Publications
Threatened Species Day fact sheet
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2005
Commonwealth: Vulnerable (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
South Australia: Vulnerable (National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972)
The Hindmarsh Correa is a tall, dense, branching shrub that can grow to 2.5 metres high and 2 metres wide. It has oval leaves, a hairy stem and produces green, bell-like flowers from April to September.
The plant is only found on South Australia's (SA) Fleurieu Peninsula in the upper watershed and ranges of the Hindmarsh and Inman River Catchments, as well as Carrickalinga Creek.
It lives in small, clumped populations along rocky banks of upland watercourses and in areas near wet gully swamps. Associated vegetation ranges from open eucalypt woodland to river and streambank plant communities, including sedges and shrublands.
The current population is estimated to be no more than 5000 plants, with less than 1,500 located through surveys. Only 4 populations are known to occur within a small area on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Surviving populations are known within Myponga Conservation Park, the Hindmarsh Falls Council Reserve, SA Water land on the Hindmarsh Tiers Reserve, as well as one on private land.
Flower image: Photo: The Threatened Plant Action Group SA
Willows are among the worst streambank and wetland weeds in Australia. Most willow species have been recognised by the Australian Government as Weeds of National Significance. They have a serious impact on stream and wetland health as well as biodiversity. Willows spread through wind-borne seed and offshoots and now occupy thousands of kilometres of streams and off-stream wetlands across southeastern Australia.
Willows compete with the Hindmarsh Correa for space, water, light and nutrients. They can completely change the structure of the habitat in which the correa lives. To a lesser extent weeds such as blackberry and montpellier broom are also causing damage. Land clearing has also had an adverse affect on the correa's naturally restricted range, along with stock grazing and some human recreational activities.
Threatened Plant Action Group (TPAG SA) volunteers, the Hindmarsh Tiers Biodiversity Group, the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage (SA DEH), SA Water, and the City of Victor Harbour are working together to search for new populations and to help recover the Hindmarsh Correa. On-ground activities aim to restore habitat and manage threats, particularly weeds, on remaining Correa populations.
A National Coordinator for Willows is helping coordinate strategic management for the weed across Australia. In addition the Australian Government recently launched its new four-year, $40 million Defeating the Weeds Menace program, which takes a national approach to tackling our most significant weeds.
Willow image: Willows at Hindmarsh Correa site. Photo: The Threatened Plant Action Group SA
Contact and References
Vicki-Jo Russell
SA Coordinator
Threatened Species Network
Ph: (08) 8223 5155
Email: tsnsa@wwf.org.au
Visit: www.wwf./org.au/tsn
Tim Jury
Threatened Plant Action Group (SA)
Ph: (08) 8232 4088
Email: tpag@ncssa.asn.au
Visit: www.ncssa.asn.au/activities
Tim Parkinson
Project Officer
Hindmarsh Tiers Biodiversity Group
Ph: (08) 8551 0550
Email: tparkinson@victor.sa.gov.au
Wendy Stubbs
Threatened Flora Project Officer
Dept for Environment and Heritage
Ph: (08) 8222 9422
Email: stubbs.wendy@saugov.sa.gov.au
Visit: www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened
You can also find out more information about Australia's threatened species by visiting www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened or contacting the Department of the Environment and Heritage Community Information Unit on free-call 1800 803 772.
Agricultures and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Australian and New Zealand and Conservation Council and Forestry Ministers, (2000), Weeds of National Significance, Willow Strategic Plan, National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee, Launceston.
Bond, A. & Jury, T.D. (2004) Site Action Plan for Correa calycina at Hindmarsh Falls. Threatened Plant Action Group (SA).
Davies, R. J-P. (1986) Threatened Plant Species of the Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island Regions of South Australia, Conservation Council of SA.
Jessop, J. P. & Toelken, H.R. (1986) Flora of South Australia, Part II. South Australian Government Printer, Adelaide.
Jury, T.D. (2005) Personal communication. Program Coordinator, Threatened Plant Action Group, Nature Conservation Society of SA.
The Threatened Species Network is a community-based program
of the Australian Government and WWF-Australia
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