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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 and nine populations. Of these 1.9% of the total numbers of plants were recorded inside
the Project Area and 0.9% were in conservation reserves.
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 Project Area.
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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 135 individuals at eight
locations and seven populations. Of these 8.1% of the total number of individuals were recorded
inside the Project Area and 12.6% were in conservation reserves.
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 Project
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 8.1% of the total known individuals were
recorded in the Project 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 Project Area.
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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 Project 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 bioregion include
the following;
Avon Wheatbelt: Mirbelia ternata (P1)
Geraldton Sandplains: Baeckea staminosa (P1), Chamelaucium sp. Yalgoo (P1), Harperia ferruginipes
(P1), Lepidobolus basiflorus (P1), Lepidosperma sp. Moresby Range (P1), Leucopogon psammophilus
(P1), Melaleuca huttensis (P1), Scholtzia sp. Binnu (P1), Scholtzia sp. Valentine Road (P1),
Thryptomene sp. Wandana (P1), Tricoryne sp. Geraldton (P1), Acacia megacephala (P2), Dicrastylis
incana (P2), Leucopogon borealis (P2), Leucopogon sp. Howatharra (P2), Malleostemon sp.
Moonyoonooka (P2), Scholtzia sp. East Yuna (P2), Thryptomene sp. Yuna Reserve (P2), Thryptomene
stenophylla (P2), Verticordia aereiflora (P2), Acacia leptospermoides subsp. psammophila (P3),
Blackallia nudiflora (P3), Geleznowia verrucosa subsp. Kalbarri (P3), Grevillea triloba (P3),
Lasiopetalum oppositifolium (P3), Scaevola oldfieldii (P3), Serichonus gracilipes (P3), Thryptomene sp.
Moresby Range (P3), Acacia guinetii (P4) and Lechenaultia longiloba (P4).
Murchison: Acacia sp. Jack Hills (P1), Calytrix verruculosa (P3), Eremophila muelleriana (P3) and
Grevillea inconspicua (P4).
Pilbara: Indigofera gilesii subsp. gilesii (P3).
8.2
FLORA OF LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE
Priority Flora are of local significance when their presence is confined to a specialised habitat type
that is not common in the local area and whose disturbance or removal may lead to local extinction.
Table 8.2 shows the total known distribution and abundance for each species recorded and the
subsequent percentage of this total in the Project Area. The conservation significance of each
species recorded in the Project Area is discussed below.
Priority 1 Flora
Acacia lineolata subsp. multilineata has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains and Avon
Wheatbelt bioregions and is known from 85 individuals at 16 locations and 15 populations, none
of which are in conservation reserves. In the Project Area, ten individuals were recorded at one
location (12% of the total known individuals). This species is not a widely known species and has a
moderate amount of the total known individuals in the Project Area. However, as this species has
been recorded in two bioregions, and its distribution spans 135 km, it is not locally endemic and it
has moderate local conservation significance.
Acacia sp. Jack Hills has only been recorded in the Murchison bioregion and is known from 1,320
individuals at 95 locations and 53 populations, none of which are in conservation reserves. In the
Project Area, one individual was recorded at one location (<1% of the total known individuals). This
species is not very common in the Project Area and impact to it will not result in any significant loss
to the species, it therefore has low(a) conservation significance.
Baeckea staminosa has only been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known from
five individuals at five locations and five populations, none of which are in conservation reserves.
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In the Project Area, one individual was recorded at one location (20% of the total known individuals).
Baeckea staminosa is not a widely known species (the total known distribution spans 55 km) and a
large amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any impact could have a
significant result on the species and therefore has high(b) conservation significance.
Chamelaucium sp. Yalgoo has only been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is
known from 22 individuals at seven locations and seven populations, of this total 14% are in
conservation reserves. In the Project Area, three individuals were recorded at two locations (14% of
the total known individuals). Chamelaucium sp. Yalgoo is not a widely known species and a large
amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any impact could have a significant
result to the species and therefore has moderate conservation significance. As this is not a fully
described species, it is possible that it is not a rare in the local area (the total known distribution
spans 185 km), but poorly collected, however as this is not known the former should be assumed.
Eremophila sp. Tallering has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo bioregions and is
known from 123 individuals at nine locations and seven populations, none of which are in
conservation reserves. In the Project Area, 22 individuals were recorded at two locations (18% of the
total known individuals). Eremophila sp. Tallering is not a widely known species and a large amount
of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any impact could have a significant result
to the species and therefore has high(b) conservation significance. As this is not a fully described
species, it is possible that it is not a rare in the local area (the total known distribution spans 75 km),
but poorly collected, however as this is not known the former should be assumed.
Euphorbia sarcostemmoides has been recorded in the Murchison and Gascoyne bioregions and is
known from 302 individuals at 60 locations and 45 populations, none of which are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 217 individuals were recorded at 57 locations (72% of the total known
individuals). This species was widely recorded across the Project Area and because of this, despite
the large percentage of the total species population in the Project Area; it is likely to be poorly
collected, rather than locally endemic (the total known distribution spans 400 km) and therefore has
low(b) conservation significance.
Goodenia lyrata has been recorded in the Murchison, Gibson Desert and Pilbara bioregions and is
known from 56 individuals at 10 locations and 10 populations, none of which are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 40 individuals were recorded at three locations (71% of the total
known individuals). Goodenia lyrata is not a widely known species and a very large amount of the
known population is recorded in the Project Area. However, as this species has been recorded in
three bioregions, it is likely that it is more widespread that what is known (the total known
distribution spans 620 km) and is not locally endemic. It therefore has high(a) conservation
significance.
Gunniopsis divisa has been recorded in the Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions and is known from
1,168 individuals at nine locations and nine populations, of which 0.5% are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 1000 individuals were recorded at one location (86% of the total
known individuals). Gunniopsis divisa is not a widely known species (the total known distribution
spans 125 km) and a very large amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area and
any impact could have a significant result to the species and therefore has high(a) conservation
significance.
Harperia ferruginipes has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known from 31
individuals at seven locations and seven populations, none of which are in conservation reserves.
In the Project Area, three individuals were recorded at three locations (10% of the total known
individuals). Harperia ferruginipes is not a widely known species (the total known distribution spans
33 km, with an outlier to 160 km) and a large amount of the known population is recorded in the
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Project Area. Any impact could have a significant result to the species and therefore has high(b)
conservation significance.
Lepidobolus basiflorus has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known from
52 individuals at two locations and two populations, none of which are in conservation reserves.
In the Project Area, one individual was recorded at one location (2% of the total known individuals).
This species is not very common in the Project Area and impact to it will not result in any significant
loss to the species, it therefore has low(a) conservation significance.
Lepidosperma sp. Moresby Range has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is
known from 176 individuals at 22 locations and 14 populations, of which 0.6% are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 97 individuals were recorded at 16 locations (55% of the total known
individuals). This species appears to be restricted to the Moresby Range area, and the large
percentage of total population within the Project Area in this case likely indicates a high local
endemism in this area (the total known distribution spans 20 km). Any Impact to this species is likely
to significantly affect species numbers and therefore has high(c) conservation significance.
Leucopogon psammophilus has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known
from 72 individuals at 13 locations and 11 populations, none of which are in conservation reserves.
In the Project Area, 10 individuals were recorded at one location (14% of the total known
individuals). Leucopogon psammophilus is not a widely known species (the total known distribution
spans 110 km) and a large amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any
impact could have a significant result to the species and therefore has moderate conservation
significance.
Melaleuca huttensis has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known from
1698 individuals at 170 locations and 87 populations, none of which are in conservation reserves.
In the Project Area, 52 individuals were recorded at two locations (3% of the total known individuals).
This species is not very common in the Project Area and impact to it will not result in any significant
loss to the species, it therefore has low(a) conservation significance.
Mirbelia ternata has been recorded in the Avon Wheatbelt bioregion and is known from seven
individuals at five locations and five populations, none of which are in conservation reserves. In
the Project Area, three individuals were recorded at three locations (43% of the total known
individuals). Mirbelia ternata is not a widely known species (the total known distribution spans
128 km) and a very large amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any
impact could have a significant result to the species and therefore has high(a) conservation
significance.
Petrophile vana has been recorded in the Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions and is known from 230
individuals at 14 locations and 13 populations, of which 50.4% are in conservation reserves. In the
Project Area, 68 individuals were recorded at eight locations (30% of the total known individuals).
Petrophile vana is not a widely known species (the total known distribution spans 100 km) and a
large amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any impact could have a
significant result to the species and therefore has high(a) conservation significance.
Ptilotus luteolus has been recorded in the Murchison and Gascoyne bioregions and is known from
589 individuals at 22 locations and 16 populations, of which 3.4% are in conservation reserves. In
the Project Area, 10 individuals were recorded at one location (2% of the total known individuals).
This species is not very common in the Project Area and impact to it will not result in any significant
loss to the species, it therefore has low(a) conservation significance.
Ptilotus tetrandrus has been recorded in the Murchison and Little Sandy Desert bioregions and is
known from seven individuals at four locations and four populations, none of which are in
conservation reserves. In the Project Area, two individuals were recorded at two locations (29% of
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the total known individuals). Ptilotus tetrandrus is not a widely known species (the total known
distribution spans 350 km) and a very large amount of the known population is recorded in the
Project Area. Any impact could have a significant result to the species and therefore has high(a)
conservation significance.
Sauropus sp. Woolgorong has been recorded in the Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions and is known
from 167 individuals at 25 locations and 19 populations, none of which are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 42 individuals were recorded at 15 locations (25% of the total known
individuals). This species was widely recorded across the Project Area and because of this, despite
the large percentage of the total species population in the Project Area; it is likely to be poorly
collected, rather than locally endemic (the total known distribution spans 280 km) and therefore has
low(b) conservation significance.
Scholtzia sp. Binnu has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known from 212
individuals at seven locations and six populations, of which 23.6% are in conservation reserves. In
the Project Area, 20 individuals were recorded at one location (9% of the total known individuals).
This species is not very common in the Project Area and impact to it will not result in any significant
loss to the species, it therefore has low(a) conservation significance.
Scholtzia sp. Valentine Road has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known
from 12 individuals at two locations and one population, none of which are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 11 individuals were recorded at two locations (92% of the total known
individuals). Scholtzia sp. Valentine Road is not a widely known species (only one record is known)
and an almost all of the known individuals have been recorded in the Project Area. Any impact could
have a significant result to the species and therefore has high(a) conservation significance. As this is
not a fully described species, it is possible that it is not a rare in the local area, but poorly collected,
however as this is not known, the former should be assumed.
Thryptomene sp. Wandana has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known
from 283 individuals at 17 locations and 17 populations, of which 0.4% are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 220 individuals were recorded at three locations (78% of the total
known individuals). Thryptomene sp. Wandana is not a widely known species (the total known
distribution spans 150 km) and almost all of the known populations are recorded in the Project Area.
Any impact could have a significant result to the species and therefore has moderate conservation
significance. As this is not a fully described species, it is possible that it is not a rare in the local area,
but poorly collected, however as this is not known, the former should be assumed.
Tricoryne sp. Geraldton has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known from
27 individuals at four locations and three populations, of which 55.6% are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 10 individuals were recorded at one location (37% of the total known
individuals). Tricoryne sp. Geraldton is not a widely known species (the total known distribution
spans 30 km) and a large amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any
impact could have a significant result to the species and therefore has high(b) conservation
significance. As this is not a fully described species, it is possible that it is not a rare in the local area,
but poorly collected, however as this is not known, the former should be assumed.
Vittadinia cervicularis var. occidentalis has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains and Avon
Wheatbelt bioregions and is known from six individuals at five locations and five populations, none
of which are in conservation reserves. In the Project Area, one individual was recorded at one
location (17% of the total known individuals). Vittadinia cervicularis var. occidentalis is not a widely
known species (the total known distribution spans 40 km, with an outlier to 150 km) and a large
amount of the known population is recorded in the Project Area. Any impact could have a significant
result to the species and therefore has high(a) conservation significance.
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Priority 2 Flora
Acacia megacephala has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplain bioregion and is known from 162
individuals at 20 locations and 19 populations, of which 63% are in conservation reserves. In the
Project Area, one individual was recorded at one location (1% of the total known individuals). This
species is not very common in the Project Area and impact to it will not result in any significant loss
to the species, it therefore has low(a) conservation significance.
Dicrastylis incana has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplain bioregion and is known from 56
individuals at 12 locations and 11 populations, none of which are in conservation reserves. In the
Project Area, three individuals were recorded at two locations (5% of the total known individuals).
This species is not very common in the Project Area and impact to it will not result in any significant
loss to the species, it therefore has low(a) conservation significance.
Frankenia confusa has been recorded in the Murchison, Gascoyne and Geraldton Sandplains
bioregions and is known from 476 individuals at 21 locations and 15 populations, of which 1.5%
are in conservation reserves. In the Project Area, 239 individuals were recorded at 11 locations (50%
of the total known individuals). Despite the high number of the total population recorded in the
Project Area, it is a widespread species that is distributed widely in Western Australia (the total
known distribution spans 500 km). It therefore has low(b) conservation significance in the Project
Area.
Homalocalyx inerrabundus has been recorded in the Murchison and Geraldton Sandplains bioregions
and is known from 253 individuals at 13 locations and five populations, none of which are in
conservation reserves. In the Project Area, 39 individuals were recorded at nine locations (15% of
the total known individuals). Homalocalyx inerrabundus is not a widely known species, however as
the total known distribution spans 500 km and a significant amount of the known population was
recorded in the Project Area because of the transect survey, it has low(b) conservation significance.
Leucopogon borealis has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplain bioregion and is known from 418
individuals at 43 locations and 28 populations, of which 12.4% are in conservation reserves. In the
Project Area, 169 individuals were recorded at 24 locations (40% of the total known individuals). This
species appears to be restricted in the local area, and the large percentage of total population within
the Project Area in this case likely indicates a high local endemism in this area (the total known
distribution spans 35 km). Any Impact to this species is likely to significantly affect species numbers
and therefore has high(c) conservation significance.
Leucopogon sp. Howatharra has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplain bioregion and is known
from 91 individuals at six locations and three populations, none of which are in conservation
reserves. In the Project Area, 38 individuals were recorded at four locations (42% of the total known
individuals). This species appears to be restricted in the local area, and the large percentage of total
population within the Project Area in this case likely indicates a high local endemism in this area (the
total known distribution spans 20 km). Any Impact to this species is likely to significantly affect
species numbers and therefore has high(c) conservation significance.
Malleostemon sp. Moonyoonooka has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is
known from 51 individuals at one location and one population, none of which are in conservation
reserves. The one known record is located within the Project Area (100% of the total known
individuals). Malleostemon sp. Moonyoonooka is not a widely known species and any impact could
have a significant result to the species and therefore has high(a) conservation significance. As this is
not a fully described species, it is possible that it is not a rare in the local area, but poorly collected,
however as this is not known, the former should be assumed.
Scholtzia sp. East Yuna has been recorded in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and is known from
52 individuals at six locations and six populations, none of which are in conservation reserves. In
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