Oakajee Port and Rail
OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
May 2010
169
Conservation
Code
Taxa
Assigned
Conservation
Significance
Regional Information
Local Information
Known
Distribution
(km)
Total
Number of
Plants
Total
Number of
Locations
Number of
Plants
Recorded
Within Study
Area
% Total
Number of
Plants Within
the Study
Area
Number of
Locations
Recorded
Within the
Study Area
% All
Locations
Within the
Study Area
P3
Acanthocarpus parviflorus
Low(a)
330
715
72
18
2%
3
4%
P3
Arnocrinum drummondii
Low(a)
600
101
7
10
10%
1
14%
P3
Baeckea sp. Walkaway
Low(a)
117
1,206
29
4
0.3%
2
7%
P3
Blackallia nudiflora
Low(a)
85 (outlier to
340 km)
2,069
28
22
1%
1
4%
P3
Calytrix erosipetala
Low(a)
550
2,117
45
109
5%
10
22%
P3
Calytrix formosa
Low(a)
230
201
24
3
1%
2
8%
P3
Calytrix uncinata
Low(a)
530
1,252
49
18
1%
6
12%
P3
Calytrix verruculosa
Low(b)
160
1,091
62
871
80%
51
82%
P3
Dicrastylis linearifolia
Low(a)
420
1,720
39
274
16%
15
38%
P3
Dodonaea amplisemina
Low(b)
480
1,466
171
754
51%
96
56%
P3
Eremophila arachnoides subsp.
arachnoides
Moderate
580
266
10
45
17%
4
40%
P3
Eremophila muelleriana
Low(b)
300
593
129
558
94%
119
92%
P3
Gastrolobium propinquum
Low(a)
80 (outlier to
130 km)
374
26
1
0.3%
1
4%
P3
Gastrolobium rotundifolium
Low(a)
650
387
30
11
3%
5
17%
P3
Geleznowia verrucosa subsp. Kalbarri
Moderate
355
459
37
78
17%
7
79%
P3
Gnephosis cassiniana
Low(a)
130 (outlier
to 284 km)
12,040
13
3
0.1%
2
15%
P3
Grevillea candicans
Moderate
165 (outlier
to 400 km)
75
28
10
13%
3
11%
P3
Grevillea stenostachya
Low(b)
360
657
224
388
59%
158
71%
P3
Grevillea triloba
Low(b)
110
15,734
493
5,924
38%
345
70%
P3
Hemigenia tysonii
Low(b)
282
8,239
280
5,904
72%
197
70%
P3
Hemigenia virescens
Low(b)
330
5,439
120
5,115
94%
112
93%
Oakajee Port and Rail
OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
May 2010
170
Conservation
Code
Taxa
Assigned
Conservation
Significance
Regional Information
Local Information
Known
Distribution
(km)
Total
Number of
Plants
Total
Number of
Locations
Number of
Plants
Recorded
Within Study
Area
% Total
Number of
Plants Within
the Study
Area
Number of
Locations
Recorded
Within the
Study Area
% All
Locations
Within the
Study Area
P3
Homalocalyx echinulatus
Moderate
620
862
51
218
25%
11
22%
P3
Indigofera gilesii subsp . gilesii
Low(a)
581
123
16
1
1%
1
6%
P3
Lasiopetalum oppositifolium
Low(a)
115 (outlier
to 560 km)
351
49
79
22%
2
4%
P3
Lepidium scandens
Low(a)
60 (outlier to
400 km)
54
5
1
2%
1
20%
P3
Microcorys tenuifolia
Low(a)
400
200
17
7
4%
6
35%
P3
Micromyrtus placoides
Low(a)
180
3,955
80
11
0.3%
4
5%
P3
Petrophile pauciflora
Low(a)
400
429
29
64
15%
8
28%
P3
Prostanthera petrophila
Low(a)
260
1,607
105
218
14%
26
25%
P3
Ptilotus beardii
Low(b)
230
4,104
83
2,565
63%
45
54%
P3
Ptilotus luteolus
Low(a)
600
894
31
315
35%
10
32%
P3
Scaevola oldfieldii
Low(a)
160
162
12
6
4%
1
8%
P3
Serichonus gracilipes
High C
50
76
21
36
47%
13
62%
P3
Stenanthemum divaricatum
Low(a)
500
17
12
1
6%
1
8%
P3
Tecticornia cymbiformis
Moderate
290
66
8
11
17%
2
25%
P3
Thryptomene sp. Moresby Range
Very High
30
1,834
61
1,459
80%
38
62%
P3
Thryptomene sp. Wandana
Moderate
130 (outlier
at 330 km)
747
22
684
92%
8
36%
P3
Verticordia chrysostachys var . pallida
Moderate
180
262
35
86
33%
8
23%
P3
Verticordia densiflora var . roseostella
Moderate
250
439
59
83
19%
4
7%
P3
Verticordia jamiesonii
Low(a)
350
590
37
31
5%
6
16%
P4
Acacia guinetii
Low(a)
40
362
52
47
13%
19
37%
P4
Baeckea sp. Melita Station
Low(a)
540
1,317
77
88
7%
13
17%
Oakajee Port and Rail
OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
May 2010
171
Conservation
Code
Taxa
Assigned
Conservation
Significance
Regional Information
Local Information
Known
Distribution
(km)
Total
Number of
Plants
Total
Number of
Locations
Number of
Plants
Recorded
Within Study
Area
% Total
Number of
Plants Within
the Study
Area
Number of
Locations
Recorded
Within the
Study Area
% All
Locations
Within the
Study Area
P4
Diuris recurva
Low(a)
450
732
28
20
3%
2
7%
P4
Eucalyptus blaxellii
Nationally
significant
68 (outlier to
170 km)
2,948
170
696
24%
64
38%
P4
Eucalyptus ebbanoensis subsp . photina
Moderate
145
169
25
4
2%
4
16%
P4
Goodenia berringbinensis
Low(a)
520
28,191
10
50
0.2%
2
20%
P4
Grevillea inconspicua
Low(a)
560
2,254
82
68
3%
18
22%
P4
Jacksonia velutina
Low(a)
200 (outliers
to 400 km)
390
35
1
0.3%
1
3%
P4
Lechenaultia longiloba
Low(a)
80
264
15
2
1%
1
7%
P4
Verticordia capillaris
Low(b)
300
558
83
198
35%
42
51%
P4
Verticordia penicillaris
Low(b)
190
5,346
121
3,417
64%
77
64%
P4
Verticordia polytricha
Low(a)
200 (outlier
to 475 km)
859
26
6
1%
1
4%
Locations are defined as records of occurrence separated by more than 50 metres.
Bold font indicates species recorded by ecologia during the current survey of the Study Area.
P1 = Priority 1, P2 = Priority 2, P3 = Priority 3, P4 = Priority 4, Vul = Vulnerable, DRF = Declared Rare Flora
Oakajee Port and Rail
OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
May 2010
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8.1
FLORA OF NATIONAL AND STATE CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE
National significance refers to those features of the environment which are recognised under
legislation as being of importance to the Australian community; in particular, species listed under the
EPBC Act are regarded as nationally significant. State significance refers to those features of the
environment that are recognised under State legislation as being of importance to the Western
Australian community, in particular, species listed as DRF under the WC Act are of state significance.
During the current survey, two flora species of national and state significance were recorded in the
Study Area: Caladenia hoffmanii (Endangered, DRF) and Eucalyptus blaxellii (Vulnerable, Priority 4).
During the database searches, an additional two flora species of national and state significance were
recorded in the Study Area; Drummondita ericoides (Endangered, DRF) and Philotheca wonganensis
(Endangered, DRF). The significance of these species is discussed below.
Caladenia hoffmanii is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and as DRF under the WC Act. It is
endemic to the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion as shown by the current WA HERB distribution for
C. hoffmanii in Figure 8.1 below.
Figure 8.1
–
Distribution of Caladenia hoffmanii
Using the information provided in Table 8.2, this species is known from 285 individuals at 38
locations. Of these 93% of the total number of plants were inside the Study Area.
Caladenia hoffmanii grows in clay or sandy‐clay on laterite rocky hill sides and ridges, or in winter
wet flats. A disjunct occurrence is recorded 600 km south‐east of the Geraldton area in the Pinharing
area, growing around large granite outcrops. These habitats are not widespread in the Study Area
and the region and the large percentage of total individuals (52.3%) recorded in the Study Area
indicates a high local endemism for this species.
The known populations of C. hoffmanii are severely fragmented and the quality of habitat for many
populations is in decline (Pers. com. Murray Baker, DEC, 2009). The EPBC Act conservation advice
lists the main threats to C. hoffmanii as fire and grazing by feral pigs and rabbits.
Due to the fragmentation of the populations, decrease in habitat quality, the small distribution of
known occurrences (50 km with one outlier to 70 km), the high percentage of the total population in
the Study Area and the likelihood that it is locally endemic to the area, it is considered that C.
hoffmanii has high local significance in the Study Area.
Oakajee Port and Rail
OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
May 2010
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Eucalyptus blaxellii is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act and Priority 4 under the WC Act. It has
been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains and Avon Wheatbelt bioregions as shown by the current
WA HERB distribution of E. blaxellii in Figure 8.2 below.
Figure 8.2
–
Distribution of Eucalyptus blaxellii
Using the information provided in Table 8.2, this species is known from 2,948 individuals at 170
locations. Of these 24% of the total number of plants were recorded inside the Study Area.
The EPBC Act conservation advice states the main threat to E. blaxellii is inappropriate fire regimes,
however most known populations are secure as they occur in areas that are unsuitable for farming
due to the inaccessibility of the steep slope.
Eucalyptus blaxellii grows in sand over laterite, or brown clay on sandstone hills or creek flats which
is widespread at the Western end of the Study Area. As these habitats are moderately widespread in
the region and as the percentage of total individuals is moderate (16.4%) in the Study Area, it
indicates a low to moderate local endemism for this species. E. blaxellii does not appear to be locally
restricted with records spaning 70 km and one outlier to 170 km.
Eucalyptus blaxellii has recently been removed from the WC Act DRF list, but still remains on the
EPBC Act listing as vulnerable. Because of the large population numbers, longevity, disturbance
recovery abilities and the removal of E. blaxellii from the listing of DRF (WC Act) it is considered that
E. blaxellii has low conservation significance in the Study Area.
Oakajee Port and Rail
OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
May 2010
174
Drummondita ericoides is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and as DRF under the WC Act. It
is endemic to the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion as shown by the current WA HERB distribution of
D. ericoides subsp. cracens in Figure 8.3 below.
Figure 8.3
–
Distribution of Drummondita ericoides
Using the information provided in Table 8.2, this species is known from 212 individuals at 12
locations. Of these 5% of the total numbers of plants were recorded inside the Study Area.
The DEC’s Moresby Range Drummondita Interim Recovery Plan (DEC, 2004) for D. ericoides states
that the main threats include inappropriate fire regimes and high levels of human activity.
Drummondita ericoides grows on low heath on sandstone and laterite slopes, ridges and gullies of
the Moresby Range in brown loam or sandy loam and clay soils in areas not suitable for agriculture
and so has not been so highly cleared.
Drummondita ericoides appears to be locally restricted with all known records spaning 40 km and
therefore has high local significance in the Study Area.
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OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
May 2010
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Philotheca wonganensis is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and as DRF under the WC Act. It
has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains and Avon Wheatbelt bioregions as shown by the
current WA HERB distribution of P. wonganensis in Figure 8.4 below
Figure 8.4
–
Distribution of Philotheca wonganensis
Using the information provided in Table 8.2, this species is known from 136 individuals at eight
locations. Of these 8% of the total number of individuals were recorded inside the Study Area.
Philotheca wonganensis grows in red sandy soils over fractured greenstone. These habitats are not
very widespread in the region, and the percentage of total individuals (8.1%) recorded in the Study
Area indicates a high local endemism for this species. P. wonganensis appears to be locally restricted
with most of the known records spanning 30 km, with one outlier to 300 km.
Because of the low known population numbers and as 8% of the total known individuals were
recorded in the Study Area, impact to the species could result in a significant loss and despite the
large percentage (12.6%) of individuals in conservation reserves P. wonganensis has high local
conservation significance in the Study Area.
Oakajee Port and Rail
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May 2010
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8.1
FLORA OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Regional significance addresses the representation of habitats at a biogeographic regional level.
Priority Flora taxa that are endemic to the Geraldton Sandplains, Yalgoo and Murchison bioregions
and whose distributions are limited or unknown are considered regionally significant.
Fifty‐five Priority Flora taxa were recorded during the current survey of the Study Area and an
additional 32 were recorded by the DEC searches or other sources as listed in Section 8.
Species that are endemic (using information provided from the WA Herb) to one IBRA bioregion
include the following;
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