Rhynchosia acuminatissima (a climbing herb) - vulnerable species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the climbing herb Rhynchosia acuminatissima Miq., as a VULNERABLE SPECIES in Schedule 2 of the Act. Listing of vulnerable species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Rhynchosia acuminatissima Miq. (family Fabaceae) is described by C. Gardiner and T. A. James (2002) in Harden, G. J. (ed).  Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 2 (revised edition). p. 575, UNSW Press, Sydney, as a: climbing herb; stems pubescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets broad-ovate or rhombic, 5-15 cm long, 5-7.5 cm wide, both surfaces + softly hairy, upper surface often glabrescent, lower surface gland-dotted; petiole 3-10 cm long; stipules c. 5 mm long, caducous. Racemes 5-15 cm long, mostly 20-50 flowered. Calyx c. 4 mm long, densely hairy. Corolla 10-12 mm long, yellowish green. Pods oblong, 20-30 mm long, c. 7 mm wide, velvety with a dense covering of short and long greenish yellow hairs; seeds 2, ovoid, c. 5 mm long, blue-black. Flowers spring-summer.

2. Rhynchosia acuminatissima occurs in Queensland and New South Wales and is known from only nine locations north of Lismore, six of which occur within National Parks and Nature Reserves, and three in State Forests. The currently known extent of occurrence in New South Wales is less than 3 500 km2. Populations of  Rhynchosia acuminatissima are generally small, comprising few individuals at low densities.

3. Rhynchosia acuminatissima is usually found in or near dry Araucarian rainforests (Harden 2002). It has a patchy distribution, with low numbers of plants scattered over a large area.

4. Populations of Rhynchosia acuminatissima in State Forests are potentially threatened with continued forestry operations. Other possible threats to the species include track maintenance, inappropriate fire regimes and invasion by  Lantana camara. Its small population size also exposes the species to stochastic events that may cause substantial decline or local extinctions.

5. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Rhynchosia acuminatissima Miq. is likely to become endangered 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: 02/04/04
Exhibition period: 02/04/04 - 14/05/04