Indicative distribution
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.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Solanum armourense
Gazetted date:
07 Nov 2003
Profile last updated:
04 Mar 2024
Description
A shrub 1 - 1.8 m tall, with dense, grey or brown, stellate-haired branches that are sparsely armed with long prickles on the branches and leaves and sometimes the calyx. Leaves are elliptical (may appear oblong-acuminate) with rounded ends, 2.9 - 10 cm long, 0.6 - 3 cm wide, generally with sinuate margins, and sometimes have lobes on each side of the leaf (more typically in juveniles). The upper leaf surface is grey-green and lower leaf surface is paler, both stellate-hairy with the underside more so, and plants may have a purple hue from the hairs. Flowers are light to dark purple and have contrasting orange stamens, rotate (rounded in appearance) to shallowly stellate, 15-18 mm in diameter, 1-4 on an inflorescence. The fruit is a green smooth berry (occasionally darker or toned purple-black), 13 - 16 mm in diameter on pedicels 8-11 mm in length.
Distribution
Confined to a relatively small area west and southwest of Sydney, from the Kowmung Valley within Blue Mountains and Kanangra Boyd national parks south to the Wombeyan area. Most known locations occur within national park and other conservation estate, but the species is also known from private lands.
Habitat and ecology
- Occurs in eucalypt woodland, in shallow soil on steep rocky hillsides.
- Flowers August to May, peaking in warmer months.
- Fire sensitive obligate seeder, with adults plants killed by fire and recruitment occurring from a soil stored seed bank.
- Occurrences of the species appear to reflect the presence of limestone (either as an outcrop or lime-rich metamorphic sediments) and associate with landforms that reflect the presence of limestone / calcite-rich sediments.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Given extremely small population size and restricted distribution, threatened by local extinction due to environmental and demographic uncertainty.
- Habitat loss due to clearing for agriculture and urban development.
- Inappropriate fire regimes, particularly frequent fire.
- Potential for invasion of habitat by serrated tussock and Pittosporum undulatum
- Most known populations occur adjacent to roads or tracks where potential damage from maintenance activities or fire management is a threat.
- Potentially threatened with infestation by the Tomato Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus evansi)
- Occasionally impacted by rutting and digging by pigs in areas of the populations, possibly attracted by fruit smell
- Portions of one population (Murphys Crossing) have been identified as hosting a small jewel-type beetle that ate holes in the foliage and appeared to reduce reproductive fitness.
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
- Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing.
- Survey of known populations, and potential habitat, to provide greater insight into the current status of the species, threats to its persistence and management actions required.
- Identify and treat weed management issues with in relatively short timeframes as the plant is not likely to be particularly competitive.
Information sources
- Bean, A.R. (2001) A revision of Solanum brownii Dunal (Solanaceae) and its allies. Telopea 9, 639-661.
- NSW Scientific Committee (2003) Solanum armourense (a shrub) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
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