Acacia baueri subsp. aspera - profile

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Description

A low growing, well-branched shrub mostly 0.1 - 1 m high with hairy and warty branches. The phyllodes (leaves) are crowded, scattered or in irregular whorls, cylindrical and warty. Flowerheads consisting of 10 - 20 golden yellow flowers occur in the angle between the phyllode and stem. Fruit is a slightly curved pod 1 - 2 cm long. This subspecies differs from A. baueri subsp. baueri which has smoother phyllodes in more regular whorls.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 Restricted to the Sydney region, occurring on the Kings Tableland in the central Blue Mountains and with sporadic occurrences on the Woronora Plateau in the Royal National Park, Mt. Keira district and at Wedderburn. May also occur on the escarpment/Woronora Plateau in the Flat Rock Junction and Stanwell Tops area of the Illawarra.

• Occurs in low, damp heathlands, often on exposed rocky outcrops over a wide range of climatic and topographical conditions.
• Appears to prefer open conditions; rarely observed where there is any shrub or tree canopy development; and many of the observations of this species have been made following fire, suggesting the species prefers early successional habitats.
• Peak flowering occurs December to March. Pods have been observed to remain on the plants for several months, maturing October to December.
• Fire response is unknown, however, the frequency and intensity of fire is likely to play an important role in the persistence of populations.

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Hawkesbury/Nepean
• Southern Rivers
• Sydney Metro

Threats

• Habitat loss due to clearing.
• Habitat degradation due to for example, recreational activities, roadside maintenance, and weed invasion.
• Inappropriate fire regimes may also threaten the species’ persistence at some locations.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 15 priority actions to help recover the Acacia baueri subsp. aspera in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Ensure personnel undertaking roadside maintenance are able to identify the species and are aware of its habitat.
• Introduce measures to prevent habitat degradation related to unrestricted access to habitat.
• Undertake appropriate weed control activities when necessary.
• Protect habitat from clearing and fragmentation.
• Effective management of this species will require greater understanding of the role of fire in population persistence.

References

• Barker, R.M., Haegi, L. and Barker, W.R. (1999) 42. Hakea. Flora of Australia 17B: 44.
• Fairley, A. (2004) Seldom seen: rare plants of greater Sydney. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
• NPWS, (2000). Acacia baueri subsp. aspera., Threatened species profile.NPWS, Sydney.