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: Astrotricha sp. Wallagaraugh
Gazetted date:
16 Feb 2007
Profile last updated:
11 Feb 2019
Description
Merimbula Star-hair, is a single or multistemmed shrub up to 1 metre tall (rarely up to 1.8 m). The stems are more or less erect and the smaller branches are woolly. The leaves are 20-40 mm long (to 60 mm in juveniles) and 1.5-2 mm wide, sometimes broadening a little near the rounded tip. The leaves are hairy or woolly underneath. Flowers are cream coloured and appear between October and December.
Distribution
The Merimbula Star-hair has a highly restricted and severely fragmented distribution in NSW. It is currently known from only three localities. One population is along the upper reaches of the Wallagaraugh River about 30 km south-west of Eden (in Yambulla and Timbillica State Forests). A small population is located near Middle Beach in Merimbula. The largest population is centred on the township of Tura Beach north of Merimbula, lying partly along one edge of Bournda National Park. Some of this population is concentrated in disturbed roadside habitat. It also occurs in adjacent and relatively undisturbed bushland but at apparently lower frequency. In Victoria, the species is known from occasional records in the catchments of the lower Wallagaraugh River and the upper lake of Mallacoota Inlet, areas which are more or less contiguous with the more southerly of the NSW populations.
Habitat and ecology
- The southern (Yambulla/Timbillica) population occurs on shallow gravelly granitic soils in fairly dry open forests dominated by rough-barked eucalypts including Eucalyptus consideniana and E. croajingalongensis, with a rich shrub layer including some or all of Leptospermum spp., Kunzea ambigua, Dodonaea spp., Hakea spp., Pomaderris spp. and Acacia terminalis.
- The northern (Bournda) population occurs on deep grey-white sands in rough-barked eucalypt forest (Eucalyptus sieberi and E. globoidea dominant) with Banksia serrata, Acacia longifolia and Grevillea mucronulata.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Broad scale land clearance resulting from urban development threatens a number of populations.
- Urban-boundary threats may include: vegetation clearance and modification as well as unauthorised track development and vehicular damage.
- Disturbance from recreational and forestry/fire vehicles.
- Inappropriate slashing and/or track maintenance.
- Weed invasion and associated weed control measures may both adversely affect the species.
- Extent of population unknown.
- Insufficient understanding into threatening processes.
- Inappropriate fire regime.
- Occurrences of the soil pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi are known from the Mount Imlay area, about 5 km to the north-east of the southern population. The closest confirmed and suspected P. cinnamomi occurrence to the northern population are about 25-30 km away (Ben Boyd National Park and Nullica State Forest), but closer occurrences are possible.
- Potential direct and indirect impact of forestry operations.
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
- Investigate the long-term response of the species to fire
- Ensure road maintenance activities in the northern population do not detrimentally interfere with the population.
- The construction of bollards or fencing along the northern roadside population if slashing and vehicle access are identified as threatening process.
Information sources
- Henwood, M.J. and Makinson, R.O. (1992) Astrotricha. Pp. 80-4 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 3. (University of New South Wales Press, Kensington)
- Henwood, M.J., Makinson, R.O. and Maling, K.L. (1990) Araliaceae - Astrotricha. Pp. 244-52 in Walsh, N.G. and Entwistle, T.J. (eds.). Flora of Victoria. Volume 4. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)
- NSW Scientific Committee (2007) Astrotricha sp. Wallagaraugh - Endangered species determination - final.
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