Bynoe's Wattle - profile

Scientific name: Acacia bynoeana
Conservation status in NSW: Endangered
National conservation status: Vulnerable

Description

Bynoe's Wattle is a semi-prostrate shrub to a metre high. The phyllodes (‘leaves’) are shiny, stiff and narrow, 1.5 - 5 cm long and 1 - 3 mm wide. The single flower heads, on short hairy stems, appear anytime from September to March. Its seedpods are mature from September to January. The hairy branchlets distinguish the species from the similar and more common Three-veined Wattle Acacia trinervata.

Location and habitat

Distribution
Bynoe's wattle is found in central eastern NSW, from the Hunter District (Morisset) south to the Southern Highlands and west to the Blue Mountains. It has recently been found in the Colymea and Parma Creek areas west of Nowra.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs in heath or dry sclerophyll forest on sandy soils.
Seems to prefer open, sometimes slightly disturbed sites such as trail margins, edges of roadside spoil mounds and in recently burnt patches.
Associated overstorey species include Red Bloodwood, Scribbly Gum, Parramatta Red Gum, Saw Banksia and Narrow-leafed Apple.

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.

Threats

Due to the fragmented nature of the populations and their small size the species is susceptible to catastrophic events and localised extinction.
Habitat disturbance during road, trail and powerline maintenance.
As specimens are often found on trail margins, plants can be damaged by recreational vehicles, horse riding and pedestrian use.
Weeds can invade the species’ habitat.
The response of Bynoe's Wattle to fire is unknown, however it is likely that it can cope with fires of a frequency of not more frequent than every 10-12 years. More frequent hazard reduction burning could threaten the species’ survival.

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 13 priority actions to help recover the Bynoe's Wattle in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

Ensure that personnel planning and undertaking hazard reduction burns are able to identify the species and are aware of its habitat.
Implement fire regimes which maintain floristic and structural diversity. Until optimal fire frequency is known, avoid repeated burning of habitat at intervals of less than five years.
Use signs to alert visitors to the presence of this species and advise how their behaviour can effect its survival.
Alert road and track maintenance staff to the presence of a threatened species.
Where possible, limit movement of people through Bynoe Wattle populations.
Control threatening weeds where necessary.
Investigate appropriate fire regime for the species.
Mark Bynoe's Wattle sites and potential habitat onto maps used for planning road maintenance work.
Mark Bynoe's Wattle sites and potential habitat onto maps used for planning hazard reduction work.

References

Armitage I. (1977) Acacias of NSW. Society for growing Australian Plants, NSW.
Briggs J.D. and Leigh J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. CSIRO Publishing, Australia.
Fairley, A. and Moore, P. (2000). Native plants of the Sydney district: an identification guide. 2nd edn. Kangaroo Press, East Roseville.
NSW Scientific Committee (1999) Acacia bynoeana (a shrub) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.