NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. Philotheca ericifolia (A. Cunn. ex Benth.) Paul G. Wilson (Rutaceae) is a ‘shrub 1-2 m high, spreading; stems sparsely glandular-warty, finely pubescent. Leaves needle-like, 0.4-0.8 cm long, c. 0.5 mm wide, narrow-grooved above, sparsely glandular-punctate, glabrous or sparsely and finely pubescent; petiole short, stipules small, black. Flowers 1-6 in sessile clusters; pedicels 2-5 mm long, minutely bracteolate at base. Petals elliptic, c. 9 mm long, purple to pink, glandular-warty, slightly white-tomentose inside and on the outside except for thick glandular midrib. Stamens free; filaments pilose; anthers glabrous. Cocci erect, c. 5 mm long, abruptly attenuate into a subulate pilose apex. Flowers spring’ (Weston & Harden 2002). Plants produce seeds in November and December, and have been observed to resprout following fire (Porteners 2008).
2. Philotheca ericifolia, previously known as Eriostemon ericifolius Benth., was assessed as Vulnerable in Briggs & Leigh (1996) and as a consequence was placed in Schedule 2 as Vulnerable at the inception of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
3. Philotheca ericifolia mainly occurs on the central and northern slopes and northwestern plains of NSW, with its distribution centred near Dubbo. It extends to the Pilliga in the north and West Wyalong in the south (Porteners 2008). It grows mainly in dry sclerophyll forest and heath on damp sandy flats and in gullies, but has also been seen in dry sandy creek beds and on rocky ridges (Porteners 2008).
4. Recent systematic surveys of forested areas in the central west of NSW have resulted in the discovery of populations of Philotheca ericifolia (Porteners 2008). It has been recorded from Brigalow Belt South, NSW South Western Slopes, and Sydney Basin Bioregions (sensu Thackway and Creswell 1995). There are currently 65 records of the species, representing approximately 42 populations (Porteners 2008). Current survey based estimates on the size of individual populations range from at least 3,780 up to 10,000 – 20,000 plants (Porteners 2008). However, actual numbers of plants are thought to be much higher, with a large unsurveyed population in Breelong Community Conservation Area (CCA) Zone 1 (previously Lincoln State Forest) near Gilgandra, which may number at least 200 000 plants (Porteners 2008).
5. There is currently no evidence of any ongoing net decline in the total population of Philotheca ericifolia (Porteners 2008). Whilst clearing of native vegetation may have contributed to a decline of P. ericifolia in the past, particularly around Dubbo and the central wheatbelt areas, further clearing of habitat areas is considered to be unlikely at most known sites (Porteners 2008). P. ericifolia has been recorded from the following conservation reserves: Goobang National Park, Wingen Maid Nature Reserve, and Wollemi National Park. The following areas reserved under the Brigalow and Nandewar Community Conservation Area Act 2005 also contain Philotheca ericifolia: Breelong CCA Zone 1, Goonoo CCA Zone 1, Timallallie CCA Zone 1, Goonoo CCA Zone 3 State Conservation Area, Pilliga CCA Zone 3 State Conservation Area, Pilliga East CCA Zone 3 State Conservation Area. The geographic distribution of the species is not restricted. Its extent of occurrence is estimated to be approximately 60 000 km2 (Porteners 2008). Within this range, the area of occupancy is conservatively estimated to be at least 200 km2 based on a 2 x 2 km grid, the spatial scale of assessment recommended by IUCN (2008). Porteners (2008) suggests that this is likely to be an underestimate, given that large populations potentially exist in areas of habitat yet to be surveyed.
6. Given the relatively large total population size, its extent of occurrence and the absence of evidence for continuing decline in the species populations, in the opinion of the Scientific Committee, Philotheca ericifolia does not currently meet any of the criteria for listing of species under the Threatened Species Conservation Regulation 2002.
7. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Philotheca ericifolia (A. Cunn. ex Benth.) Paul G. Wilson is no longer eligible to be listed as a Vulnerable species in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Act.
Dr Richard Major
Chairperson
Scientific Committee
Proposed Gazettal date: 11/12/09
Exhibition period: 11/12/09 – 29/01/10
References:
Briggs JD, Leigh JH (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants, (CSIRO publishing: Melbourne).
IUCN (2008) ‘Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 7.0.’ (Standards and Petitions Working Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Biodiversity Assessments Sub-committee: Switzerland).
Porteners MF (2008) Conservation status of Philotheca ericifolia (A. Cunn. ex Benth.) Paul G. Wilson (Rutaceae) in New South Wales. Report to the Scientific Committee, Sydney.
Thackway R, Creswell ID (1995) ‘An interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia: a framework for setting priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program’. Version 4.0. (Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra)
Weston PH,Harden GJ (2002) Philotheca. In Flora of New South Wales Volume 2 Revised Edition. Harden GJ ed. (2002). University of NSW Press, Sydney.