Lepidium peregrinum (a herb) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list Lepidium peregrinum Thell., a herb, as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act and to omit reference to this species as a species presumed extinct in Part 4 of Schedule 1. Listing is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. The herb Lepidium peregrinum (Brassicaceae) was first described by A.Thellung in 1913. It was presumed extinct in New South Wales and has been recently rediscovered.

2. Recent collections of the species have been made in north-eastern New South Wales. The following brief description is taken from Flora of New South Wales, Volume 1 (Harden, 1990): An annual herb, branching, erect to decumbent, to 40 cm high, glabrous or slightly papillose. Basal leaves to 15 cm long, 2-pinnatisect, ciliate; stem leaves reducing to lanceolate, toothed, acute, 2 - 6 cm long, 1 - 8 mm wide. Inflorescence a lateral raceme. Sepals 0.5 - 0.8 mm long. Petals reduced or absent. Stamens usually 2. Silicula ovate, 2 - 2.7 mm long, 1.5 - 2 mm wide, wings slight in upper half, forming a shallow notch; pedicel 3 - 5 mm long, horizontal to recurved, finely hairy above.

3. Lepidium peregrinum is currently known from only one area in New South Wales, a population on Crown Land west of Tenterfield. The total population size in 1990 was estimated at 66 plants. Further survey work has failed to locate any further populations. There is an 1834 specimen of this species which may have come from the Blue Mountains.

4. The known population is not located within a conservation reserve and the risk of extinction is high due to the very low total population size.

5. In view of 1, 3 and 4 above, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the species 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: 7/7/00
Exhibition period: 7/7/00 - 11/8/00
Provisionally listed as an endangered species on 29 October 1999.