Polycarpaea spirostylis subsp. glabra - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Polycarpaea spirostylis subsp. glabra

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 07 Jan 2019

Description

Small annual herb, hairless and often stiff and much-branched. Plants can exhibit a variety of forms, from few-stemmed and slender, to low and bushy. Leaves opposite, linear, 4-10 mm long, with tissue-like stipules at the base. Flowers tubular with pink lobes which are sometimes deeply divided. The flower sepals have a midrib accentuated by red or pink. Fruit capsule about 3 mm long.

Distribution

Restricted to the NSW far west, from Hawker’s Gate Road west of Milparinka and recently recorded for the far south-western plains. Also found in Qld, NT, SA and WA. It is a rarely collected taxon and not common within its very restricted range.

Habitat and ecology

Recorded from a dune slope on a sandplain with Mulga vegetation and from a sandy duplex soil supporting Sturt’s Pigface Gunniopsis quadrifida.
Other recorded habitats include a sand dune, gravely scree slope, rocky areas, and eucalypt woodland with grassy understorey on granite-derived gravel.
Flowers mainly in spring but also throughout the year.
Often found on heavily mineralised soils and considered to be an indicator of the presence of silver and lead due to its occurrence on silver-lead lodes. The species ability to grow on silver-lead lodes is due to its low uptake of minerals in heavily mineralised soils.
Recorded growing in a dense clump below a rock slab, in the wetter area beside a creek.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Clearing of habitat.
Mining and excavation impacts.
Grazing and trampling.
Availability of specific mineral and water requirements.
Lack of knowledge on priority sites and management requirements for the species

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

No further degradation or loss of potential habitat.
Protect existing populations from stock and other grazing animals.
Protection from mining activities.
No further loss of extant populations.
Survey for new populations
Baseline surveys required to confirm known and locate new populations.

Information sources

BRI Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the Queensland Herbarium (Brisbane Botanic Gardens: Toowong).
Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
CANB Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the Canberra Botanic Gardens and Australian National Botanic Gardens (CSIRO and Australian National Botanic Gardens: Canberra).
Cowie, I.D. (1994) Three new species, a new name and notes on Australian Polycarpaea (Caryophyllaceae). Nuytsia 9(3): 319-332.
Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
Doust, A. (1990) Polycarpaea. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1 (New South Wales University Press: Sydney).
Harden, G.J. and Murray, L.J. (eds) (2000) Supplement to Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 1. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
Jessop, J.P. (1981) Flora of Central Australia. (Australian Systematic Botany Society, Sydney)
Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part I. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
NSW Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of New South Wales (Royal Botanic Gardens: Sydney).
Pedley, L. (1977) Polycarpaea (Caryophyllaceae) in Australia. Austrobaileya 1(1): 49-62, p. 58.
Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
Wheeler, J.R. (ed.) (1992) Flora of the Kimberley Region. (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth)