Solanum limitare (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 limitare 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 limitare A.R. Bean (family Solanaceae) is described by Bean 2001, A. R. (2001) A revision of  Solanum brownii Dunal (Solanaceae) and its allies.  Telopea 9 639-661, as: shrub 0.3-0.8 m high. Fertile branchlets terete, rusty to grey, tomentose, with very dense stellate hairs (stellae obscuring branchlet), sparsely armed with prickles (1-6 per dm of branchlet) each 3-6 mm long, glabrous; stellae all more or less sessile, 0.25-0.4 mm across, lateral rays 6-8, central ray 0-0.5 times as long as laterals. Juvenile leaves lanceolate to ovate in outline, with 1-2 pairs of shallow obtuse lobes (or unlobed), 6.5-10x2-3.5 cm, prickles present on upper and lower surfaces. Adult leaves lanceolate, entire; lamina 7-10.5 cm long, 0.9-1.7 cm wide, 4.7-8.5 times longer than broad, apex acute, basally dimidiate, oblique part 1-3.5 mm long, obliqueness index 1-4%. Petioles 0.5-0.8 cm long, 6-9% length of lamina, prickles rarely present. Upper leaf surface grey-green, flat between major veins; prickles present on midvein only; stellae sparse to moderate (core 0.2-0.6 mm apart), distributed throughout lamina, 0.2-0.4 mm across, sessile, lateral rays 6-8, central ray 0-0.5 times as long as laterals. Lower leaf surface white-pale yellow, prickles rarely present; stellae densely packed in several layers, obscuring leaf surface, 0.35-0.45 mm across, more or less sessile (close tomentum), lateral rays 7-8, central ray 0.5-1 times as long as laterals. Inflorescence pseudo-racemose, axis present, 3-6 flowered, prickles absent; pedicels 11-20 mm long at anthesis. Calyx densely stellate-hairy, stellae 0.3-0.45 mm across, transparent, lateral rays 7-8, central ray 0.5-1 times as long as laterals, prickles absent; hypanthium campanulate, 2.5-4 mm long at anthesis; lobes deltate to rostrate, 3-5 mm long at anthesis. Corolla rotate, purple, 19-31 mm across. Filaments 0.7-1.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers 3.5-5.5 mm long. Ovary surface with stipitate glands and stellate hairs on the distal half; functional style 10-12 mm long, erect, with stellate hairs on the proximal half, stellae with 13-20 lateral rays; stigma entire. Mature fruits 1-3 per inflorescence, globular, pale green, 14-17 mm diameter, pericarp c. 0.5 mm thick when fresh, surface glabrous. Fruiting calyx not noticeably accrescent. Pedicels 16-20 mm long in fruit. Seeds white to pale yellow, 2.7-2.9 mm long.

2. Solanum limitare occurs from the Bunya Mountains in southern Queensland south to Kyogle and Urbenville in northern NSW. The species has been recorded from six locations within NSW. However, the majority of these records are pre-1974, with only one population found in recent times. Only a single individual has been recorded at the one currently known NSW population, but persistent propagules may be present in the soil at this and other sites.

3. At least two of the historical specimens were collected from land that is now within the Border Ranges National Park.

4. All previously recorded sites are threatened by weed invasion, particularly by Lantana camara.

5. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Solanum limitare 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