Leptorhynchos orientalis (an annual herb) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the annual herb Leptorhynchos orientalis Paul G. Wilson 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. Leptorhynchos orientalis Paul G. Wilson (family Asteraceae) is described by Wilson (2001) in  Nuytsia 13(3) page 609 as: Erect single to multi-stemmed annual to 30 cm high. Branches slender, minutely puberulous with gland-tipped and septate hairs. Peduncle slender, densely glandular puberulous beneath the capitulum, otherwise glabrescent, bearing a few scattered hyaline bracts. Leaves linear, 1-2 cm long, acute, margins recurved, with scattered minute gland-tipped hairs and short (to 0.2 mm) whitish septate hairs. Involucre broadly turbinate, c. 8 mm high, bracts multiseriate, eciliate; outer and intermediate bracts very narrowly triangular, hyaline, smooth, with reddish brown glandular stereome at base; inner bracts c. 7 mm long with linear green cartilaginous glandular stereome and narrow hyaline margins; lamina absent or represented by hyaline erose apiculum to 0.5 mm long. Florets bisexual. Corolla c. 6 mm long, sparsely glandular-puberulous, narrowly turbinate above, very narrowly tubular below. Cypsela compressed-ellipsoid, c. 1.8 mm long, densely papillose, reddish brown, abruptly narrowed upwards into a slender almost smooth persistent beak 3-4 mm long. Pappus bristles numerous, filiform, shorter than corolla, minutely denticulate.

2. Within NSW, Leptorhynchos orientalis occurs from near Hillston south to the Victorian border. The species also occurs within Victoria and South Australia. The species has been recorded from only eight locations in NSW.

3. While precise estimates of total population size are not available, there are estimated to be greater than 5000 plants in NSW, although 90% of all individuals are thought to be restricted to a single location. However, population size will vary greatly at a site over time in relation to rainfall.

4. Only one of the eight known sites occurs within a conservation reserve (Urana Nature Reserve). The size of this population is unknown. The remaining populations occur on private property or travelling stock reserves.

5. Leptorhynchos orientalis is threatened by clearing for cropping and pasture improvement, as well as over-grazing, and weed invasion.

In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Leptorhynchos orientalis Paul G. Wilson 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: 13/12/02
Exhibition period: 13/12/02 - 31/01/03