Pultenaea maritima (a shrub) - vulnerable species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the prostrate shrub Pultenaea maritima de Kok as a VULNERABLE SPECIES in Schedule 2 of the Act. 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. Pultenaea maritima de Kok (family Fabaceae) is described by P. H. Weston and R. P. J. de Kok (2002) in Harden, G. (ed.).  Flora of New South Wales. Vol. 2. 2nd Edition University of New South Wales Press, Kensington, p. 565 as: prostrate shrub, mat forming; stems spreading-pubescent. Leaves alternate, elliptic, oblong to spathulate, 3.5-5 mm long, 1.8-2.8 mm wide, margin incurved apex acute to emarginate, concolorous. Stipules 1.1-2 mm long. Inflorescence subterminal or apparently terminal, dense to somewhat lax, leafy; bracts absent. Flowers 6.5-10 mm long; pedicels c. 0.5 mm long. Bracteoles 3-3.3 mm long, fused halfway with stipules, longer than stipules, hairy, attached at the base of calyx. Calyx 3.8-5 mm long, hairy, upper teeth recurved, apex acute to acuminate. Ovary hairy at apex only. Pods c. 5 mm long, turgid.

2. The species was only recently described and was previously considered a prostrate maritime form of Pultenaea  villosa.

3. Pultenaea maritima occurs in New South Wales and Queensland and is restricted to grasslands on exposed coastal headlands. Within NSW, the species has been recorded from Newcastle north to Byron Bay.

4. The species has been recorded from 16 headlands. The number of individuals at each of these sites is unknown. Five sites occur within conservation reserves (Moonee Beach Nature Reserve and Hat Head National Park).

5. The species is threatened by habitat degradation. Many of the headlands supporting Pultenaea maritima are highly weed infested, particularly by  Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp.  rotundata (Bitou Bush) and are subject to degradation of habitat by mowing and high levels of recreation activities.

6. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Pultenaea maritima de Kok is likely to become endangered in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Associate Professor Paul Adam
Chairperson
Scientific Committee

Proposed Gazettal date: 24/09/04
Exhibition period: 24/09/04 - 05/11/04