Cassia marksiana (a tree) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the tree Cassia brewsteri var. marksiana Bailey as an ENDANGERED species on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of that Act. Listing of endangered species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Cassia brewsteri var.  marksiana (family Fabaceae; subfamily Caesalpinioideae) is described in Harden (1991) Flora of NSW Vol 2. as: a tree to 20 m high, evergreen. Leaves usually 15-23 cm long; pinnae 5-8 pairs, lanceolate to oblong-ovate, 2-9 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, glabrous except for midrib on lower surface; petiolules 3-4 mm long. Racemes erect, 7-8 cm long, many-flowered; pedicels 15-20 mm long. Petals 8-11 mm long, yellow. Pod cylindrical, woody, 10-30 cm long, 10-15 mm diam.; seeds discoid, 20-50. Flowers summer.

2. It occurs in Queensland and New South Wales. In New South Wales, it is restricted to the far north east corner of the State, in the Tweed and Brunswick River valleys.

3. It is currently known from some 20 locations. At all these locations Cassia brewsteri var.  marksiana is represented by a very small number of individuals (less than 10). Less than 100 mature trees are currently known to exist. A few individuals occur in conservation reserves (Stotts Island Nature Reserve, Mooball National Park).

4. Much of the former habitat of Cassia brewsteri var.  marksiana has been cleared. It is threatened by loss of habitat, habitat fragmentation, weed invasion, roadworks and grazing impacts.

5. In view of 3 and 4 above, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Cassia brewsteri var.  marksiana 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: 17/11/2000