Eucalyptus dissita (a mallee tree) - vulnerable species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the mallee tree Eucalyptus dissita K.D. Hill as a VULNERABLE SPECIES on Schedule 2 of the Act. Listing of Vulnerable Species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. The mallee Eucalyptus dissita (Myrtaceae) was first described by K.D. Hill in 1997 (Telopea 7(2), 97-109).

2. The following description is taken from Hill (1997). "Slender mallee to 4 m tall. Bark smooth to base, shedding in ribbons, pale green, yellow-brown and grey. Juvenile leaves blue-green, dull, opposite on early nodes, becoming disjunct-opposite, lanceolate, 2.5-7 cm long, 0.6-1.4 cm wide, sessile on early nodes, becoming petiolate, petioles to 0.7 cm long. Adult leaves glossy mid-green, disjunct-opposite, similifacial, lanceolate, acute or apiculate, 4-8 cm long, 0.7-1.8 cm wide; petioles 0.4-1.0 cm long. Inflorescences axillary; umbellasters many-flowered (more than 11). Peduncles terete, 4-8 mm long. Pedicels terete, 0.5-1.5 mm long. Mature buds fusiform, 4-7 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm diam. Calyptra conical, acute, about as long as hypanthium. Stamens irregularly flexed, all fertile. Anthers versatile, reniform, opening by confluent diagonal slits. Fruits globular to truncate-globular, 3-, rarely 4-locular, 3-5 mm long, 3-5 mm diam. Calyptra scar and stemonophore flat,

3. The species is restricted to three locations in Gibraltar Range National Park, where it occurs on gentle slopes or shelves around the edge of swamps or near small creeks. All known locations are close together and the largest occupies approximately 1 ha.

4. Threats to the species include impacts of adjacent tracks, and possibly the interaction between fire and competitive impacts of other swamp species on survival and recruitment in E. dissita. Due to the small population size the species is susceptible to catastrophic events and localised extinction.

5. In view of 3 & 4 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the species is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate, and is therefore eligible for listing as a vulnerable species.

Proposed Gazettal date: 24/11/00