Lindernia alsinoides (a herb) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the annual herb Lindernia alsinoides R.Br. 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. Lindernia alsinoides R.Br. (family Scrophulariaceae) is described by W.R. Barker (1992) in Harden, G.J. (ed).  Flora of New South Wales Volume 3, p 565, UNSW Press, Sydney, as a diffuse or erect annual herb to 15cm high, glabrous. Leaves ribbed across nodes; lamina ovate to more or less circular at base of plant, or almost linear in floral parts of plant, 5-10mm long, 1.5-5mm wide, apex more or less acute, base abruptly attenuate, margins entire, 3-5-veined from base; petiole to ca. 3mm long. Inflorescence a terminal raceme of 1-8 flowers; flowers single in axil of bracts; lower bracts leaf-like; pedicels 10-55mm long. Sepals free except at base, 2-3.5mm long. Corolla 2-lipped, 5.5-8.5mm long, blue. Stamens 4, didynamous; two lower filaments with spur 1.5-2mm long. Capsule oblong-ovoid, 3-4.5mm long. Flowers recorded November. Grows in swampy sites in sclerophyll forest and coastal heath north from Bulahdelah.

2. Lindernia alsinoides is an annual herb recorded from the North Coast of NSW and Queensland. In NSW it is only known from several old collections in herbaria (from Coopernook 1882, Bulahdelah 1924) and a recent record from Shannon Creek near Grafton in 2001. No occurrences were reported from surveys by National Parks and Wildlife Service in upper North east NSW (Sheringham & Westaway 1995).

3. The population of Lindernia alsinoides at its only currently known site, at Shannon Creek, has been reported to consist of fewer than 20 plants. It has been reported to occur in a consistently damp paperbark swamp with  Melaleuca alternifolia and  Melaleuca quinquenervia.

4. Lindernia alsinoides has not been recorded within any NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation reserve. The site at Shannon Creek is on freehold land.

5. Threats to survival of Lindernia alsinoides include clearing and the movement of heavy equipment during pipeline/powerline construction, and trampling by stock particularly during drought conditions. The small size of the known population makes it susceptible to demographic and environmental stochasticity.

6. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Lindernia alsinoides R.Br. 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: 27/08/04
Exhibition period: 27/08/04 - 08/10/04

References:

Sheringham P and Westaway J (1995) Significant vascular plants of Upper North East New South Wales. Appendix C, pC2. (NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service).