Lepiderema pulchella (a tree) - vulnerable species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list Lepiderema pulchella Radlk., a tree, as a VULNERABLE SPECIES on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act. The listing of vulnerable species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Lepiderema pulchella Radlk (Sapindaceae) is a rainforest tree. It is described by Harden (in Harden; G.1991 Flora of New South Wales Vol. 2. UNSW Press Sydney, page 294) as: "Tree to 15m high, branchlets, leaves and peduncles glabrous. Leaves 7-15cm long, leaflets 4-14, narrow-elliptic to lanceolate, more or less falcate, 2.5-8cm long 10-25mm wide, apex bluntly acuminate, base attenuate and asymmetric, margins undulate and entire (sometimes coarsely toothed on juveniles), both surfaces glabrous, upper surface light green and glossy; petiole 15-25mm long, petiolules 1-3mm long. Panicles axillary 5-10cm long; pedicels 3-5mm long. Flowers 2-3mm long; yellow-orange. Capsule globose to 3-lobed, 8-10mm diameter, shortly attenuate at base, brown; seeds dark brown, c.5mm long; aril basal, yellow. Fruit ripe December."

2. Lepiderema pulchella occurs in lowland subtropical rainforest and in New South Wales is largely confined to infertile metasediments in the Tweed Valley.

3. There are few populations of mature trees in conservation reserves, and the number of adult trees in individual sites is small, mostly less than 20.

4. The majority of known populations are on private land.

5. Ongoing threats include weed invasion and clearing.

6. In view of 2, 3 4 and 5 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Lepiderema pulchella is likely to become endangered unless the factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate and is eligible for listing as a vulnerable species on Schedule 2 of the Act.

Proposed Gazettal date: 15/06/01
Exhibition period: 15/06/01 - 20/07/01