Indicative distribution
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.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Ipomoea diamantinensis
Profile last updated:
03 Jan 2019
Description
Small hairless annual forb, with thick and hollow trailing stems. Leaves lance-shaped to oblong, 5-15 cm long, 2-8 cm wide, the base blunt or with 2 spreading lobes, the stalk 2-10 cm long. Flowers trumpet-shaped, creamish white, swollen at the top and faintly 5-lobed. Fruit an almost spherical capsule, 9-17 mm in diameter, 2-segmented and usually containing 3 woolly seeds each 6 mm long.
Distribution
Occurs north from near Goodooga, in the north-western slopes and plains of NSW. Localities include Narran River and Inverell. The species is distributed widely across northern Australia in Qld, SA, the NT and WA.
Habitat and ecology
- Grows on clay soils on floodplains, often in shallow water and mud on cracking grey clay.
- Interstate habitats include low-lying grasslands with scattered Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia georgensis, gums and boxes, swamp margins and billabongs, a small floodway with Acacia stenophylla, and the water surface of a watercourse with other aquatic plants.
- Associated species include Astrebla squarrosa, Astrebla elymoides, Eremophila bignoniiflora and Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii.
- Flowers mainly summer to autumn.
- Plants recorded as occasional to frequent in populations, with several sites recording only one plant.
- Plants often grow in mud with stems trailing out and over the water. As a prostrate climber, the species can cover areas as large as 10 x 10 m, producing stunning, white-edged, deep-pink throated flowers.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Grazing (stock and possibly native herbivores).
- Habitat disturbance (the damp habitats vulnerable to pugging and trampling, clearing, drainage and irrigation).
- Competition from other seasonal annuals may limit the species.
- 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
- Protect existing populations from grazing.
- Seasonal monitoring of populations.
- Report new sightings of the species to the Department of Environment and Conservation.
- No further loss of extant populations.
Information sources
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
- 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 lll. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- Johnson, R.W. (1992) Ipomoea. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 3. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.
- 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
- Robertson, E.L. and Black, J.M. (eds) (1957) Diagnoses to new taxa: Ipomoea diamantinensis J.M. Black ex C.M. Eardley. In Flora of South Australia, 2nd Edition 4: 945-946.
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