Plants

Rubber Vine

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The Problem with Rubber Vine

Rubber vine is a vigorous climber which can grow either as a many stemmed shrub 1-2 meters in height, or scrambling up to 30 meters in trees. It was introduced into Australia as an ornamental shrub during the 1800s. Rubber vine spreads through seeds borne by water or wind. It invades riparian vegetation along waterways hillsides and pastures and is poisonous to stock if eaten.

Rubber Vine is a Weed Of National Significance and is also Restricted Matter – Category 3 under the Biosecurity Act 2014. This means that it cannot be distributed or disposed of in any way.

The Rubber Vine plant

  • Rubber Vine stems, leaves and unripe pods expel a milky sap when broken or cut.
  • Leaves are in opposite and dark green, glossy 6-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide.
  • Flowers: five petals ranging from white to light purple in colour arranged in a funnel shape.
  • Seed pods 10-12 long, ridged and grow in pairs at the end of a short stalk.
  • The seed pods contain 450 brown seeds. These seeds each have a tuft of long white silky hairs.

Case Studies

References

Pond Apple

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The Problem with Pond Apple

Pond Apple (Annona glabra) is a major weed impacting areas in northern Queensland. Pond Apple was originally imported to Australia in 1912 as root stock for Custard Apple. Unfortunately its invasive nature was not realised until it was found growing in dense clumps in mangrove systems in Northern Queensland. Scattered dense infestations occur along the eastern coast and the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.

The potential distribution of Pond Apple includes north Western Australia, the top end of the Northern Territory, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait Islands, and along coastal areas along the eastern coast of Australia from Cape York to northern New South Wales.

During 2008 a pond apple infestation was located in Andergrove, a northern suburb of Mackay and again in 2009 a fruit was brought to the attention of local biosecurity officers. The fruit was collected from a tributary creek within the Reliance Creek Catchment also just north of Mackay. Upon identification an extensive search was carried out to identify the extent of the infestation.

Pond Apple is a small to medium tree that threatens mangroves, rainforests, and drainage systems including; creeks, river banks, coastal dunes and wetlands. Seed are spread primarily by water and have a high potential to be spread by animals including the southern cassowary and feral pigs.

This species is a Weed Of National Significance and is also Restricted Matter – Category 3 under the Biosecurity Act 2014. This means that it cannot be distributed or disposed of in any way.

The Pond Apple Tree

  • Young Pond Apple Tree: the typical height is 3-6 metres; however they can grow up to 15 metres.
  • Pond Apple is a soft wooded, semi-deciduous tree. This tree has a light grey bark with conspicuous lenticels.
  • The petals are a pale yellow to cream, with a red/pink inner base; 3 leathery outer petals, 3 smaller inner petals, 20-30 mm in diameter.
  • Flower buds are green and hang down, making flowers difficult to see at times.
  • The Leaves are alternate, simple, light to dark green, 70-120 mm long, prominent mid vain, distinct smell like green apples when crushed.
  • The Fruit is round, and fleshy  5-15 cm in diameter, immature fruit is green ripening to orange –yellow and turning black after falling from the tree. 100-200 brown seeds similar in size and shape to pumpkin seeds.

Further information

Mimosa Pigra – Giant Sensitive Tree

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The Problem with Mimosa Pigra

Mimosa pigra is a thorny legume shrub with many branches that grows along waterways and invades freshwater wetlands and swamps. Originally from Central and South America, it was planted at the Darwin Botanic Gardens in the late 1800s as a curiosity. Its invasive nature was not realised until the 1950s when it was observed growing in drainage lines and creeks.

It forms dense, impenetrable thickets, 3-6 meters high. If left untreated Mimosa pigra has the ability to restrict access to water impacting on recreational activities, tourism, stock watering points, pasture quality and mustering.

The Northern Territory has the most extensive infestation of Mimosa pigra, which covers an approximate area of 80,000 ha. In 2001 a local landholder discovered Mimosa pigra growing at Lake Proserpine (Peter Faust Dam). This infestation is one of only two infestations found outside of the Northern Territory, the other being on the Western Australian/Northern Territory Border.

Mimosa pigra is spread via water, contaminated soil, vehicles, boats, boat trailers, animals and through suckering.

This species is a Weed Of National Significance and is also Restricted Matter – Category 5 under the Biosecurity Act 2014. This means that it cannot be kept.

The Mimosa Pigra Plant

  • Flowers are light pink, round and fluffy balls generally 1-2 cm across.
  • Each leaf is approximately 25cm long and has up to 16 opposite segments, which consists of segments 5cm long made up of opposite pairs of leaflets. These leaflets fold up when touched or at night.
  • The thorns of Mimosa pigra resemble those found on a rose bush however on Mimosa pigra these thorns are much more numerous.
  • The seeds are oblong approximately 4-5 mm by 2 mm in size encased in a brown hairy segmented pod 6-8 cm in length.
  • Mimosa pigra seeds have an average seed life of 22 years.

References

  • Drewry. J, Higham W, Mitchell. C 2008, Water Quality Improvement Plan: Final report for Mackay Whitsunday region, Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group
  • The State of Queensland, Department of Environment and Resource Management 2011, REED Regional Ecosystem Description Database

Further information

Leucaena

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The Problem with Leucaena

Leucaena leucacephala is a large shrub, originating from Central America. In our tropical coastal area Leucaena leucacephala subspecies leucopehala has become a weed, invading creek banks, roadsides and mangrove margins. Experts advise that while the subspecies leucopehala is predominant, a number of other subspecies can be identified in the Mackay Whitsunday Region.

This specie, Leucaena leucacephala subspecies leucopehala, is often confused with Leucaena leucacephala subspecies glabrata which is widely grown in drier areas as cattle fodder. Due to the ability of this species to spread Leucaena leucacephala subspecies glabrata is grown under guidelines in a voluntary management agreement, designed to prevent spread out of managed pastures.

Leucaena leucacephala subspecies leucocephala is now a locally declared weed in the Whitsunday Regional Council boundaries.

The Plant

  • Leucaena leucacephala subspecies leucocephala is a small tree growing up to 6 meters in height.
  • It grows in dense clusters
  • Pods are brown and flattened 5.5 to 17 cm long and 15 to 20 mm wide. These pods contain 5-24 glossy brown seeds.

Further Information

Itch Grass

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The problem with Itch Grass

Itch grass is competitive with annual crops and invades sugarcane, pastures, and roadsides. It is difficult to manage once established. Because of its size and vigorous growth, itch grass is competitor for sugarcane and heavy infestations can cause severe crop loss.

While sometimes described as unpalatable to livestock, grazing has shown to reduce incidence of Itch grass.

A single large plant can produce 2,000 to 16,000 seeds that are shed by the plant as soon as they mature. It is a significant weed in several crops including maize, sugarcane, upland and rain-fed rice, beans, sorghum and perennials such as citrus and oil palm at early stages of growth.

Itch grass has a single stem that is cylindrical, hollow and branches into sheaths at upper nodes. The stem and leaves are covered in stiff hairs that can cause irritation to skin. Itch-grass leaves are blue-green in colour in good conditions but often yellowish, flat, 5-20 mm wide with round edges and a conspicuous pale mid-vein. Flower heads are borne in pairs that branch out from the upper nodes and form green spikes about 10cm long. As the heads mature, the cylindrical rice sized seeds progressively break free from the end and fall to the ground. Itch grass seed is known to germinate after the first significant rain in summer.

Hymenachne

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The Problem with Hymenachne

Native to South America, Hymenachne was introduced as a ponded pasture grass for cattle fodder. However this plant is highly invasive invading lagoons, wetlands, rivers, creeks and table drains. It interferes with the function of irrigation, infrastructure, recreational activities and wildlife habitats. It is spread through seeds and stem fragments dispersed by water, waterbirds and contaminated stock feed.

This weed has the potential to be confused with the native Hymenachne, Hymenachne acutigluma. The difference is the exotic introduced species has a distinctive stem-clasping leaf base, where as the native Hymenachne does not. The native species is a smaller tropical species that does not grow south of Mackay.

Hymenachne amplexicaulis is a Weed Of National Significance and is also Restricted Matter – Category 3 under the Biosecurity Act 2014. This means that it cannot be distributed or disposed of in any way.

The Plant

  • Hymenachne amplexicaulis is a perennial grass growing to 2.5 meters in height.
  • The leaf sheath strongly clasps at base with the blades 10 to 45 cm in length by 3-6 cm wide. Hairy at the margins and has light coloured veins.
  • The seed heads are 20 to 40 cm in length and are in a cylindrical, spike like arrangement.

References

Giant Rat’s Tail grass

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The Problem with Giant Rat’s Tail grass

Like other weedy sporobolus grasses, Giant Rat’s Tail grass (GRT) is an aggressive competitor that can reduce pasture productivity and significantly degrade natural areas. Flowering plants are long-lived and can exist for more than 4 years. Their foliage has low palatability for animals when mature and is therefore not selectively grazed. GRT is resistant to fire, slashing, grazing and high competition. However, it is sensitive to some herbicides.

Seed is produced all year around, but mostly in summer and autumn. A large soil seed bank forms quickly and seeds can live dormant in the soil for approximately 8 years.

GRT grows to an average maximum height of between 1.7-2m, with the seed head growing to 45cm long and 3cm wide. These seed heads are often darker coloured and change from a rats tail shape to an elongated pyramid shape. They can be difficult to differentiate from other pasture grasses before maturity. The leaves are noticeably tougher than other sporobolus grasses and our native sporobolus grasses tend to be shorter, softer and have lower density seed heads than GRT grass.

Weedy sporobolus grasses are aggressive, have low palatability when mature, and are difficult to control. They can quickly dominate a pasture, especially following overgrazing or soil disturbance. Giant rat’s tail grass (GRT) poses a significant threat to the productivity of pastures in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region and being one of the weedy sporobolus grasses (WSG) it has the ability to significantly decrease grazier’s economic viability and degradation of natural areas. Cattle grazing GRT pasture take up to 12 months longer to reach equivalent weight. In 2007 the estimated cost of GRT and other WSG to the pastoral industry was $60 million per year (Bray and Officer 2007).

Seed germination and emergence requires an area of low competition, where pasture and other plants have been disturbed and a gap exists. Good pasture cover reduces emergence. Seeds can germinate all year round, but mostly in spring and summer.

The survival of early seedlings is sensitive to competition. Seedlings can flower within 3 months. Attempts to control this weed using conventional methods have often failed and, in some cases, intensified the infestation. Pastures dominated by GRT are common, due to the long-term viability of GRT seed in the soil and the tendency of stock to graze other more palatable pasture.

References

  • Bray, S. and Officer, D., 2007, Weedy Sporobolus grasses Best Practice Manual, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane

Further Information

Square Tassel Fern

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Square Tassel Fern

Phlegmariurus tetrastichoides
(Huperzia tetrastichoides)

Conservation Status
Queensland  State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

Species and status overview
The Square Tassel Fern is an epiphytic fern of upland rainforest trees and is native to North East Queensland. Found from the Daintree south to Hinchinbrook Island and west of Mackay, known populations mostly occur in protected areas.

In the Mackay region, the species is known to occur in Eungella National Park and Crediton State Forest.

Description
With tufted, pendulous branches the Square Tassel Fern has attractive hanging ‘tassels’ that have made it attractive to illegal plant collectors. It occurs in upland notophyll vine forest on rainforest trees, from sea level to 1100 m altitude, and covers an area of 19,200 km2.

An epiphyte is a plant that grows non-parasitically upon another plant (such as a tree), and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and sometimes from debris accumulating around it rather than from the structure it is fastened to.

Conservation concerns
Known threats to the Square Tassel Fern include illegal collection and habitat damage caused by land clearing and cyclones.

What can I do?

  • Be aware of the area in which this species exists, and minimise activities that may cause adverse impacts at these sites, such as inappropriate burning or clearing.
  • If found, do not remove the epiphyte from trees

Photo credit Ashley Field, Queensland Herbarium, copyright State of Queensland

 

Medicosma Obovata

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Medicosma obovata

(No Common Name)

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

Available to download
All the information on this page is available as a pdf download

Species and status overview
Medicosma obovata is a small tree that is endemic to our region. It is found in Dryander National Park and on private lands near Dryander Creek and the upper Gregory River in vine forest on the foothills.

Description
Medicosma obovata is a shrub or small tree growing to around seven m. It has white, egg shaped flowers with leaves, which are paired, and up to 12.5 cm long, with conspicuous oil dots. The flowers are found on the angle between the leaf and the stem and are usually in clusters of two to four, either on very short stalks or with no stalks at all. The petals are white, 4.5–5 mm long, and covered in soft, dense hairs on the lower side.

The species occurs in vine forests as an understorey tree or shrub at altitudes of between 80–700 m above sea level. Flowers have been recorded from January, and from May to July, and fruits have been recorded from May to July.

Medicosma is a genus of about 22 species of shrubs and trees in the family Rutaceae, occurring from Australia to New Caledonia and New Guinea.

Conservation concerns
Medicosma obovata has no known threats other than its limited distribution. As a result, any threats that occur to Medicosma obovata are likely to have a serious impact. However all stages of this species life cycle are threatened by fire and it is not known if they have the ability to resprout. Given the very small habitat distribution, fire could easily destroy the entire population. Previous logging in M. obovata habitat has promoted disturbance and the invasion of Lantana camara. Lantana has the ability to alter habitat and species composition and could out compete this species if left unmanaged.

What can I do?

  • Be aware of the area in which this species exists, and minimise activities that may cause adverse impacts at these sites, such as inappropriate burning or clearing.
  • Control Lantana camara on your property.

Photo credit  Steve Pearson

Whitsunday Bottle Tree

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Whitsunday Bottle Tree

Brachychiton compactus

Conservation Status:
Queensland State: Not Listed

Species and status overview
The Whitsunday bottle tree is found only within the catchments that drain into Pioneer Bay and the Airlie Beach area, and offshore islands including Hook, Armit and Double Cone islands. This very limited distribution puts the species under threat from urban and rural residual expansion.

The species presence, preferred soil type, aspect and plant species which commonly accompany the tree were studied in 2007 by Whitsunday Regional Council through a grant provided by Reef Catchments (then Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group) from the Natural Heritage Trust. The study showed the primary limiting factors for the distribution of the Whitsunday bottle tree habitat were a preference for

a)     sites that drain into Pioneer Bay
b)     sites with an average annual rainfall greater than 1400mm
c)     sites that are moderately well to very well drained (they are not found on flat, clayey alluvial soils)

The rounded base of the trunk of the Whitsunday bottle tree, whilst giving rise to it’s name can also be taken quite literally: they do indeed store a significant amount of water between the inner bark and the trunk. A tree’s insurance policy for dry times.

Description
The Whitsunday bottle tree can grow to a height of 12 m however, most coastal trees will only reach between 4 and 8 m. The thick, bottle shaped trunk can be greater than 2 m in diameter and supports a round, compact, dark green canopy.

Leaves of adult trees differ significantly from those of juvenile specimens. Adult leaves are shiny green above and paler below, 6-12 cm long and 2.5 – 5.5 cm wide and have a ‘typical’ leaf form. Juvenile leaves look more like a hand with long (6-13 cm), skinny (1–3.2 cm wide) fingers joined at the centre where they meet the leaf stalk petiole.

The 5-8 mm long by 14-17 mm wide pretty, white flowers have pink centre inside each of the five petals. Boat shaped seed pods are around 5-9 cm in length and 2-4 cm in diameter and contain numerous seeds.

The Whitsunday bottle tree is found in rocky rainforests in the Whitsundays usually on the lower slopes of hills and occasionally on rocky headlands on well drained soil.

Conservation concerns
The original extent of the preferred habitat of the Whitsunday bottle tree has been estimated to be 8175 ha on the mainland. Of this it is estimated that 300 ha have been destroyed or modified for development. A further 680 ha of the remaining 7875 ha is also threatened by future development (at 2007).

Threats include

  • Clearing for urban expansion and development

What can I do?

  • Consider retaining Whitsunday bottle trees as a landscaping feature in development activities
  • Plant a Whitsunday bottle tree in your garden. Visit Whitsunday Catchment Landcare to find out where and when you can obtain this species

More Information

Photographs Brachychiton compactus Airlie Beach bottle shaped trunk, Brachychiton compactus Airlie Beach open seed capsule, Brachychiton compactus Airlie Beach, Brachychiton compactus Airlie Beach, Brachychiton compactus Airlie Beach trees of the same species vary depending on location, Brachychiton compactus Airlie Beach unripe pods, Brachychiton compactus juvenile leaves, Brachychiton compactus pod and leaves

Samadera Bidwillii

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Samadera Bidwillii

Quassia bidwilli

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

Species and status overview
Endemic to Queensland, Samadera bidwillii is known to occur from Scawfell Island to north of Gympie and is confirmed to occur at approximately 40 sites.

S. bidwillii most commonly occurs in lowland rainforest with Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) or rainforest margins but has also been found in eucalypt open-forest and woodland. Primarily occupying creeks and riverbanks, they are also found on ridgelines and disturbed areas such as roadsides and paddocks.

Identified threats include inappropriate fire regimes, soil erosion and habitat clearing as a result of a range of activities including agriculture, forestry, urban development and recreational activities. S. bidwillii  may also be affected by the spread of Lantana (Lantana camara) and exotic grasses, including Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum) and Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana). The establishment of these weed species is likely to be enhanced after fire.

Description
Flowering from November to March, S. bidwillii is a small shrub or tree that grows to about 6 m. It has red fruit and flowers and leaves are 5-18 cm long and 1-3.5 cm wide. Fruiting typically occurs from February to May.

S. bidwillii is haphazard in its seeding habits with only some plants producing viable seed each season.

Conservation concerns
Threats include

  • Soil erosion and habitat clearing for agriculture, forestry, urban development and recreational activities
  • Potentially inappropriate fire regimes
  • The spread of weed and exotic species such as Lantana, Guinea Grass, and Rhodes Grass

What can I do?

More Information

Photo credit Glenn Leiper

Ozothamnus Eriocephalus

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Ozothamnus Eriocephalus

Ozothamnus eriocephalus

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

Download
All the information on this page is available as a pdf download.

Species and status overview
A spindly shrub growing to about 1 m with fine white hairs over the branches Ozothamnus eriocephalus occurs in a range of different habitats from the edges of vine and gallery forest; to tall open Eucalypt forest with an understory of Allocasuarina; to open eucalypt forest with Acacia and scrub understory. It is found at moderate to high elevations 380-950 m.

O. eriocephalus  has become vulnerable through a combination of threats including inappropriate land management regimes (e.g.  fire and grazing) and degradation of natural habitat by weeds.

The species has been recorded locally in the following areas

  • Peases Lookout and Dick’s Tableland in Eungella National Park
  • Sydney Heads at Homevale National Park
  • Finch Hatton Gorge
  • Lake Elphinstone
  • Mt. Abbot
  • Gloucester Island
  • Redcliffe vale

Description
O. eriocephalus features a web of fine hairs over the lance-shaped leaves giving the plant a pale hue. The leaves are dark green on the underside with prominent veins on the top. Flowers are purple to white, 3 mm long and also covered in the white hairs.

This species flowers in March and May and from July to September, with fruiting recorded in March and July.

Conservation concerns
Known threats include

  • Invasion by exotic weeds such as Molasses grass and Guinea grass or Lantana camara and blue-top
  • Overgrazing especially near cattle camps beside watering points and molasses troughs
  • Inappropriate timber harvesting
  • Inappropriate fire regimes

What can I do?

More Information

Photo credit Steve and Alison Pearson

Omphalea Celata

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Omphalea Celata

Omphalea celata

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

Download
All the information on this page is available as a pdf download.

Species and status overview
Omphalea celata is a small tree with drooping branches that occurs along watercourses with steep sided gullies on granitic or heavily weathered metamorphic soils. O. celata has also been recorded in semi-evergreen vine thicket and vine forest.

In the Mackay, Whitsunday and surrounding regions the species has been recorded in the following areas

  • Gloucester Island
  • Hazlewood Gorge near Eungella
  • Cooper Creek near Homevale Station

The main potential threats to Omphalea celata include invasion by exotic weeds, including Lantana (Lantana camara), and damage to plant habitat from landslides.

Description
O. celata grows to 12 m with shiny, cream coloured bark. The leaves are dark grey-green on the upper surface and pale grey-green below, approximately 5-12 cm long and 2-8 cm wide.  The leaves are softly textured. Separate male and female flowers are borne on the same plant though the male flowers greatly outnumber the female. Flowers of both sexes lack petals and appear from June to December. This species has been recorded flowering in November – December, February – May and July. The fruit is green with two or three lobes and fruiting occurs from December to February.
O. celata is the host-plant for the native Australian day-flying Zodiac Moth.  This fascinating moth has an amazing courting ritual. Males and females fly together approximately a foot apart, flitting together, touching then flitting apart again repeatedly. All whilst flying backwards!

Conservation Concerns
Known threats include:

  • Invasion by exotic weeds such as Lantana camara
  • Plant damage from landslide at the Hazlewood Gorge population

What can I do?

  • Manage and prevent the establishment of weeds such as Lantana in areas of known populations
  • Control erosion and stabilise banks of water courses and gullies

More Information

Photo credits Steve and Alison Pearson

Mt. Blackwood Holly

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Mt. Blackwood Holly

Holly-leaved graptophyllum
Graptophyllum ilicifolium

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

Download
All the information on this page is available as a pdf download

Species and status overview
The Mt. Blackwood holly is a pretty rainforest plant with a limited distribution. It was first collected from Mt. Blackwood, northwest of Mackay in the 1800’s and is known from only four sites, including one disjunct population that was discovered at Miriam Vale south of Gladstone in 2001.

They are found in the upper reaches of creeks and gullies in the vine forest, and they flower in late spring. In early summer the fruit ripens and explodes, which flings the seeds quite a distance.

They been recorded in the following areas

  • Dryander NP
  • Niddoe Creek
  • Nelson Creek
  • Pioneer Peak National Park
  • North of the Pioneer River

Description
Mount Blackwood Holly is a shrub, or small tree, which grows up to six metres in height. The plant displays distinctively holly-like, shiny green leaves and scarlet red tubular flowers.

Conservation concerns
Threats

  • Habitat loss, disturbance and modification.
  • Competition from weeds such as Lantana camara, possibly allowing a greater incursion of fires due to increased fuel loads.
  • Limited distribution

What can I do?

  • Maintain or enhance existing habitat through revegetation, weed control and appropriate fire management practices
  • Minimise adverse land use impacts at known sites

More Information

Photo credit Steve and Alison Pearson

Lesser Swamp-Orchid

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Lesser Swamp-Orchid

Phaius australis

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Endangered
Australian Government: Endangered

Species and status overview
One of Australia’s most desirable species of orchid, the Lesser swamp-orchid is highly threatened by the illegal plant trade, as well as clearing.

The Lesser swamp-orchid is most commonly associated with coastal wet heath and sedgeland wetlands. It can also be found in swampy forest and grassland with Broad-leaved tea tree and/or Swamp Mahogany. The orchid thrives on the edges of swamp forest, swampy rainforest or swampy sclerophyll forest and prefers shaded areas.

The Lesser swamp-orchid has been recorded in the Mackay area, including on private property to the west of Mackay.

Description
A terrestrial, ground dwelling orchid the Lesser swamp-orchid is characterised by 4-8 large pleated leaves (around 70 cm long) and one or two flower stalks at the end of which the flowers grow. The flower stalks are also very long, reaching 70-110cm. The Lesser swamp-orchid produces the largest flower of any Australian orchid. Flowers are 10-15cm across and are a unique red-brown colour with yellow veins inside.

Flowering in spring (September to November), this species can reproduce both sexually (through pollination, most likely facilitated by native bees) and asexually via dormant buds along the flower spikes. A single fruit produces thousands of tiny, white seeds.

Swamp-orchids have the largest flowers of any Australian orchid.

Conservation Concerns

  • Illegal collection for horticultural trade or as cut flowers
  • Loss of habitat from development including agriculture and road works.
  • Suppression by weed species such as Lantana camara
  • Frequent fire may threaten this species through suppression of regeneration and limiting it’s ability to set seed.
  • Drainage of swamps and pollution from nutrient run off.
  • Grazing and trampling by stock and feral pigs.

What can I do?

  • Manage and prevent the establishment of weeds such as Lantana camara in areas of known populations
  • Only buy orchids from licensed vendors
  • Fence off swampy areas to exclude stock
  • Control feral pigs on your property
  • Protect areas of habitat from frequent fire, clearing, draining or development

More Information

Photo credit: Steve and Alison Pearson

Koumala Range Actephila

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Koumala Range Actephila

Actephila championiae

Conservation Status
Queensland State Vulnerable
Australian Government Endangered

Species and status overview
A Queensland endemic, Actephila championiae is a shrub or small tree that grows to 8 m high. It is found in semi-deciduous, dry rainforest on acid volcanic rocks between 160-200 m.

Locally, the species is known from records in the Koumala Range area.

Description
The leaves are alternate, dark green and glossy above, matt below and pale green-yellow. The fruit is 15 mm wide by 20 mm long and green in colour. The flowers are small and white and form in a small bunch at the end of branches. Female flowers are greatly outnumbered by their male counterparts.

This species has been recorded flowering from September to December.
Actephila championiae is named after local plant expert Irene Champion whose knowledge and expertise has been highly regarded for many years within the region.

Conservation concerns
Known threats include:

  • The limited distribution of this species and the fact that it is found in dry rainforest can make Actephila championiae vulnerable to high intensity fires that may impact their dry rainforest habitat in the dry season

What can I do?

  • Implement appropriate fire management in vegetation surrounding dry rainforest near known populations
  • Avoid high intensity fires in adjacent fire adapted ecosystems that may reduce the extent of dry rainforest communities. Refer to the Clarke Conners Range Fire Guidelines for further information.

More Information

Photo credit: Steve and Alison Pearson

Tea-Tree Woodlands

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Broad Leaved Tea-Tree Woodlands

Broad Leaf Tea-tree (Melaleuca viridiflora) Woodlands in high rainfall coastal North Queensland

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Endangered
Australian Government: Endangered

Species and status overview
The broad-leaved tea-tree is federally protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as an endangered ecological community. Activities which may affect the integrity or health of the community may lead to restrictions on: clearing, introducing grazing to un-grazed areas or areas that have not been grazed for some time, improving pastures, applying chemicals for weed control that could affect native species and drainage or land alterations that may affect the natural hydrological regimes.

This vegetation is seasonally inundated for part of the year, with the wet season bringing a number of ephemeral species (only persisting for a short time) to the ground layer, which increases diversity. The broad-leaved tea-tree can mostly be found within 20 km of the coast in high rainfall areas in the Wet Tropics and locally within the Central Queensland Coast bioregion.

They can be found in the following areas

  • Greta Creek to the Gregory River
  • Phistle Creek to Quandong Creek
  • Cape Gloucester
  • Lethebrook to the Andromache River
  • South west of Marian
  • Donriv Creek to Carmilla

Description
The broad-leaved tea-tree can be found as a woodland with a canopy of broad leaved tea-tree (5-14 m). It has a diverse ground layer including grasses, forbs and sedges which characterise this ecosystem, primarily during the wet season. Shrubs are rarely present, however, grass trees (Xanthorrhoea spp.) may be obvious at some sites. This ecological community occurs on poorly drained floodplains with a landform that is sloping to a flat. Just below the surface, a layer of soil occurs that resists water drainage and causes surface water to pool during the wet season.

The nectar of the broad-leaved tea-tree attracts various species including the Rainbow lorikeet, Friarbirds, an array of Honey Eaters and Flying foxes feeding on the flowers. This ecological community also provides habitat for other threatened species such as the Black-Throated Finch and Lesser Swamp Orchid.

The diverse ground layer of this ecological community may contain carnivorous plants such as sundrew (Drosera spp.). Using sweet, stick resin that is highly attractive to insects the sundew ensnares its prey which ultimately die of exhaustion or are suffocated by the mucus. The plant then secretes enzymes that turn the insect into bug-soup that is absorbed through the leaf surface. Sundews can live for up to 50 years.

Early settlers used the leaves of this tree as a substitute for tea and the trunks can be tapped to obtain a slightly salty water.

Conservation concerns
The main threats to this community include clearing for coastal, industrial and agricultural development. Visitor disturbance, fire, weeds and the effect of fragmentation are also contributing conservation concerns. Natural disturbances, such as storms and cyclones can impact this vegetation and with the threat of climate change these events will potentially increase in intensity.

Threats

  • Vegetation clearing, grazing and fragmentation
  • Myrtle rust
  • Hydrological changes
  • Weed invasion

What can I do?

  • Maintain or enhance existing habitat through revegetation and weed control.
  • In grazing country, fencing undeveloped frontage areas to manage grazing during the wet season will reduce erosion and disturbance and allow seeding of native grass species (DPIF, 2007). Spelling outside the wet season will benefit different native species seeding during this time and aid grass diversity and recovery.
  • Apply fires of varying extents in various seasons and at fire intervals usually between 5-7 years but allow some areas to remain unburnt longer than 7 years. Aim for a mosaic of around 50%. Fires should be applied from the early to mid dry in most years but occasional storm burns with good soil moisture and where follow up rain is expected may also assist in managing woody weeds (Refer to the Clarke Connors Range Fire Management Guidelines for further information).

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPIF), 2007. Pastures: Mackay Whitsunday region. A guide for developing productive and sustainable pasture-fed grazing systems. Harry Bishop (ed.), DPIF, Mackay, Queensland.

More Information

Photo credit Kerensa McCallie

Black Ironbox

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Conservation Status
Queensland State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

Species and status overview
Black ironbox is a eucalypt found on rivers, creeks and watercourses in clay or loam soils. Locally it can be found in Eungella National Park, however they are also found on roadsides, freehold and leasehold land from around Ayr to Rockhampton, and inland from the coast up to 100 km. Just 23 scattered populations of Black ironbox are known to occur within this broad region.

In the local region, Black ironbox have been recorded in the following areas

  • Finch Hatton
  • O’Connell River
  • Cathu SF
  • Sandy Creek south of Mackay
  • Sarina District
  • Bakers Creek
  • Kelsey Creek
  • Prospect Creek

It is often found with other riparian species such as paperbarks, Moreton Bay ash, forest red gum and river oak and sometimes in vine thickets.

Description
The Black ironbox is a distinctive tree with rough, box-like bark on the trunk and larger, lower branches. It features smooth blue to greyish bark in the upper branches. The leaves are dull to dark green, lance shaped and 8-15 cm long. It grows to around 30 m.

Flowering from December to March, the white flowers are clustered at the ends of branches. Sexual maturity is reached at 5 years and it can live to more than 100.
The Black ironbox has the smallest fruit of any eucalypt with a maximum of size of 0.2 x 0.2cm.

Conservation concerns
The main threat to the Black ironbox is the presence and spread of invasive and exotic weeds and grasses leading to increased fire frequency or smothering of mature and juvenile trees.

Known threats include

  • Rubber vine, a smothering invasive weedy vine that covers riparian vegetation and reduces light availability for young Black ironbox seedlings
  • Guinea grass increases fuel loads and fire intensity and poses a threat through reduced survival rates of seedlings and young trees
  • The spread of other weeds such as Lantana camara, Bellyache bush and Chinee apple may also pose a threat
  • Land management activities that increase stream bank erosion are also thought to be a threat

What can I do?

  • Control rubber vine, Guinea grass and other weeds in areas of Black ironbox
  • Avoid clearing in riparian areas
  • Implement suitable fire regimes that do not promote weed species in communities adjacent to riparian vegetation. Generally these areas should not be burnt, however if fires are planned, avoid high intensity burns and ensure they are not too frequent

More Information

Photo Credit Steve and Alison Pearson

Fruited Neisosperma

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Ornate-fruited Neisosperma

Neisosperma kilneri

Conservation Status
Queensland State: Vulnerable
Australian Government: Vulnerable

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Species and status overview
Ornate-fruited Neisosperma or Backpackers Brains prefers gullies with granitic boulders and flowing streams on low hills within vine forest and subtropical rainforest. It can be found in the Proserpine, Mackay and Mt. Dryander area and is only known from the Mackay/Whitsunday Region of Queensland.

This species has been recorded flowering in November-December and February to May and July. Fruiting can occur in January and May through to July.

The seeds form a food source of a mystery animal, with old seed casings found stashed under rock shelters and in hollow logs. Each one has the first seed removed from the tip and it is unlikely that the animal is able to chew any further into the casing to access the rest of it’s tasty treat as it is extremely hard. In fact the casing is so hard, it’s difficult to even saw through.

They been recorded in the following areas.

  • Mt Dryander
  • Headwaters of the Gregory River
  • Dryander FR
  • Pioneer Peaks NP
  • Carmilla Creek
  • Koumala

 Description
Ornate-fruited Neisosperma is a tree that grows to 20m in height. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and pale below growing approximately 14cm long and 7cm wide and are formed in whorls. The flowers are white and sweetly perfumed, approximately 7mm long and the same wide, similar to a Frangipani shape, but smaller. Also like the Frangipani, the sap is milky when the stems are broken. It bears distinctive chicken-egg sized, red fruit in pairs that has a beautifully patterned seed casing (endocarp) inside. The fruit start off dark green and become red once ripe and turn black when the fruit fall off the tree.
The highly ornate endocarp that gives rise to this species common name, is truly beautiful and appears to have been intricately hand carved.

Conservation concerns
Threats

  • Vegetation clearing
  • Invasion by exotic weeds such as Lantana camara
  • Inappropriate plant collection
  • Inappropriate fire regimes in some areas.

What can I do?

  • Raise awareness of N. kilneri within the community and highlight the threat from inappropriate collecting.
  • Maintain liaison with private landholders and land managers of land on which populations occur, highlighting the threats.
  • Apply appropriate fire in fire adapted plant communities adjacent to areas containing N. kilneri to reduce the impact of high intensity fires that may damage their rainforest habitat.

Photo Credit Steve and Alison Pearson