Prasophyllum bagoense (an orchid) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the orchid Prasophyllum bagoensis D.L. Jones as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on 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. Prasophyllum  bagoensis D.L. Jones is an endemic Australian orchid that was first collected in 2000. The following description is from Jones (2000): "Slender tuberous terrestrial herb growing singly or in loose groups. Leaf erect, 20-35cm long, 3-4mm wide, terete, dark green, base 2-3mm diam., reddish to purple; free lamina suberect, 7-12cm long, usually withered at anthesis. Inflorescence a moderately dense to dense spike 5-9cm long. Floral bracts ovate, 3-4mm long, c. 2mm wide, closely embracing the ovary, apex apiculate. Flowers 15-c. 30, 8-11mm across, pale tawny green, opening very widely, fragrant, sessile. Dorsal sepal narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 6.5-7.5mm long, 1.8-2mm wide, falcate, erect or shallowly recurved, parallel or slightly divergent, base not gibbous, distal margins involute, apex entire. Petals unswept, widely spreading, linear, 6.5-7.5mm long, 1.3-1.5mm wide, distal margins slightly crenulate, apex subacute. Labellum very shortly stalked, erect, in a shallow sigmoid curve, distal half slightly recurved, the tip just projecting through the lateral sepals; basal claw almost vestigial, c. 0.3mm long, c. 0.7mm wide; lamina broadly ovate-lanceolate in outline when flattened, 5.5-6mm long, 4-4.5mm wide, constricted in the distal half, base not gibbous, proximal margins distally irregular, distal margins irregular and crenulate. Callus ovate-oblong, 3-3.7mm long, 2-2.5mm wide, constricted in the distal half, raised, fleshy, green, shallowly channeled centrally, margins entire, extending two thirds of the distance to the labellum apex."

2. Prasophyllum  bagoensis is currently known from a single population on land covered by a Crown Lease on State Forest near Tumbarumba on the southern tablelands of NSW. The species occurs over c. 12 ha of sub-alpine grassy plain / wetland at an elevation of c. 1100m, and its distribution may extend into adjacent woodland. Targeted searches of similar habitats within a c. 50km radius of the site have failed to locate any additional populations.

3. Recent annual surveys suggest that the number of individuals emerging at the site may fluctuate seasonally with counts ranging from c. 20-80 in the flowering seasons of 2000 and 2003.

4. Prasophyllum  bagoensis continues to be threatened by environmental and demographic stochasticity due to its small population size and area of occupancy, soil disturbance by feral pigs and horses, illegal grazing of domestic stock, and changes to local hydrology.

5. In view of the above, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Prasophyllum  bagoensis D.L. Jones is likely to become extinct in nature in NSW 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

References:

Jones DL (2000) Ten new species of Prasophyllum R.Br. (Orchidaceae) from South-eastern Australia.  The Orchadian 13, 149-173