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Introducing the Queensland Threatened Plant Network (QTPN)

Introducing the Queensland Threatened Plant Network (QTPN)

Almost 800 native plant species are listed as threatened under Queensland legislation; of these, more than 70 per cent are endemic to the state.  Many of these face complex threats such as climate change, habitat loss and altered fire regimes. Some have been the subject of innovative and cross-disciplinary research and on-ground recovery, with this work being led by community-based environmental groups, First Nations people, Herbaria, State Government and QPWS Rangers managing the conservation estate.

To build upon these efforts, we would like to warmly announce the establishment of the Queensland Threatened Plant Network (QTPN) – a collaborative project brought about by the Queensland Government’s Threatened Species Program (TSP) and the Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC).  Through its vision of Queenslanders supporting threatened species to prosper in self-sustaining populations, now and into the future, the TSP has a strong focus on enabling and facilitating all Queenslanders to participate in threatened species recovery, a vison that ANPC shares. Essentially, QTPN aims to provide support to groups contributing to threatened plant recovery across the State, and to facilitate the formation of partnerships among those conserving our native flora.


Androcalva (Commersonia) inglewoodensis – Critically Endangered, Credit: Jason Halford

For those based in Queensland, this is an exciting opportunity for you and your organisation to become involved in a network working to achieve shared goals and outcomes through a collective, informed, and collaborative approach to advance threatened plant recovery in Queensland.

More information about the QTPN, including the benefits of membership, can be found at our new QTPN website.


Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii – Vulnerable, Credit: Paul Donatiu

Preventing the extinction of the Grampians Globe-pea in Victoria

Preventing the extinction of the Grampians Globe-pea in Victoria

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and La Trobe University scientists are working hard to protect the Critically Endangered Sphaerolobium acanthos (Grampians Globe-pea).

Growing up to 1 m tall, this spiny shrub has vibrant flowers that are bright orange, but can range from yellow to red in colour.

Sphaerolobium acanthos is restricted with less than 200 individuals remaining in the Gariwerd National Park in Victoria. As part of ongoing conservation work, populations of S. acanthos are being surveyed with genetic studies underway to inform seed collections and propagation for future reintroduction.

The species is thought to be pollinated by native bees, and pollinator studies are helping to establish exactly what these pollinators are so that suitable reintroduction sites can be found to save the plant from extinction.

The Grampians Globe-pea is threatened by animal browsing, habitat loss, and dieback caused by the pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi (Cinnamon fungus).

 

This research is funded by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action‘s Nature Fund. The ‘Preventing the extinction of Victoria’s threatened flora’ project is led by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in partnership with La Trobe University, Australian Network for Plant Conservation, DEECA, Trust for Nature, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Nillumbik Shire, ENVITE, Bairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club, Friends of the Grampians Gariwerd, WAMA Botanic Gardens, Halls Gap Botanic Gardens and the Australasian Native Orchid Society Victorian Branch.

Images supplied by La Trobe University

Preventing the extinction of the Swamp Everlasting in Victoria

Preventing the extinction of the Swamp Everlasting in Victoria

Xerochrysum palustre (The Swamp Everlasting)

This beautiful golden everlasting daisy is endemic to south-eastern Australia (https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/xerochrysum_palustre). It grows in seasonal or permanent wetlands and swamps scattered from near Portland in western Victoria to Bairnsdale in the east, also occurring in NSW and Tasmania. It is perennial, grows 30-100 cm tall and has showy flowers up to 5 cm across which appear from November to March. It dies off in late summer, and resprouts in winter-spring, depending on rain. The Swamp Everlasting is listed as Critically Endangered under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 reflecting a range of threats to the long-term persistence of populations, including land clearing, altered hydrology, weed invasion and grazing.

Flower seeding – Supplied RBGV

The National Recovery Plan for Xerochrysum palustre (2011) estimated that there were 35 wild populations remaining. With the passage of time and following a recent revision of the genus (see Collins et al. 2022. Australian Systematic Botany 35, 120-185) which reclassified some alpine populations as a new species, Xerochrysum andrewiae, the current number and extent of populations of X. palustre is unclear. It is also difficult to estimate the number of plants and health of populations because of its rhizomatous growth form. As part of the ‘Preventing the extinction of Victoria’s threatened flora’ project, RBGV staff are conducting surveys across its range and collecting material for genetic analysis to characterise diversity in remnant populations. Seeds are also being collected which will be used to grow plants to bolster populations, and act as insurance collections for long-term storage in the Victorian Conservation Seedbank at RBGV, Melbourne.

RBGV volunteer assisting with seed collection – Supplied RBGV

This research is funded by DEECA Victoria’s Nature Fund. The ‘Preventing the extinction of Victoria’s threatened flora’ project is led by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in partnership with La Trobe University, Australian Network for Plant Conservation, DEECA, Trust for Nature, ENVITE, Bairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club, Friends of the Grampians Gariwerd, Wimmera CMA, Nillumbik Shire, Halls Gap Botanic Gardens and the Australasian Native Orchid Society Victorian Branch.

Feature image: Xerochrysum palustre (supplied RBGV)

President’s Report for 2023 now available

President’s Report for 2023 now available

The President’s Report for 2023 from outgoing President Tony Auld is now available to view online.

Contained within are details of all of the significant projects which have been undertaken in collaboration with our partner organisations this year, including:

  • Our work on Myrtle Rust, particularly safe custody projects for Native Guava and Scrub Turpentine, including the production of 3 videos on Myrtle Rust.
  • Establishing a pilot project to coordinate recovery of Queensland’s threatened plants.
  • Preventing extinction of Victoria’s threatened flora.
  • Holding a Flora After Fire Symposium, the inaugural Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference, and a Plant Translocation Workshop.
  • Publishing a paper on Ex situ germplasm collection in Plants, People, Planet journal.
  • Sharing the endorsed Healthy Seeds Roadmap.
  • and many more…

Tony has also highlighted the important work carried out by our project managers Amelia Martyn Yenson, Chantelle Doyle and Jason Halford over the past year, along with Outreach Delegate Bob Makinson, as well as office staff Jo Lynch, Richie Southerton and volunteer Robert Hawes. He also took the opportunity to thank the members of our committee who are finishing their terms.

See the full President’s Report 2023 here.