Narrabarba Wattle - profile

Scientific name: Acacia constablei 
 Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
National conservation status: Vulnerable

Description

The Narrabarba Wattle is a spreading smooth-barked shrub 1 - 3 m tall, with angled or flattened branchlets. Leaves are ‘feathery’, 2 - 5 cm long with 6 - 14 pairs of leaflets (each with 9 - 30 pairs of pinnules). Flower-heads appear in winter and are pale yellow to cream. Up to 12 heads grow in a spray from the base of the leaf. The pod is more or less straight and flat, 3 - 7 cm long and 6 - 9 mm wide, dark brown to black, with short fine hairs.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 This species is a South Coast endemic known from only two localities. The largest population is found at Narrabarba Hill south of Eden. The other population is found on a rocky ridgetop 1.4 km to the north on the other side of the Wonboyn River.

• Confined to rhyolite outcrops with very poor soil development.
• It is often dominant or co-dominant in an open shrubland community which also includes Giant Honey-myrtle, Tick Bush, Coastal Zieria and Lance-leaf Platysace; the herbaceous component of the vegetation is dominated by Long-leafed Wallaby Grass (Notodanthonia longifolia) and Lepidosperma urophorum.
• Is assumed to develop a long-lived soil-stored seed bank but no data exist to confirm this.
• Apparently an obligate seeder - (i.e. it is killed by fire and regenerates then only from seed).

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.

• Southern Rivers

Threats

• Controlled and uncontrolled fire is the most serious potential threat to populations, particularly fires occurring at frequent intervals or at a time of year unfavourable for recruitment.

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 7 priority actions to help recover the Narrabarba Wattle in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Implement fire regimes which maintain floristic and structural diversity.
• No hazard reduction burning in the vicinity of these populations.
• Protect all known populations
• Investigate appropriate fire regime for the species.

References

• Barker, R.M., Haegi, L. and Barker, W.R. (1999) 42. Hakea. Flora of Australia 17B: 44.
• NPWS (2003). Draft Recovery Plan for Threatened Flora of Rocky Outcrops in South Eastern New South Wales. NPWS, Sydney.
• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Recovery plan for threatened flora of rocky outcrops in south-east NSW - Draft Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Sydney.
• Tame T. (1992) Acacias of South East Australia. Kangaroo Press Pty Ltd, Kenthurst.