Grevillea hilliana (a tree) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the tree, Grevillea hilliana F. Muell. as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on 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. Grevillea hilliana (Proteaceae), is a tree 8-30 m high. The following description is taken in full from Makinson in Harden, G.J, Hardin, D.W. and Godden, D.C. (eds) 2000, Proteaceae of NSW, p 149, UNSW Press. "Juvenile and intermediate leaves pinnatifid or pinnatisect with 3-10 lobes, rarely undivided or more divided, mostly 25-40 cm long and 15-30 cm wide; lobes more or less linear to lanceolate, 8-25 cm long, 10-50 mm wide; lower surface silky. Adult leaves either simple and lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 9-24 cm long, 15-60 mm wide, or sometimes 4-6-lobed; lobes oblong to ovate, 6-12 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, margins recurved, lower surface silky. Conflorescences sometimes few-branched, 8-22 cm long, branches many-flowered, cylindrical. Perianth white to pale green, silky outside, glabrous or pubescent inside. Gynoecium 13-16 mm long, stipitate, glabrous; style white to pale green, pollen presenter very oblique. Follicle glabrous. Flowers mainly May-July. " Grevillea hilliana is also known locally as White Yiel Yiel or White Silky Oak.

2. Grevillea hilliana grows in subtropical rainforest, often on basic igneous substrates. It is found north of Brunswick Heads on the north coast of NSW and in Queensland (Makinson in Harden et al. 2000). The only populations currently known in NSW are in the areas of Brunswick Heads and Tweed Heads, in small remnant areas of vegetation.

3. The number of known plants of Grevillea hilliana is low and is estimated to be less than 100 mature individuals.

4. Grevillea hilliana is only reserved in the Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve where a few trees are known. The other few known remaining areas are on private land and these are threatened with loss of habitat through land clearing. Grevillea hilliana is at risk of extinction in New South Wales due to its restricted distribution and very low population numbers.

5. In view of 2, 3 and 4 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Grevillea hilliana is likely to become extinct in nature in NSW unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Proposed Gazettal date: 13/07/01
Exhibition period: 13/07/01 - 17/08/01