QTPN Myrtle Mayday Project

Myrtle Mayday Project

The Queensland Threatened Plant Network (QTPN*) has received funding from the Australian Seed Bank Partnership (ASBP) under the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program, to support conservation activities for two Myrtaceae plant species listed under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiverstiy Conservation Act (1999).

In collaboration with the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium (SRWC), the QTPN will undertake reconnaissance surveys and seed collection in 2025/26 to safeguard the following two species against further population declines in the wild:

1/ The Critically Endangered Eucalyptus dalveenica, or Dalveen Blue Box, a new species only known from four sites near Dalveen, Queensland, with many trees on private property.

Read about how Tim Collins and colleagues from the University of New England discovered the Dalveen Blue Box in 2019.

2/ The vulnerable Kardomia granitica which is endemic to Queensland where it is known from only three populations south of Stanthorpe, occurring in the crevices of granite outcrops dominated by heath in Girraween National Park.

The seeds will then be dispatched to the National Seed Bank in Canberra for processing and ex situ storage to create insurance collections for future use.

Results to date

A field trip to Girraween National Park in April 2025 failed to locate one record of Kardomia granitica. However, a new population of the Endangered Kardomia silvestris was located in the Park, and a specimen was vouchered with the Queensland Herbarium. Approximately 100 individuals were located including an equal mixture of adult shrubs and juveniles.

Background

Myrtle Rust is a devastating plant disease caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Austropuccinia psidii. Since its arrival in Australia in 2010, it has caused devastating impacts to our iconic species in the Myrtaceae family, which includes iconic paperbarks, tea-trees, eucalypts, guavas, and lilly pillies. With around 400 native species already impacted, and more at risk, urgent action is needed to prevent extinctions and protect our ecosystems.

The disease spreads quickly through airborne spores, making landscape-scale control nearly impossible. Without intervention, some species may disappear entirely. However, by collecting and conserving seeds and other plant material, a future can be secured for these plants, ensuring they persist if their wild populations decline beyond recovery.

In 2022–23, a national survey was undertaken to determine which Australian Myrtaceae species were held in conservation collections. This crucial survey revealed the species missing from collections, and those that are poorly represented, whether they are currently under direct threat from Myrtle Rust or not.

Building on this baseline, the ASBP’s Myrtle Mayday project is delivering a national conservation effort dedicated to safeguarding Australia’s unique flora from Myrtle Rust. By securing germplasm collections (seeds and cuttings) of threatened Myrtaceae species, the project is taking crucial steps to conserve biodiversity and build resilience against this growing threat.

The Myrtle Mayday project will:

Undertake reconnaissance trips to locate and assess threatened plant populations for seed collection

Secure seeds and cuttings of 31 nationally threatened Myrtaceae species across Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales to serve as an insurance policy against species decline.
Complete research to determine seed viability and unlock germination secrets to support future restoration activities.
Communicate findings through scientific publications, databases, and public engagement to improve awareness of Myrtle Rust and the action being taken to mitigate its impact.
Expand national conservation capacity by bringing together Australian botanic gardens, seed banks, and conservation organisation’s for a common goal.
Contribute to national targets in the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032.

* The QTPN was launched in 2024 to facilitate a collaborative approach to threatened plant recovery in Queensland. Contact QTPN Project Manager Paul Donatiu for more information.

Image: Kardomia sylvestris. Credit: Paul Donatiu

Thank you to the Australian Seed Bank Partnership for supporting this project.