Rivers of Carbon: Threatened Plant Species Guide

Handy Guide

Rivers of Carbon:
Threatened Plant Species

Working together with Julie and David from the Australian National Botanic Gardens we have developed a list of threatened plant species that occur within the region covered by the our Rivers of Carbon projects. These species are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), a national scheme of environment and heritage protection, and biodiversity conservation.

Brittle Midge Orchid, Genoplesium baueri

Prepared in collaboration with the Australian National Botanical Garden

Australia’s plant species total more than 20,000 with 92% of them being endemic – that is, they only occur naturally in Australia! More than 1,300 are listed as threatened species and these are among the most at risk of disappearing. This unique biodiversity is our natural capital, and as custodians, landowners and land managers we can make a difference. All of us have an opportunity to contribute to helping secure our environment’s future by protecting, conserving, being more aware of, and actively managing our flora and the wildlife habitat it supports.

What are some of the ways you can protect threatened species on your property? Well as the old saying goes, ‘We can’t look after what we don’t know about’.

A key early step toward plant conservation is knowing what’s there and where to get help. We have put together this guide to help you as a useful reference for the rare and unique plant species in your area:

See the full list of threatened plant species
Where can you get extra help?

Use the search function below by typing in a common name or species latin name. To show the full list again, please clear the search box.

Species	Common name	Commonwealth listing	NSW State lising	Family	Items of interest	Image	More Information
Acacia bynoeana	Bynoe's Wattle, Tiny Wattle	Vulnerable	Endangered	Fabaceae	Low spreading shrub, grows in heath and dry sclerophyll forests on sandy soils.	View Source	Click here
Acacia flocktoniae	Flockton Wattle	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Fabaceae	Grows in dry sclerophyll forest on sandstone.	View Source	Click here
Acacia pubescens	Downy Wattle, Hairy Stemmed Wattle	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Fabaceae	Brilliant yellow flowers August to October.	View Source	Click here
Allocasuarina glareicola		Endangered	Endangered	Casuarinaceae	A shrubby she-oak that spreads vegetatively.	View Source	Click here
Ammobium craspedioides	Yass Daisy	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Asteraceae	Tolerates light grazing.	View Source	Click here
Amphibromus fluitans	River Swamp Wallaby-grass, Floating Swamp Wallaby-grass	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Poaceae	Grows in swamps and swamp margins, dams and seepage drains with seasonally fluctuating water levels.	View Source	Click here
Baloskion longipes	Dense Cord-rush	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Restionaceae	Grows in swamps and depressions in sandy alluvium, seasonally inundated peat and sometimes with sphagnum moss.	View Source	Click here
Boronia deanei	Deane's Boronia	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Rutaceae	Riparian species with aromatic foliage and beautiful flowers August - November.	View Source	Click here
Bossiaea oligosperma	Few-seeded Bossiaea	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Fabaceae	Grows on sandstone and loamy soils.	View Source	Click here
Caladenia tessellata	Thick-lipped Spider-orchid, Daddy Long-legs	Vulnerable	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Ground orchid. Yellow-green flowers with red markings in spring.	View Source	Click here
Callitris oblonga	Pygmy Cypress-pine, Pigmy Cypress-pine, Dwarf, Cypress-pine	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Cupressaceae	Grows in riparian zone as well as drier sites on granite soils. Fast growing.	View Source	Click here
Calotis glandulosa	Mauve Burr-daisy	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Asteraceae	Seed dispersed by sticky burrs, will not tolerate heavy grazing.	View Source	Click here
Commersonia prostrata	Dwarf Kerrawang	Endangered	Endangered	Malvaceae	Mat-forming shrub that grows in a variety of soils including ephemeral wetlands.	View Source	Click here
Cryptostylis hunteriana	Leafless Tongue-orchid	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Orchidaceae	Grows in a variety of habitats including swamp-heath and woodland.	View Source	Click here
Cynanchum elegans	White-flowered Wax Plant	Endangered	Endangered	Apocynaceae	Climber with corky stems capable of suckering in response to disturbance.	View Source	Click here
Daphnandra johnsonii	Illawarra Socketwood	Endangered	Endangered	Atherospermataceae	Aromatic rainforest tree restricted to the Illawarra region.	View Source	Click here
Diuris aequalis	Buttercup Doubletail	Vulnerable	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Terrestrial 'donkey' orchid.	View Source	Click here
Diuris ochroma	Pale Golden Moths	Vulnerable	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Terrestrial orchid found in open grassy woodland and sub-alpine grassland habitats.	View Source	Click here
Dodonaea procumbens	Trailing Hop-bush	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Sapindaceae	Mat forming shrub with red papery 'hop-like' fruits in late spring and summer.	View Source	Click here
Eucalyptus aggregata	Black Gum	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Myrtaceae	Medium sized woodland tree which grows on alluvial soils, on cold, and poorly drained flats adjacent to creeks and small rivers.	View Source	Click here
Eucalyptus aquatica	Mountain Swamp Gum, Broad-leaved Sallee, Broadleaved Sally	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Myrtaceae	Grows in permanently waterlogged peaty soils, swaps and poorly drained areas.	View Source	Click here
Eucalyptus benthamii	Camden White Gum, Nepean River Gum	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Myrtaceae	Grows on alluvial river flats.	View Source	Click here
Eucalyptus kartzoffiana	Araluen Gum	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Myrtaceae	Grows near rivers, in woodlands or wet sclerophyll forests on soils derived from granite.	View Source	Click here
Eucalyptus macarthurii	Camden Woollybutt, Paddys River Box	Endangered	Endangered	Myrtaceae	Tall tree, grows in grassy woodlands.	View Source	Click here
Eucalyptus recurva	Mongarlowe Mallee	Critically endangered	Critically endangered	Myrtaceae	The rarest known eucalypt.	View Source	Click here
Genoplesium baueri	Brittle Midge Orchid	Endangered	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Terrestrial orchid.	View Source	Click here
Genoplesium plumosum	Plumed Midge-orchid, Tallong Midge Orchid	Endangered	Critically endangered	Orchidaceae	An inconspicuous ground orchid with 'upside down' flowers.	View Source	Click here
Genoplesium vernale	East Lynne Midge-orchid	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Orchidaceae	Flowers resemble midge-like insects clustered on the stem.	View Source	Click here
Gentiana wingecarribiensis	Wingecarribee Gentian	Endangered	Critically endangered	Gentianaceae	Annual herb. Grows in bogs and sedge communities.	View Source	Click here
Grevillea molyneuxii	Wingello Grevillea	Endangered	Vulnerable	Proteaceae	Low spreading shrub with red flowers throughout the year.	View Source	Click here
Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora	Small-flower Grevillea	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Proteaceae	Low spreading suckering shrub endemic to NSW.	View Source	Click here
Grevillea rivularis	Carrington Falls Grevillea	Endangered	Critically endangered	Proteaceae	Riparian species sometimes found in eucalypt woodland. Confined to Budderoo National Park.	View Source	Click here
Hakea dohertyi	Kowmung Hakea	Endangered	Endangered	Proteaceae	Grows in dry sclerophyll forest.	View Source	Click here
Haloragis exalata subsp. exalata	Wingless Raspwort, Square Raspwort	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Haloragaceae	Perennial herb growing in riparian zones and disturbed sites.	View Source	Click here
Irenepharsus trypherus	Delicate Cress, Illawarra Irene	Endangered	Endangered	Brassicaceae	Annual or short-lived perennial herb.	View Source	Click here
Kunzea cambagei	Cambage Kunzea	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Myrtaceae	Prostrate spreading shrub. Grows on damp sandy soils.	View Source	Click here
Lepidium hyssopifolium	Basalt Pepper-cress, Peppercress, Rubble Peppercress, Pepperweed	Endangered	Endangered	Brassicaceae	Aromatic perennial herb.	View Source	Click here
Leucochrysum albicans subsp. Tricolor	Hoary Sunray, Grassland Paper-daisy	Endangered	not listed	Asteraceae	Perennial everlasting daisy. Depends on bare ground for seed germination.	View Source	Click here
Leucopogon exolasius	Woronora Beard-heath	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Ericaceae	Grows in woodland on sandstone and along sandy creek banks.	View Source	Click here
Melaleuca biconvexa	Biconvex Paperbark	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Myrtaceae	Grows in damp sites often along watercourses.	View Source	Click here
Melaleuca deanei	Deane's Melaleuca	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Myrtaceae	Grows in wet heath on sandstone and in woodlands.	View Source	Click here
Pelargonium sp. Striatellum (G.W.Carr 10345)	Omeo Stork's-bill	Endangered	Endangered	Geraniaceae	Tufted perennial herb with pink flowers from October to March. Sometimes colonises lake beds during dry periods.	View Source	Click here
Persicaria elatior	Knotweed, Tall Knotweed	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Polygonaceae	Tall herb. Grows in damp sites often along water courses.	View Source	Click here
Persoonia acerosa	Needle Geebung	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Proteaceae	Attractive small shrub with yellow flowers in summer.	View Source	Click here
Persoonia glaucescens	Mittagong Geebung	Vulnerable	Endangered	Proteaceae	Grows in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland communities on sandstone.	View Source	Click here
Persoonia hirsuta	Hairy Geebung, Hairy Persoonia	Endangered	Endangered	Proteaceae	Grows on stony sandstone soils often in disturbed areas.	View Source	Click here
Phyllota humifusa	Dwarf Phyllota	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Fabaceae	Prostrate pea sometimes found near swamps. Grows in deep sandy soils and gravelly loams.	View Source	Click here
Pimelea axiflora subsp. pubescens	Bungonia Rice-flower	Endangered	Endangered	Thymelaeceae	Grows on limestone rocky outcrops and cliff faces.	View Source	Click here
Pimelea spicata	Spiked Rice-flower	Endangered	Endangered	Thymelaeceae	Delicate spreading small shrub, grows in well- structured clay soils.	View Source	Click here
Plinthanthesis rodwayi	Budawangs Wallaby-grass	Vulnerable	Critically endangered	Poaceae	Perennial tussock grass restricted to mountain tops in the Budawangs.	View Source	Click here
Pomaderris brunnea	Rufous Pomaderris	Vulnerable	Endangered	Rhamnaceae	Bushy shrub, sometimes suckering. Grows in floodplains and creeklines.	View Source	Click here
Pomaderris cotoneaster	Cotoneaster Pomaderris	Endangered	Endangered	Rhamnaceae	Tall bushy shrub bearing some resemblance to the exotic invasive Cotoneaster.	View Source	Click here
Pomaderris delicata	Delicate Pomaderris	Critically endangered	Critically endangered	Rhamnaceae	Delicate shrub with yellow flowers in spring. Grows in dry open forest on shallow soils.	View Source	Click here
Pomaderris pallida	Pale Pomaderris	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Rhamnaceae	Compact rounded shrub with silvery-grey foliage.	View Source	Click here
Pomaderris sericea	Bent Pomaderris, Silky Pomaderris	Vulnerable	Endangered	Rhamnaceae	Low shrub found on sandstone soils in NSW.	View Source	Click here
Prasophyllum affine	Jervis Bay Leek Orchid, Culburra Leek-orchid, Kinghorn Point Leek-orchid	Endangered	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Coastal ground orchid pollinated by specialised wasp species.	View Source	Click here
Prasophyllum fuscum	Tawny Leek-orchid, Slaty Leek-orchid	Vulnerable	Critically endangered	Orchidaceae	Ground orchid found in wet sites.	View Source	Click here
Prasophyllum petilum	Tarengo Leek Orchid	Endangered	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Distinguished from other onion orchids found in the same habitat by its pinkish-purple leaf base.	View Source	Click here
Pterostylis gibbosa	Illawarra Greenhood, Rufa Greenhood, Pouched Greenhood	Endangered	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Ground orchid found in poorly drained sites.	View Source	Click here
Pterostylis pulchella	Pretty Greenhood, Waterfall Greenhood	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Orchidaceae	Found on cliff faces close to waterfall and along creek banks.	View Source	Click here
Pterostylis saxicola	Sydney Plains Greenhood	Endangered	Endangered	Orchidaceae	Ground orchid with reddish-brown and green translucent flowers.	View Source	Click here
Pultenaea elusa	Elusive Bush-pea	Endangered	Critically endangered	Fabaceae	Only recorded twice in 1938. Unsuccessful searches since suggest population is highly restricted or possibly already extinct.	View Source	Click here
Rutidosis leptorhynchoides	Button Wrinklewort	Endangered	Endangered	Asteraceae	Perennial daisy, grows in grassland and woodland communities.	View Source	Click here
Swainsona recta	Small Purple-pea, Mountain Swainson-pea	Endangered	Endangered	Fabaceae	Small perennial forb with purple flowers in spring. Plants experience a summer dormancy and dieback, reshooting from a deep taproot the following autumn/winter.	View Source	Click here
Syzygium paniculatum	Magenta Lilly Pilly, Magenta Cherry, Daguba, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry	Vulnerable	Endangered	Myrtaceae	Attractive tree restricted to littoral rainforest communities on the central and south coast of NSW.	View Source	Click here
Thelymitra kangaloonica	Kangaloon Sun Orchid	Critically Endangered	Critically endangered	Orchidaceae	Thought to be a short-lived perennial, with deep blue flowers in spring.	View Source	Click here
Thesium australe	Austral Toadflax, Toadflax	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Santalaceae	Small straggling herb. Semi-parasitic, taking water and some nutrients from a range of grass species.	View Source	Click here
Trachymene scapigera	Mountain Trachymene	Endangered	Endangered	Apiaceae	Perennial, rhizomatous, robust herb, with white to pinkish flowers in summer. Occurs in riparian habitats.	View Source	Click here
Triplarina nowraensis	Nowra Heath-myrtle	Endangered	Endangered	Myrtaceae	Aromatic shrub with white flowers. Occurs on poorly drained sandstone shelves and along creek lines.	View Source	Click here
Xerochrysum palustre	Swamp Everlasting, Swamp Paper Daisy	Vulnerable	Not listed	Asteraceae	Grows in and on the edges of swamps and bogs.	View Source	Click here
Zieria granulata	Hill Zieria, Hilly Zieria, Illawarra Zieria	Endangered	Endangered	Rutaceae	Tall bushy aromatic shrub restricted to the Illawarra region.	View Source	Click here
Zieria murphyi	Velvet Zieria	Vulnerable	Vulnerable	Rutaceae	Soft hairy shrub with pale pink flowers in spring. Grows in sheltered gullies on sandstone.	View Source	Click here

Getting extra help:

There are many government and community organisations armed with information and expertise to help you.

Apart from the valuable support offered by the Rivers of Carbon team, getting in touch with Local Land Services in your area to see what assistance and information is available is a great start.

The Australian Network for Plant Conservation is a wonderful source of information and regularly run workshops and field days focusing on plant conservation. They also have a regular publication called Australasian Plant Conservation as well as publications on translocations and germplasm which features many practical articles and information, some involving land managers working with threatened species. Your local Land care group and Greening Australia will also be able to provide support.

Contacts such as these are often able to guide you to where to seek resources and / or funding, typically in the form of grants, and can cover actions including fencing, weed management, planting enhancements and so on.

There are of course many resources available through the internet, but to ensure best practice, we suggest before undertaking plant conservation actions that you get plants correctly identified by professionals. Connecting with your local conservation department and threatened species officers is the best way to get up to date and accurate information and assistance. There is also an app on the Office of Environment and Heritage website to help identify threatened species that may be of assistance.

Working with threatened species can be both a rewarding opportunity as well as a challenge. Working in collaboration and sharing experiences including successes and failures helps us all to become better custodians of our special and unique natural capital.

Thank you to Julie and David from the Australian National Botanic Gardens, as well as Water NSW and Australian River Restoration Centre for the continued support for the Rivers of Carbon projects.

Julie ANBG — Julie Percival (right) with colleagues Mya Anelzark (left) and Janine Baines (middle)

Collecting and caring for seed from Australian native plants

The reintroduction of species into the landscape relies on seed collection for plant propagation and direct seeding. Our partners at Greening Australia have worked with us to put together this handy guide based on their Florabank Program, covering things you need to think about when collecting, propagating and storing native seed.

View Guide