Elusive Bush Pea lives up to its name for 86 years

The elusive bush pea, a critically endangered plant known only from specimens collected in 1938, has been rediscovered in the Upper Nepean catchment, west of Wollongong.

Ecologist Robert T. Miller spotted the elusive bush pea flowering in the swamps around the Upper Nepean State Conservation Area during field work for the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program.

Subsequent targeted searches coordinated by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service successfully located more plants, extending the known population to over 200 individual plants. This is the only place on earth the plant is known to exist.

Seed and tissue samples were collected to create vital insurance for this species.

Future efforts will focus on understanding and protecting this rare plant, including germinating seeds to add to the living collection at the Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan.

The elusive bush pea (Pultenaea elusa) is a small, straggling shrub with branches up to 50cm, sparse thin straight leaves, and yellow to orange pea flowers. It is easily overlooked amongst its grassy swamp-side habitat, particularly when not in flower.

This rediscovery is significant as it represents the first recorded sighting since the original specimens were collected by botanist W.F. Blakely in 1938, less than 50km away from the latest find.

Stored seeds will also support further seed ecology studies to help delivering in-situ management actions for the wild population.

The rediscovered plants also highlight the importance of protecting areas like State Conservation Areas which provide opportunity for species to persist.

Pultenaea elusa is listed as critically endangered in NSW under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The Upper Nepean State Conservation Area is within the Sydney Catchment Authority Special Area and is closed to public access to protect the area.

Quote attributed to ecologist Robert T. Miller:

"When I discerned a Pultenaea species I had not seen before, I said, 'I think we have hit the jackpot!'

"This is a great example of the valuable collaborative work undertaken by the Saving our Species team, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Botanic Gardens of Sydney."

Quote attributed to Simon Lee, Saving our Species:

“Being part of the rediscovery of a plant that has evaded botanists for so long has been exciting. I’m looking forward to us learning more about the elusive bush pea to help plan future species recovery.

“The partnership Saving our Species has with NSW National Parks is vital to ensure we are working together to protect plants and animals with on-ground activities.”

Quote attributed to Alison Foster, Project Officer NPWS:

“Being able to quickly respond to this find with more field surveys enabled us to collect seed to help secure the future of this elusive plant.

“National Parks is committed to zero extinctions of plants and animals in our parks and reserves under our Threatened Species Framework, and work like this helps us meet that target.”