Goodenia nocoleche (a herb) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the herb Goodenia sp. 'Nocoleche' (JLP 210) 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.

This species is now known as Goodenia nocoleche Pellow & J.L. Porter [NSW Government Gazette No. 87, 12 June 2009, Page 3030].

Note:  This determination has been superseded by the 2023 final determination for Goodenia nocoleche Pellow & J.L. Porter.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Goodenia sp. 'Nocoleche' (JLP 210) (family Goodeniaceae) is an ephemeral amphibious herb to 40 cm high, vegetative parts glabrous. Basal leaves with floating lamina 20 - 40 mm long, 7 - 14 mm wide, thin, glossy green above, flat, lanceolate, margins undulate and minutely toothed, apex acute with tooth. Petioles elongated to 60 cm long, much longer than lamina, lengthening with water depth. Cauline leaves present at base of flowering stem 10 - 40mm long, 2 - 3mm wide. Flowers in racemes. Bracts longer towards base of inflorescence, linear and sometimes resembling leaves 10 - 40 mm long. Bracteoles linear, 8 - 10 mm long, 0.6 - 1 mm wide, with minute simple and glandular hairs. Bracteoles occasionally producing axillary buds which extend into new inflorescence branches. Pedicles 2 - 5 mm long without articulation. Floral tube 3 - 5 mm long with minute simple and glandular hairs. Calyx lobes linear, 4 - 6 mm long, 0.8 - 1 mm wide numbering 5 or sometimes 6, attaching in top 1/3 of floral tube and covered with minute simple and glandular hairs. Corolla yellow 5 - 5.5 mm long, lobe tips often tinged with pink or purple. Glandular and simple hairs present externally, glabrous internally. No enations were observed, anterior pocket obscure. Abaxial lobes 2 mm long, wings approximately 0.5 mm wide. Adaxial lobes 2.5 mm long wings approximately 0.5 mm wide. Staminal filaments 1.8 - 2.0 mm long, anthers 0.5 - 0.8 mm long. Ovary with numerous ovules in 2 rows on either side of the septum. Septum almost as long as the ovary. Style 2 - 2.5 mm long with scattered long simple hairs. Indusium 1 - 1.5 mm long, 1 - 1.3 mm wide, purplish in colour, hairs present on adaxial rim, abaxial rim without hairs. Fruit pale, obconical 5 - 6.5 mm long, 2 - 3 mm wide hispid with short simple and glandular hairs. Seed 1 mm long, 2.5 mm wide, light brown glossy, reticulation faint, winged.

2. When submerged Goodenia sp. 'Nocoleche' develops specialised floating leaves, attached by greatly extended petioles (up to 0.6 m). As the plant matures and the water levels recede, weakly erect stems with cauline leaves and inflorescences develop. Only one other species of  Goodenia,  G. lamprosperma, has been recorded as have floating aquatic leaves.

3. Goodenia sp. 'Nocoleche' was discovered from seed bank samples from five locations in the Paroo River system during a survey of arid zone wetlands (Porter unpublished data). It has been observed growing  in situ at an unnamed claypan 40km north of Wanaaring. The species was uncommon in all but one of the seed banks, with 98% of the germinations from a single location, Pied Stilt Swamp, a temporary freshwater claypan in Nocoleche Nature Reserve.

4. Goodenia sp. 'Nocoleche' is patchily distributed and its abundance is difficult to quantify because of the ephemeral nature of its habitat. The threats to  Goodenia sp. 'Nocoleche' include environmental and demographic stochasticity, reduced flooding due to alteration of river flows, climate change and invasion by introduced species.

5. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Goodenia sp. 'Nocoleche' (JLP 210) 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: 17/12/04
Exhibition period: 17/12/04 - 28/01/05