Boronia hapalophylla (a shrub) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the shrub, Boronia hapalophylla Duretto, F.J. Edwards & P.G. Edwards 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.

Note:  This  Determination  has  been  superseded  by  the  2023  Final  Determination for Boronia hapalophylla Duretto, F.J.Edwards & P.G.Edwards.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Boronia  hapalophylla Duretto, F.J. Edwards & P.G. Edwards (known as  Boronia sp. 'Shannon Creek (P & J Edwards 3) in the Scientific Committee's Preliminary Determination) is a recently discovered  Boronia species. It has been recognised by Dr M Duretto (Tasmanian Herbarium) as being a new taxon and has been described (Duretto  et al. 2004).

2. Boronia  hapalophylla (family Rutaceae) is a member of  Boronia section  Valvatae. It is a small shrub; specimens have previously been referred to as  Boronia rosmarinifolia but it can be distinguished from this and other species by the following combination of characters: leaves strongly attenuate, sessile to subsessile, with a sparse to dense stellate indumentum on the adaxial surface; broadly ovate-deltate and acuminate sepals 5-7 mm long to 10 mm in fruit, petals large (6-) 8-10 mm long, to 15 mm long in fruit (M. Duretto pers. comm.).

3. Boronia  hapalophylla is currently known on hillslopes and ridge tops above Shannon Creek (near Coutts Crossing), on Kangaroo Creek Sandstone. It is found in sclerophyll woodland where it is generally sparsely distributed with some dense patches. Some of the occurrences are in the Chambigne Nature Reserve.

4. Based on available habitat maps and density estimates the species is known over a range of 5 kilometres by 3 kilometres.

5. Given the limited area of occurrence and small size of the known populations the species is at risk from environmental stochasticity. The area in which Boronia  hapalophylla is recorded is under threat of clearing for a proposed road and other infrastructure with potential weed invasion and other degradation as a result of increased access.

6. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Boronia  hapalophylla Duretto, F.J. Edwards & P.G. Edwards 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.

Associate Professor Paul Adam
Chairperson
Scientific Committee

Proposed Gazettal date: 12/11/04
Exhibition period: 12/11/04 - 24/12/04

Reference: 

Duretto MF, Edwards J, Edwards P (2004). Boronia hapalophylla (Rutaceae), a new and restricted species from north-eastern New South Wales.  Telopea 10, 705-710.

A notice of determination to provisionally list this species as an endangered species was gazetted on 06/02/04.