Pultenaea villifera Sieber ex DC. population in the Blue Mountains local government area - 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: Pultenaea villifera - endangered population

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Population

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 23 Aug 2002

Profile last updated: 04 Mar 2024

Description

A spreading to erect shrub to 1 m tall with moderately hairy stems. Leaves are alternate, lance-shaped, taper to an acute point, are sparsely to moderately hairy and are to 20 x 5 mm in size. The yellow to orange pea-like flowers are 10 - 12 mm long and occur in subterminal inflorescences of 1 or rarely 2 flowers, often on lateral short shoots. Fruit is a swollen pod to 5 mm long.

Distribution

Has a patchy distribution within NSW, occurring within the South and Central Coasts and Southern Tablelands. The population of P. villifera in the Blue Mountains Local Government Area is disjunct from other known populations and occurs only at a few small sites in the Springwood-Woodford Area. One of these populations occurs within Blue Mountains National Park.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands on sandy soil and appears to favour sheltered spots.
Flowers all year, with peak flowering July to December.
Fire sensitive (although can resprout following low intensity fire), with recruitment occurring from a persistent soil stored seed bank following fire.

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 rural/ residential development.
Road upgrades and maintenance of road verges, powerlines and water mains can cause direct damage to plants as well as erosion, sedimentation, weed invasion and other forms of degradation to the species habitat.
Inappropriate fire frequency reduces the ability of the species to reproduce effectively.
Reduction of pollination and/or dispersal effectiveness due to habitat loss and fragmentation from clearing for housing and infrastructure.
Low genetic diversity and small, isolated population impacting the adaptive capacity of the species.
Recreational users including mountain bike riders and walkers causing habitat disturbance and direct damage to plants.
Browsing and trampling by deer prevents recruitment and causes erosion.
Rabbits causing damage through grazing, warren activity and eutrophication due to droppings.
Feral goats grazing, browsing and stamping of adult plants and seedling, and also causing habitat disturbance such as erosion.
Invasion and establishment of weed species reducing available habitat, preventing recruitment and suppressing germination.

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

Ensure personnel undertaking road and track maintenance are familiar with Pultenaea villifera and its habitat.
Implement mosaic burning of appropriate habitat on a 10 to 40 year cycle, burning only a small proportion of the habitat in any one year. Following occurrence of wildfire, monitoring is required prior to additional ecological burns.
Introduce measures to prevent habitat degradation related to unrestricted access to habitat.
Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing and further fragmentation.

Information sources

de Kok. R.P.J. and West, J.G. (2003) A revision of the genus Pultenaea (Fabaceae) 2. Eastern Australian Species with velutinous ovaries and incurved leaves. Australian Systematic Botany 16, 229-273.
Fairley, A. (2004) Seldom seen: rare plants of greater Sydney. (Reed New Holland, Sydney)
Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2, Revised Edition. UNSW, Sydney.
NSW Scientific Committee (2002) Pultenaea villifera population in the Blue Mountains Local Government Area - Endangered population determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.