Philotheca obovatifolia (a shrub) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, has made a Final Determination to list the shrub Philotheca myoporoides ssp. obovatifolia M.J. Bayly as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of that Act. Listing is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Philotheca myoporoides ssp.  obovatifolia was described by Bayly (1998). (Bayly M.J. 1998. Notes on the Eriostemon myoporoides (Rutaceae) species complex, including new names and a new generic placement in Philotheca. Muelleria 11 113 - 126)

2. Philotheca myoporoides ssp.  obovatifolia is a shrub, described by Bayly as: 3. Woody shrub to c. 1 m high. Branchlets glandular-verrucose, green, glabrous. Leaves leathery, more or less concolorous but usually slightly paler on the lower surface, dotted with many small oil glands, broad-obovate. 35 - 60 mm long, 14 - 30 mm wide, more or less flat, glabrous; midrib prominent on lower surface, yellow; apex obtuse or sometimes very slightly retuse, shortly mucronate. Inflorescences axillary, 1 - 5 flowered; peduncles robust, angular, 1 - 10 mm long; pedicels 4 - 10 mm long, with 3 caducous bracteoles at base. Sepals broadly deltate to sub-orbicular, c. 1 mm long, margins sometimes ciliolate, not tinged with red. Petals oblong-elliptic, c. 8 - 9 mm long, white inside, tinged with pink outside, not persisting in fruit, papillose within. Staminal filaments ciliate for most of their length and with a few longer hairs toward the apex; anthers bi- or irregularly-glandular on abaxial surface, with a tapered, white apiculum. Ovary c. 1.0 - 1.5 mm long, glabrous. Cocci prominently beaked. 4. It differs from ssp. myoporoides by its larger obovate leaves.

5. Philotheca myoporoides ssp.  obovatifolia was described on the basis of material from Mt Barney National Park in Queensland. A second locality for the taxon has now been found in New South Wales at Werrikimbe National Park.

6. The known population in New South Wales consists of between one to two hundred individuals, occurring over an area about 2 km by 100 m on a steep rocky area on the northern fall of Mt. Werrikimbe in Werrikimbe National Park.

7. The area is subject to disturbance by feral pigs.

8. Given the small size of the New South Wales population, its disjunction from the only other known population in Queensland and the potential for disturbance the Scientific Committee is of the opinion Philotheca myoporoides ssp.  obovatifolia is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Proposed Gazettal date: 23/7/99
Exhibition period: 23/7/99 - 27/8/99