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.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Zieria ingramii
Profile last updated:
01 Aug 2024
Description
Slender, spindly shrub to 0.6 m high, with distinctly aromatic trifoliolate leaves. Leaves composed of 3 narrow leaflets, each 9-19 mm long and 1-3 mm wide, upper surface not warted but dotted with oil glands above. Lower surface of leaves not warted however with long simple hairs. Flowers are white to pale pink with 4 petals about 3 mm long, hairy outside and hairless inside. Fruit composed of 4 slightly warted fruitlets.
Distribution
Known predominately from Goonoo and Cobbora SCA, about 40 km north-east of Dubbo. Also known to occur west of Tuckland State Forest. An old record exists from a locality east of Mogriguy on the Mendooran Road, however searches of the area have not relocated the species.
One record also occurs within Kings Plains National Park, 48 km south of Inverell.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows in dry sclerophyll forest on light sandy soils. All known populations have been recorded in Eucalyptus-Callitris woodland or open forest with a shrubby to heathy understorey. Eucalyptus dwyeri appears to be a key predictor of Z. ingramii distribution.
- Mostly from gentle slopes in red-brown and yellow-brown sandy loams, often with a rocky surface.
- Associated and understorey species include Eucalyptus crebra, E. fibrosa, E. dwyeri, E. beyeriana, E. microcarpa, Callitris endlicheri, Allocasuarina diminuta, A. distyla, A. verticillata, Leptospermum divaricatum, L. parvifolium, Acacia triptera, Acacia gladiiformis, Acacia brownii, Grevillea floribunda, G. triternata, Hakea decurrens, Boronia glabra, Philotheca salsolifolia, Leucopogon attenuatus, Melaleuca uncinata, M. erubescens, Kunzea parvifolia, Calytrix tetragona, Brachyloma daphnoides, Melichrus urceolatus, Cassinia aculeata, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. spatulata, D. peduncularis, D. heteromorpha, Dillwynia sericea, Hibbertia riparia, Dampiera lanceolata, Dianella longifolia, Prostanthera species and Goodenia species.
- Flowering time is in spring and plants bear fruit in summer. Plants can produce flowers and fruits any time between July and March.
- Grows only in small localised populations within the north-east and central areas of Goonoo SCA, however further searches are warranted within the western area of Goonoo SCA. Population sizes vary from 6 to 80 individuals. The age structure within populations may be even and single-aged or uneven and multi-aged.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Laying of buried telecommunications cables (has disturbed sites beside the Dubbo to Mendooran road).
- Roadside and track maintenance directly damages and removes individual plants, degrades habitat, and compacts soil. Clearing and thinning roadside vegetation damages individual plants, and changes community structure and environmental variables (such as increased light, altered water flow), which affect habitat suitability. Long-established populations appear to tolerate sporadic disturbance associated with roadside maintenance but may not be resilient to continued and frequent trail and roadside grading.
- High frequency fire may disrupt the life cycle of the species or alter the structure and composition of the habitat. Conversely, fire may be a critical factor in the germination of seeds and its absence could potentially be detrimental to the species.
- Fire-wood gathering.
- Poor drainage along roadsides and water impoundment along table and mitre drains drowns individual plants.
- Coolatai, African lovegrass and other weeds and exotic perennial grasses, which are spread by vehicles and road maintenance equipment, encroach upon and compete with the species. Broadscale roadside weed spraying affects the species.
- Grazing pressure from goats, particularly during drought, impacts the species because the foliage is attractive and palatable.
- Likely vulnerability to Phytophthora as a Rutaceae species. Phytophthora can be spread by vehicles and road maintenance equipment.
- Small population is vulnerable to localised extinctions from catastrophic events and to a lack of genetic diversity and breeding viability.
- Lack of knowledge of threats to the species on freehold tenure.
- Lack of knowledge of the abundance and distribution of the species on freehold tenure.
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
9 priority actions
to help recover the Keith's Zieria in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Appropriate fire management.
- Protection of sites from track construction and gravel extraction.
- Protection of sites from any physical disturbances.
- No further loss of extant populations or potential habitat.
- Report any new sightings of the species to the OEH.
Information sources
- Armstrong, J.A. (1991) Zieria. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.
- Armstrong, J.A. (1991) Studies on pollination and systematics in the Australian Rutaceae. PhD thesis. University of New South Wales, Sydney.
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1990) Delineation of Important Habitats of Threatened Plant Species in South-eastern New South Wales. Research Report to the Australian Heritage Commission. (CSIRO, Canberra)
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- CANB Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the Canberra Botanic Gardens and Australian National Botanic Gardens (CSIRO and Australian National Botanic Gardens: Canberra).
- Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (2005) Draft Recovery Plan for Zieria ingramii. NSW DEC, Sydney.
- Gross, C.L. and Mackay, D. (1998) A Review of the Biology and Ecology of Zieria species E (‘Z. ingramii J.A. Armstrong’ unpublished). Report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NPWS, Sydney.
- Mackay, D. (1997) Indigofera efoliata Survey 1997. Report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NPWS, Sydney.
- NSW Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of New South Wales (Royal Botanic Gardens: Sydney).
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