Red-flowered King of the Fairies - 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: Oberonia titania

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 07 Nov 2003

Profile last updated: 11 Oct 2022

Description

Red-flowered King of the Fairies is a small orchid which grows on trees and rocks. Each plant possesses one to several shoots in a tight, iris-like clump. There are 4-10 leaves per shoot. The leaves are narrowly oval- to spear-shaped, 1-8 cm long, 2-8 mm wide, and green to greenish pink in colour. About 50-350 tiny red flowers are borne on erect to drooping stems 5-17 cm long in autumn and spring.

Distribution

Red-flowered King of the Fairies occurs on the NSW north coast north from Kendall, and also in in Queensland and Norfolk Island. It is known from 10 locations in NSW, two of which occur within Dorrigo National Park and Washpool National Park.

Habitat and ecology

Red-flowered King of the Fairies occurs in littoral and subtropical rainforest and paperbark swamps, but it can also occur in eucalypt-forested gorges and in mangroves.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Clearing for urban development leading to edge effects, removal of habitat, degradation (e.g., dumping of garden waste) and further fragmentation
Collection by orchid enthusiasts.
Inappropriate fire regimes (too severe and too intense) including risk from uncontrolled fires due arson and prescribed burning. The species is sensitive to fire, and burning at the wrong time of year, or in the wrong area are critical threats to Melaleuca swamp forest habitat where the species occurs.
Climate change impacts (including extended drought, loss of long damp periods and increased fire intensity and frequency) reducing soil moisture for plants, reducing germination of seedlings, increasing susceptibility of host plants to disease (e.g. myrtle rust) and desiccating habitat making it susceptible to fire.
Forestry operations and private land clearing, degrading and removing individual plants and habitat for the species
Habitat invasion and competition by multiple weeds (including moth vine, morning glory, camphor laurel and large leaved privet) reduces habitat suitability and suppresses recruitment and growth of the plant.
Insufficient understanding of the species response to climate change threats such as sea level rise, inundation and wind and salt incursions.
Loss of habitat through clearing for road construction and maintenance. Clearing increases edge effects and alters hydrology at the site (e.g., drying or over wetting of swamps)
Habitat loss and degradation from tea tree farming reducing habitat availability and increasing edge effects (e.g., weeds, human disturbance)
Insufficient understanding of species distribution due to threatening processes such as inappropriate fire regimes
Insufficient understanding of the species' response to climate change threats such as sea level rise, inundation and wind and salt incursions.
Potential for the decline in health and/or loss of host plants due to infection by myrtle rust.

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 7 priority actions to help recover the Red-flowered King of the Fairies in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Protect areas of habitat from clearing or fragmentation.
Protect plants from collection.

Information sources

Bishop, T. (2000) Field Guide to the Orchids of New South Wales and Victoria. (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)
Dockrill, A.W. (1992) Australian Indigenous Orchids, Revised Edition. SGAP, NSW Region, Sydney.
Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1993) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 4. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
NSW Scientific Committee (2003) Oberonia titania (an orchid) - Vulnerable species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None

Images

Flower spikes, foliage and form, Red-flowered King of the Fairies Image 1 of 3.
View slideshow.

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