Solanum celatum (a shrub) - endangered species listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the shrub Solanum celatum A.R. Bean 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. Solanum celatum A.R. Bean (family Solanaceae) is described by Bean, A. R. (2001) A revision of Solanum brownii Dunal (Solanaceae) and its allies. Telopea 9 639-661, as: shrub 1-2.5 m high. Fertile branchlets terete, grey to white, tomentose, with very dense stellate hairs, (obscuring branchlet), sparsely armed with prickles (0-5 per dm of branchlet) each 6-10 mm long, glabrous; stellae sessile to shortly stipitate, 0.25-0.35 mm across, lateral rays 6-8, central ray 0-0.5 times as long as laterals. Juvenile leaves unknown. Adult leaves elliptical to lanceolate, without lobes; lamina 4.6-12.5 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide, 2.6-3.6 times longer than broad, apex actute, base oblique or not, oblique part 0-5 mm long, obliqueness index 0-5%. Petioles 0.8-2.4 cm long, 12-20% length of lamina, prickles rarely present. Upper leaf surface grey-green, flat between major veins; prickles sometimes present, on midvein only; stellae dense (cores 0.1-0.2mm apart), distributed throughout lamina, 0.15-0.25 mm across, sessile to shortly-stalked, transparent, lateral rays 4-8, central ray 0.5-1 times as long as laterals. Lower leaf surface yellowish-white, prickles usually absent; stellae densely packed in several layers, often obscuring leaf surface, 0.2-0.4 mm across, with stalks 0.3-0.4 mm long (loose tomentum), lateral rays 6-8, central ray 0.5-1 times as long as laterals. Inflorescence pseudo-racemose, axis present, 4-7 flowered, prickles absent from rachis and pedicels; pedicels 15-20 mm long at anthesis. Calyx densely stellate-hairy, stellae 0.25-0.4 mm across, transparent or purple, lateral rays 6-8, central ray 0.5-1 times as long as laterals. Prickles usually absent, rarely 1-5 per flower; hypanthium campanulate, 3-4 mm long at anthesis; lobes deltate to attenuate, 2.5-5 mm long at anthesis. Corolla 5-partite, rotate, purple, 24-32 mm across. Filaments 0.8-1.2 mm long, glabrous; anthers 5.0-6.5 mm long. Ovary surface with stipitate glands (and sometimes stellate hairs) on the distal half; functional style 8-9mm long, erect, with stipitate glands (and sometimes stellate hairs) on the proximal half; stellae with 9-11 lateral rays; stigma entire. Mature fruits 1-4 per inflorescence, pale green, 13-16 mm diameter, pericarp 0.8-1 mm thick when fresh, surface glabrous. Fruiting calyx not noticeably accrescent. Pedicels 15-23 mm long in fruit. Seeds white or pale yellow, 2.5-2.7 mm long.
2. Solanum celatum is endemic to New South Wales and has been recorded from a restricted area from Wollongong to just south of Nowra, and west to Bungonia.
3. The majority of records are prior to 1960 and a recent survey of six sites found only a single plant within Macquarie Pass National Park, SW of Wollongong, although the species may be present in the soil seed bank at this and other sites.
4. Much of the habitat of Solanum celatum has been cleared or grossly altered, and any uncleared areas are often swathed in dense patches of Lantana camara. The species is threatened by habitat destruction through clearing for agricultural or urban development and is also threatened by habitat degradation, primarily by invasion of Lantana camara. S. celatum is a fire sensitive obligate seeder which may be threatened by inappropriate fire regimes.
5. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Solanum celatum A.R. Bean is likely to become extinct in nature 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