The Recovery Plan for Leionema lachnaeoides 2001-2006
Leionema lachnaeoides formerly known as Phebalium lachnaeoides
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, July 2001
ISBN 0 7313 62845
Appendix 3: Species Profile
Leionema lachnaeoides Formerly known as Phebalium lachnaeoides Conservation Status
Leionema lachnaeoides is listed as an endangered species on Schedule 1 of the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The species is also listed as an endangered species on the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Description
L. lachnaeoides is in the family Rutaceae. It is a tall shrub to 2 metres high with short (0.5-2.0 cm long) narrow aromatic leaves placed alternately along the stem. It displays yellow flowers, which contain 10 free stamens (Weston and Portners 1991).
Distribution
L. lachnaeoides is known to occur at 10 sites in the Upper Blue Mountains, between Katoomba and Blackheath, NSW. All sites occur within 12km of each other. Potential habitat to occurs throughout the Megalong and Jamison Valleys.
Recorded occurrences in conservation reserves
One population is known to occur in Blue Mountains National Park. Three populations occur in a Blue Mountains City Council Recreation Reserve. Four populations occur on a Crown Recreation Reserve managed by the City of Blue Mountains Council. A further two populations occur on private property.
Habitat
Known populations of L. lachnaeoides occur on exposed cliff tops and terraces, at 960-1000m altitude, SE to SW in aspect. The geology is predominantly sandstone. The vegetation structure is 'montane heath' (Keith and Benson 1988) and commonly includes Eucalyptus stricta, Allocasuarina nana, Dillwynia retorta, Epacris microphylla and Caustis flexuosa (Cohn 1993).
Ecology
L. lachnaeoides has a life span greater than 10 years. Flowering has been recorded to occur in winter to late spring. The age when plants first flower is not known. Pollination is thought to occur by insects (Armstrong 1979). Seed is released seasonally on maturity. Seed viability is not known.
Fire is likely to be an important factor in the life cycle of this species. It is thought that fire might kill individuals, but produce a flush of germination from seed stored in the soil. The number of individuals at a site may then declines with time since fire, as the surrounding vegetation develops (Auld et al. 1991).
Threats
Known threats include habitat degradation from inappropriate fire regimes and impacts from alterations to drainage patterns, sedimentation, erosion, increased nutrient status and weeds as a result of development up-slope of L. lachnaeoides populations (NPWS 2000).
Management
Management should ameliorate known threats. Developments undertaken in potential and known habitat should ensure appropriate measures to minimise impacts resulting in habitat degradation.
Recovery Plans
The NSW Minister for the environment approved the recovery plan for L. lachnaeoides in August 2001. Copies may be viewed at www.npws.nsw.gov.au
For further information contact
Threatened Species Unit, Central Directorate, NSW NPWS PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 2220. Phone 02 9585 6678 or visit our website at www.npws.nsw.gov.au
References
Armstrong, J.A. (1979). Biotic pollination in the Australian flora - a review. New Zealand Journal of Botany 17: 467-508.
Auld T.D., Bradstock R.A. & Keith D.A. (1991). Germination of rare plants in relation to fire. Project P154 Final Report for World Wide Fund for Nature Australia. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
Cohn, J. (1993). Conservation research statement and recovery plan (research and management) for Leionema lachnaeoides Cunn. Prepared for the Australian National parks and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species program project No. 251.
Keith, D.A. & Benson, D.H. (1988). The natural vegetation of the Katoomba 1:100000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2(1): 107-144.
NSW NPWS (2001). Leionema lachnaeoides Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville.
Westen, L.H. and Portners, M.F. (1991). Leionema. In Harden, G.J. (ed). Flora of New South Wales, Vol. 2, pL. 255-263. New South Wales University press, Sydney.
Wilson, P. (1998) New species and nomenclatural changes in Phebalium and related genera (Rutaceae) Nuytsia 12(2): 267-288
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the editor expressly disclaim all liability and responsibility to any person, whether a purchaser or reader of this document or not, in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any person in reliance upon the contents of this document although every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented in this document is accurate and up to date.