Philotheca basistyla is an erect shrub to 1 m tall and 80cm across. Plants typically have glossy or waxy dark green leaves up to 9 mm long and 1 to 1.5 mm wide that are thickened, circular in cross-section, glandular and ascending.
There are numerous solitary white flowers at the ends of the branchlets. Petals are around 6-6.5 mm in length and oval-shaped with pointed ends. They are hairless outside and have downy hairs on the inside. Flowering generally occurs between August and October. It is only known to occur in a geographic range of only a few kilometres between Trayning and Kellerberrin in deep yellow sand in dense scrub heath vegetation amongst Eucalyptus leptopoda (Tammin mallee), Grevillea eriostachya (flame grevillea), Allocasuarina acutivalvis (black tamma) and Melaleuca conothamnoides.
Philotheca basistyla was listed as critically endangered in 1998. It is now thought that this species is likely to become extinct due to a continuing decline in the condition of the population and its habitat. Recovery actions are being implemented to ensure the conservation of this species but there is an urgent need to find more populations or suitable habitat for a planned translocation of this species in the near future.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is keen to work with the community and land managers to conserve Philotheca basistyla. If you have seen this plant or think you may have habitat on your property that would support this species, we would like to hear from you. You can do this by contacting the Flora Conservation Officer at the DEC Central Wheatbelt district office in Merredin on (08) 9041 2488.
Your support and assistance in conserving Western Australia’s threatened flora is greatly appreciated.
There are numerous solitary white flowers at the ends of the branchlets. Petals are around 6-6.5 mm in length and oval-shaped with pointed ends. They are hairless outside and have downy hairs on the inside. Flowering generally occurs between August and October. It is only known to occur in a geographic range of only a few kilometres between Trayning and Kellerberrin in deep yellow sand in dense scrub heath vegetation amongst Eucalyptus leptopoda (Tammin mallee), Grevillea eriostachya (flame grevillea), Allocasuarina acutivalvis (black tamma) and Melaleuca conothamnoides.
Philotheca basistyla was listed as critically endangered in 1998. It is now thought that this species is likely to become extinct due to a continuing decline in the condition of the population and its habitat. Recovery actions are being implemented to ensure the conservation of this species but there is an urgent need to find more populations or suitable habitat for a planned translocation of this species in the near future.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is keen to work with the community and land managers to conserve Philotheca basistyla. If you have seen this plant or think you may have habitat on your property that would support this species, we would like to hear from you. You can do this by contacting the Flora Conservation Officer at the DEC Central Wheatbelt district office in Merredin on (08) 9041 2488.
Your support and assistance in conserving Western Australia’s threatened flora is greatly appreciated.
No comments:
Post a Comment