Veronica blakelyi (a shrub) - vulnerable species listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the shrub Derwentia blakelyi B. Briggs & Ehrend. as a VULNERABLE SPECIES on Schedule 2 of that Act. Listing of vulnerable species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
This species is now known as Veronica blakelyi (B.G.Briggs & Ehrend.) B.G.Briggs.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
This final determination has been superseded by the April 2024 final determination for Veronica blakelyi (B.G. Briggs & Ehrend).
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. Derwentia blakelyi B. Briggs & Ehrend. (Family Scrophulariaceae) has been described by Harden (1992, Flora of NSW, Vol. 3) as: small glabrous and glaucous shrub or woody herb to 50 cm high, with one to several erect softly woody stems from a narrow rootstock; stems mostly unbranched below inflorescence and dying back after fruiting, internodes 1.5-6 cm long. Leaves usually recurved, V-shaped in cross section, ovate to lanceolate, mostly 2.5-5.5 cm long, 10-20 mm wide, apex more or less acute, base cordate or truncate or cuneate, margins with 8-18 pairs of shallow teeth; sessile. Racemes mostly 8-40 cm long, 15-35 flowered. Calyx lobes 3-5.5 mm long and 0.7-1.3 mm wide in fruit. Corolla 6-7 mm long, bright blue-violet. Capsule broad-ovate, 4-6.5 mm long, 3-3.5 mm wide, truncate or emarginate, glabrous, glaucous. Flowers summer.
2. Derwentia blakelyi is restricted to the western Blue Mountains, near Clarence, near Mt Horrible, Nullo Mountain and the Coricudgy Range. It grows in eucalypt forest often in moist areas. The species is currently known from less than 20 locations none of which is in a conservation reserve. Known locations all have small population sizes.
3. Threats to the species include loss of habitat by clearing and an inappropriate fire regime. The risk of local extinction is high because of small population sizes.
4. In view of 2 and 3 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Derwentia blakelyi is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate, and is therefore eligible for listing as a vulnerable species.
Proposed Gazettal date: 17/11/2000