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: Hibbertia stricta subsp. furcatula
Gazetted date:
10 Aug 2007
Profile last updated:
20 Dec 2022
Description
Hibbertia stricta subsp. furcatula is a small shrub growing to 1.3 m in height and up to 70 cm wide. It is usually upright in habit, and is densely covered with hairs on the branchlets, flowers, and less densely on the leaves. Leaves are alternate, linear, 7 - 15 mm long, 0.5 - 0.8 mm wide, and are unevenly spaced and often appearing somewhat whorled. The subspecies is identified by fine forked fascicled hairs along the centre of the upper surface of the leaves. Flowers are solitary, mostly on short lateral branchlets growing from the end of the stalk. There are 6 to 8 stamens with 0.5 - 0.7 mm long filaments and the anthers are 2 - 3 mm long. There are two carpels that are 0.8 - 1 mm long.
Distribution
Hibbertia stricta subsp. furcatula (Hibbertia sp. nov. 'Menai') is known to occur in two populations, one in the southern outskirts of Sydney, and one near Nowra on the mid-South Coast of NSW. The Southern Sydney population occurs on both sides of the Woronora River gorge, near Loftus and in Royal National Park. The southern population is mainly in the vicinity of Nowra.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitat of the Southern Sydney population is broadly dry eucalypt forest and woodland. This population appears to occur mainly on upper slopes and above the Woronora River gorge escarpment, at or near the interface between the Lucas Heights soil landscape and Hawkesbury sandstone.
- Toelken & Miller (2012) note that the species usually grows in 'gravelly loam or clay soil in heath under open woodland'.
- Habitat of the South Coast population is poorly recorded, but appears to be dry sclerophyll forest or woodland associations in sandy soils over sandstone.
- Hibbertia sp. nov. 'Menai' flowers in spring and summer ('September to January (February)' in Toelken & Miller (2012) yet also noted as July to about December (in NSW Flora online) and 'winter to summer' (Flora of the Sydney Region).
- Its longevity, seed biology, and most aspects of its ecology are unknown, although in common with most species of Hibbertia it is probably pollinated primarily by bees.
- It appears to propagate by seed, with no evidence to date of vegetative reproduction or regeneration.
Regional distribution and habitat
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Threats
- The scale of urban development in recent decades in both population areas, and the surviving occurrences in the Menai/Bangor region of the Southern Sydney population alongside recently constructed roadways and housing estates, suggests that there has been significant recent destruction of suitable habitat and a high probability of significant recent declines in both numbers of plants and areas of occupancy.
- Mainly in disturbed bushland remnants with very low numbers of plants.
- Too frequent fire due to inappropriate fire regime
- Trampling and off-road vehicle use are problematic for the populations of the species.
- Development of infrastructure servicing housing and industrial areas
- Threatened by weeds, road verge maintenance work (potentially including weed spraying) and changed drainage patterns.
- road verge maintenance work (potentially including weed spraying)
- This species is threatened by road verge maintance work, inlcuding slashing and weed spraying.
- Some recent work suggests that the subspecies is not clearly distinct from the type subspecies in some populations (particularly in Nowra area)
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 Hibbertia stricta subsp. furcatula in New South Wales.
Activities to assist this species
- Control weeds and ensure desirable species are not damaged.
- Investigate the impacts of land usage change within the populations.
- Protect the populations from damaging urban development.
- Clarification of the taxonomic distinctiveness of the entity in all populations.
Information sources
- Harden, G.J. and Everett, J. (2000) Dilleniaceae. In: Harden, G.J. (ed.). Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 1. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW
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