance.
The number of plants at each site varies greatly with seasonal conditions, but sites tend to be small in area with local concentrations of the plant. Has been recorded as uncommon to locally common with hundreds of plants at sites.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Agricultural development (most of the former range of the species has been extensively used for agriculture, cropping and improved pasture).
Habitat removal (small depressions that were former principal habitat eliminated by ploughing).
Grazing (the species is highly palatable to rabbits and kangaroos).
Disturbances associated with a Navy-owned communications tower, service roads and fire-breaks.
Pugging and trampling by stock.
Recreational 4WD vehicles churn up solid surface and significantly disturb habitat structure.

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

Fence all sites to exclude grazing by domestic stock, rabbits and kangaroos, especially in those places where kangaroo numbers are high.
The Morundah site in the southern Riverina has been recommended for conservation as a Nature Reserve; desirable that the Navy tower be moved to another location.
No further loss of extant populations.
Research into species habitat to assist in the location of areas that could support the plant and be suitable sites for reintroduction.
Report any new record of the plant to the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Information sources

Benson, J.S., Ashby, E.M. and Porteners, M.F. (1996) The native grasslands of the southern Riverina, New South Wales. Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
Benson, J.S., Ashby, E.M. and Porteners, M.F. (1997) The native grasslands of the Riverine Plain, New South Wales. Cunninghamia 5(1): 1-48
Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Clements, A., Rodd, T., Moore, R.J., Crane, A.G. and Simpson, J. (2000) Surveys of areas having potentially high botanical diversity near Pooncarie, South Far Western Plains. Cunninghamia 6(3): 611-643.
Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
Hewson, H.J. (1981) The genus Lepidium L. (Brassicaceae) in Australia. Brunonia 4(2): 217-308.
Hewson, H.J. (1982) Brassicaceae. 13. Lepidium. Flora of Australia 8: 256-283.
Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part I. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
Leigh, J.H. and Briggs, J.D. (eds.) (1992) Threatened Australian Plants - overview and case studies. (Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra)
Mueller, F.J.H. von (1855) Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants. Transactions of the Philosophical Society of Victoria 1.
Porteners, M.F. (1993) The natural vegetation of the Hay Plain: Booligal-Hay and Deniliquin-Bendigo 1:250 000 maps. Cunninghamia 3(1): 1-122
Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
Retter, L. and Harden, G.J. (1990) Lepidium. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.
Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. (1983) Flora of South-Eastern Queensland. Volume 1. (Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane)
Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1998) Flora of Victoria; Volume 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Predicted
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Boorindal Plains	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Great Darling Anabranch	Known
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Pooncarie-Darling	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Known
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Predicted
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Known
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Predicted
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Known
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Predicted
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Known
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Predicted
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None