The 50 beautiful Australian plants at greatest risk of extinction — and how to save them

As far as odds go, things don’t look promising for the slender-nerved acacia (Acacia leptoneura), a spiky plant with classic yellow-ball wattle flowers. With most of its habitat in Western Australia’s wheat belt cleared for agriculture, it was considered extinct for more than 160 years.

Now, just two plants are known in the world, and they’re not even in the same place. This species is among many Australian plants that have come perilously close to extinction.

To help prevent the loss of any native plant species, we’ve assembled a massive evidence base for more than 750 plants listed as critically endangered or endangered. Of these, we’ve identified the 50 at greatest risk of extinction.

more…

Links in Article

Species Profile and Threats Database
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=flora

Action Plan for Australia’s Imperilled Plants 2021
https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/publications-and-tools/action-plan-for-australia-s-imperilled-plants-2021

Visualising the Threatened Species Index
https://tsx.org.au/visualising-the-index/

Factsheet: A Threatened Plant Index for Australia
https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/c40dp44e/3-1-tpx-national-plants-findings-factsheet_v5.pdf

Threatened plant trends in the spotlight
https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/latest-news/threatened-plant-trends-in-the-spotlight

Plants Red Hot List: Australia’s 100 most endangered plants
https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/1aobde4s/2-4-red-hot-plants-findings-factsheet_f2.pdf

Action Plan for Australia’s Imperilled Plants 2021
https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/wksjzmcs/2-4-action-plan-for-australia-s-imperilled-plants-2021.pdf

Grampians Pincushion-lily
https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/32614/Grampians_Pincushion-lily-Borya_mirabilis.pdf

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Why cant people buy seeds of threatened plants?

Tau.Neutrino said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Why cant people buy seeds of threatened plants?

Just have a think about that for a moment…

buffy said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Why cant people buy seeds of threatened plants?

Just have a think about that for a moment…

I have.

The experts cultivate some threatened plants plants for seeds.

How many seeds can you get from one plant?

I clearly out of my depth here.

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

It has been my focus for more than fifty years.
Big problem? Try to get the rest of you, yes you, to focus.

Tau.Neutrino said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Why cant people buy seeds of threatened plants?

Because they are threatened. It is mainly their habitat that is threatened and seed is often wasted elsewhere than in its habitat.

Tau.Neutrino said:

buffy said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Why cant people buy seeds of threatened plants?

Just have a think about that for a moment…

I have.

The experts cultivate some threatened plants plants for seeds.

“The experts”. Now it would be grand if more people applied themselves rather than expecting someone else to do it for them.

Tau.Neutrino said:

How many seeds can you get from one plant?

It depends on a huge range of factors but given the chance, these plants can produce millions of seeds over a period of being allowed and encouraged to do so.

Tau.Neutrino said:

I clearly out of my depth here.

Yep. That however, can change quite easily.

My daughter has spent time with this bloke doing exactly what he is pictured doing here.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-14/rare-orchid-discovery-excites-nsw-scientists/100136588

roughbarked said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

buffy said:

Just have a think about that for a moment…

I have.

The experts cultivate some threatened plants plants for seeds.

“The experts”. Now it would be grand if more people applied themselves rather than expecting someone else to do it for them.

All well and good when you have whatever that secret ingredient is that means you can consistently grow things. I seem to have that special ingredient needed to consistently kill plants.

Michael V said:

roughbarked said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

I have.

The experts cultivate some threatened plants plants for seeds.

“The experts”. Now it would be grand if more people applied themselves rather than expecting someone else to do it for them.

All well and good when you have whatever that secret ingredient is that means you can consistently grow things. I seem to have that special ingredient needed to consistently kill plants.

You are not the lone stranger here.
People often try to entrap me on how many plants I’ve grown but I’m usually prone to tell them to try summing up those I’ve killed.

In Nature, if she is left alone, there may be a few thousand seedlings emerge if they are in a big enough puddle but within a week, if the conditions are not up to scratch, up to 90% may well have died without anyone’s assistance.

Michael V said:

roughbarked said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

I have.

The experts cultivate some threatened plants plants for seeds.

“The experts”. Now it would be grand if more people applied themselves rather than expecting someone else to do it for them.

All well and good when you have whatever that secret ingredient is that means you can consistently grow things. I seem to have that special ingredient needed to consistently kill plants.

Oh dear. What has died this time?

:)

buffy said:

Michael V said:

roughbarked said:

“The experts”. Now it would be grand if more people applied themselves rather than expecting someone else to do it for them.

All well and good when you have whatever that secret ingredient is that means you can consistently grow things. I seem to have that special ingredient needed to consistently kill plants.

Oh dear. What has died this time?

:)

Water spinach. Malabar (Ceylon) spinach. Capsicum. Tomatoes.

Michael V said:

buffy said:

Michael V said:

All well and good when you have whatever that secret ingredient is that means you can consistently grow things. I seem to have that special ingredient needed to consistently kill plants.

Oh dear. What has died this time?

:)

Water spinach. Malabar (Ceylon) spinach. Capsicum. Tomatoes.

Ah. My tomatoes should be dying, it’s that time of year. But they are still going. We haven’t had a frost yet. Well, not a real frost. And when I was weeding the other day I found a serendipitous capsicum/chilli seedling. So I left it where it was, under the cabbage plants and I’ll see if it’s still there in the Spring. If it is, I’ll encourage it and find out what it is!

buffy said:

Michael V said:

buffy said:

Oh dear. What has died this time?

:)

Water spinach. Malabar (Ceylon) spinach. Capsicum. Tomatoes.

Ah. My tomatoes should be dying, it’s that time of year. But they are still going. We haven’t had a frost yet. Well, not a real frost. And when I was weeding the other day I found a serendipitous capsicum/chilli seedling. So I left it where it was, under the cabbage plants and I’ll see if it’s still there in the Spring. If it is, I’ll encourage it and find out what it is!

Yes, my late tomatoes are sitting waiting to ripen but I fear they’ll look pretty sad by this time next week.

> To help prevent the loss of any native plant species, we’ve assembled a massive evidence base for more than 750 plants listed as critically endangered or endangered. Of these, we’ve identified the 50 at greatest risk of extinction.

Excellent work.

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Or, much easier,

• botanic gardens.

Take the wollemai pine for example. There are now thousands of those in gardens around Australia.

mollwollfumble said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Or, much easier,

• botanic gardens.

Take the wollemai pine for example. There are now thousands of those in gardens around Australia.

The only reason the Woolemai Pine survived was because it was in a deep gorge and escaped bushfires. The seed was readily available, easy to germinate and the tree strong and hardy when protected from fire. Sure easy, but most rare species are not large, easily collected and grown, they might even have the most complex methods of fertilisation (assuming any animal agents are still around and have not gone extinct themselves, but despite all this most people regardless would have no interest in them.

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

From Article

So how can we protect them?

Some of the common management actions we’ve proposed include:

• preventing further loss of species’ habitat. This is the most important action required at a national scale
• regularly monitoring populations to better understand how species respond to threats and management actions
• safely trialling appropriate fire management regimes, such as burning in areas where fires have been suppressed
• investing in disease research and management, to combat the threat of phytophthora (root-rot fungus) and myrtle rust, which damages leaves
• propagating and moving species to establish plants at new sites, to boost the size of wild populations, or to increase genetic diversity
• protecting plants from grazing and browsing animals, such as feral goats and rabbits, and sometimes from native animals such as kangaroos.

Or, much easier,

• botanic gardens.

Take the wollemai pine for example. There are now thousands of those in gardens around Australia.

The only reason the Woolemai Pine survived was because it was in a deep gorge and escaped bushfires. The seed was readily available, easy to germinate and the tree strong and hardy when protected from fire. Sure easy, but most rare species are not large, easily collected and grown, they might even have the most complex methods of fertilisation (assuming any animal agents are still around and have not gone extinct themselves, but despite all this most people regardless would have no interest in them.

As for thousands having been propagated and sold to the public. Has there been a study done on how many survived?

Scientists discover ‘remnants of ancient rainforests’ in path of Coffs Harbour bypass development

“https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-21/rare-plant-species-found-near-highway-coffs-harbour-nsw/100149038”:

Clearly we need to build more highways, that these discoveries may be made.

Moving plants poses ‘massive risk’ to species, ecologist says

know fucken shit mait

SCIENCE said:

Scientists discover ‘remnants of ancient rainforests’ in path of Coffs Harbour bypass development

“https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-21/rare-plant-species-found-near-highway-coffs-harbour-nsw/100149038”:

Clearly we need to build more highways, that these discoveries may be made.

Moving plants poses ‘massive risk’ to species, ecologist says

know fucken shit mait

Jesus. How many times has the only species of yabbee or frog went down because that pond was filled in to put a road through.

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

Scientists discover ‘remnants of ancient rainforests’ in path of Coffs Harbour bypass development

“https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-21/rare-plant-species-found-near-highway-coffs-harbour-nsw/100149038”:

Clearly we need to build more highways, that these discoveries may be made.

Moving plants poses ‘massive risk’ to species, ecologist says

know fucken shit mait

Jesus. How many times has the only species of yabbee or frog went down because that pond was filled in to put a road through.

For a start, I indicated rare plants and the only specimens of their kind in the locale and signs were put up but local expansion of irrigated farmland due to improved water delivery efficiency, drove over the top of them and buried them in a constant rain of choking dust. Shire Council simply looked the other way.

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

Scientists discover ‘remnants of ancient rainforests’ in path of Coffs Harbour bypass development

“https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-21/rare-plant-species-found-near-highway-coffs-harbour-nsw/100149038”:

Clearly we need to build more highways, that these discoveries may be made.

Moving plants poses ‘massive risk’ to species, ecologist says

know fucken shit mait

Jesus. How many times has the only species of yabbee or frog went down because that pond was filled in to put a road through.

For a start, I indicated rare plants and the only specimens of their kind in the locale and signs were put up but local expansion of irrigated farmland due to improved water delivery efficiency, drove over the top of them and buried them in a constant rain of choking dust. Shire Council simply looked the other way.

“It might be several months before we know whether or not you got success from your cuttings and that you’ve been successful with regard to translocating some seedlings,” Dr Guymer said.

More like it could be a year or more before one cutting decides to strike. Many plants in the wild are steadfast in their refusal to produce viable cutting material. One cannot treat all plants under a blanket approach.

could someone please enlighten me. What’s going on with the plastic? Were these plants originally left on a bump by previous graders?
Are they intending to try and relocate these?