Cupaniopsis serrata (a small tree) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the small tree Cupaniopsis serrata (F. Muell.) Radlk. as an ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the 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. Cupaniopsis serrata (F. Muell.) Radlk. (family Sapindaceae) is described by G. J. Harden (2002) in Harden, G. J. (ed.).  Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 2. (revised edition) p. 347, UNSW Press, Sydney, as a: small tree; branches, leaf rachises and peduncles with spreading appressed hairs. Leaves 16-30 cm long; leaflets 6-12, narrow-ovate to elliptic, 6-13 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, apex long-acuminate with a blunt or more or less spinose point, base obtuse to acute, margins coarsely and often sharply toothed, more or less rigid, both surfaces glabrous or lower surface finely hairy; strongly veined and reticulate on lower surface; domatia absent; petiole 4-7 cm long, petiolules 1-5 mm long. Flowers in simple or few-branched raceme-like inflorescences; flowers sessile. Calyx 4-5 mm long. Petals c. 2.5 mm long. Capsule sessile, subglobose 12-16 cm long, 25-28 mm diam., brown-velvety; valves fairly thin, drying wrinkled; aril orange.

2. The species occurs in Queensland and reaches its southern distributional limit in New South Wales. Within New South Wales, an historical collection of Cupaniopsis serrata has been made from the Tweed River valley. There are no other specimen-backed records in NSW, although there have been a few unconfirmed reports of the species.

3. The preferred habitat in New South Wales for Cupaniopsis serrata appears to be sub-tropical and dry rainforest. It is likely that historical decline of the species has occurred due to the reduction of the extent of rainforest in the region.

4. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Cupaniopsis serrata (F. Muell.) Radlk. 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.

Associate Professor Paul Adam
Chairperson
Scientific Committee

Proposed Gazettal date: 07/11/03
Exhibition period: 07/11/03 - 19/12/03