Boronia boliviensis (a shrub) - endangered species listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the shrub Boronia boliviensis ms as an ENDANGERED species on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of endangered species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The shrub Boronia boliviensis ms (Rutaceae) was previously known as Boronia sp. J (Bolivia Hill) and was discovered in 1995.
2. The following description is taken from Quinn, Williams, Gross & Bruhl (1995) (Report on rare and threatened plants of north-eastern New South Wales. Report prepared for New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service and Australian Nature Conservation Agency): Boronia boliviensis is an erect shrub 0.5-2.2m high; branchlets densely tomentose with yellowish fine stellate hairs. Leaves opposite, pinnate with (5-)7-9 leaflets; rachis 2.0-5.5mm long. Leaflets sessile, linear to very narrow elliptic, 3.8-8.1mm long, 0.6-1.4mm wide; apex obtuse, base cuneate; margins strongly revolute; upper surface with sparse scattered short stellate hairs or rarely glabrous, under surface glabrous or with some stellate hairs on the midvein. Apical leaflet slightly shorter to slightly longer than lateral leaflets. Petioles c. 2mm long. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or 2 on a common peduncle, peduncles 1.5-2.0mm long; pedicel (above the 2 small bracteoles) 2.5-4.0mm long. Sepals deep red, ovate, minutely stellate-hairy 3.6-3.8mm long. Petals deep pink, ovate 8.3-8.6mm long, 3.2-3.7mm wide, tomentose with fine stellate hairs below, and simple hairs above. Filaments incurved, anthers yellow. Main flowering is in spring. Boronia boliviensis is distinguished from other pinnate-leaved boronias by the 5-9 small leaflets that are glabrous or sparsely stellate-hairy with closely revolute margins and the short unwinged rachis; also by the flowers with red sepals and by the distinctive tomentum of the sepals and petals.
3. The species is restricted to an area of granite outcrops south of Tenterfield.
4. The population was estimated at some 1000 mature plants in 1999. All occur within a nature reserve.
5. Threats to the species include browsing by goats and power line maintenance activities. Due to the fragmented nature of the species sub-populations and their small size the species is susceptible to catastrophic events and localised extinction.
6. In view of 3, 4 & 5 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the species is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.
Proposed Gazettal date: 7/7/00
Exhibition period: 7/7/00 - 11/8/00