North Rothbury Persoonia - 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: Persoonia pauciflora

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Gazetted date: 06 Aug 1999

Profile last updated: 12 Aug 2019

Description

A small spreading shrub, 0.1 - 1.4 m high and 0.4 - 2.0 m wide, with bright green needle-like leaves up to 3.5 mm long and 0.8 mm wide that are moderately hairy while the plant is young. It has small yellow flowers which are borne singly between the leaf and plant stem and which produce fleshy green berries in autumn.

Distribution

Extremely restricted distribution; all but one of the plants which make up the only known population occur within a 2.5 km radius of the original specimen at North Rothbury in the Cessnock local government area. Within this range, there are three main sub-populations which comprise approximately 90% of the total population. The other 10% of the population occurs as scattered individuals in what is a relatively disturbed landscape.

Habitat and ecology

It is found in dry open forest or woodland dominated by Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata), Broad-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa) and/or Narrow-leaved Ironbark (E. crebra) and supporting a moderate to sparse shrub layer and grassy groundcover. The majority of the population is known to occur on silty sandstone soils derived from the Farley Formation.
Flowers from January through to May. Its breeding system is unknown, but it is likely that native bees are required for pollination. Seedlings are present in most sub-populations which indicates that the population is capable of reproducing under favourable conditions.
Its fire ecology is also unknown but, like other smooth-barked Persoonia species, it is probably killed by fire.
Disturbance events such as grazing, fire and slashing have impacted on both the size and age structure of the population. Plants are absent from comparable habitat that is grazed and/or frequently burnt or slashed.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Sydney Basin

Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation due to clearing for agriculture and residential development.
Inappropriate fire regimes.
The species is susceptible to extinction via stochastic processes due to its restricted distribution/area of occupancy.
Roadside management.
Slashing and grazing management causing general habitat degradation.
Competition from increasing weed densities and further invasion.
Grazing by overabundant native herbivores.

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

Reinstate an appropriate fire regime which protects the species from frequent fire.
Fence off areas supporting the species to preclude stock .
Protect and actively manage populations through covenants and the preparation/implementation of site-specific vegetation management plans.
Improve vegetative connectivity between and within sub-populations through revegetation/regeneration program
Monitor population health and numbers for any changes.
Map the extent of the species and avoid slashing in known or potential habitat.

Information sources

Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2, Revised Edition. UNSW, Sydney.
NSW Scientific Committee (1999) Persoonia pauciflora (a spreading shrub) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
Patrick, G. (2000) Survey for the threatened plant species Persoonia pauciflora within the northern and central portions of the Cessnock City Council area. Unpublished report to NPWS.