Australian Endangered Plants

Australia is home to about 700,000 plant species, many of which are not found anywhere else on the earth. Over 60 Australian plant species are now extinct, and more than 1,180 plant species are threatened by changes to their native habitats. Plants loss happens for various reasons, including natural climatic changes, human activities, erosion and insect attacks.

Angle-Stemmed Myrtle

The angle-stemmed myrtle (Gossia gonoclada) is an endangered tree belonging to the eucalyptus family (Myrtaceae). This tree is found along bodies of water in the lowland riparian rainforests. Angle-stemmed myrtles have shiny green foliage and pink-tinted leaves. The white flowers occur singly at leaf bases in October and November. The edible fruit is a glossy, soft berry that turns black as it ripens. Angle-stemmed myrtles are listed as endangered across Australia. This plant is threatened from competition with weeds, damage by livestock and the clearing of its natural habitat.

Salt Pipewort

Salt pipewort (Eriocaulon carsonii) is a perennial herb that grows in the spring-fed wetlands of Queensland. The flowers have hairless blooms in western Queensland and hairy flowers in northern and eastern Queensland. Threats to this endangered plant species include wetland excavations, grazing animals and pig rooting.

Aponogeton Bullosus

Apongeton bullosus (Aponogeton bullosus) is a perennial tuber that grows in the freshwater streams and rivers of northeastern Queensland. These tubers bear crinkled leaf clusters, and the stems produce cone-shaped, yellow flower spikes between June and October. The elongated fruits develop under the surface of the water. The primary threats to this plant species are land development and excessive collecting for aquarium use.

Wollemi Pine

The Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis) is an endangered tree grows in the warm, temperate rainforest. This tree bears an unusual bubbly bark and lime green leaves. Female and male cones grow at the end of the branches with the adult leaves. Human activity is the biggest threat to the Wollemi pine.

Cyathea Exilis

Cyathea exilis (Cyathea exilis) is a tree fern in the Cyatheaceae family. This endangered plant species grows in spring-fed evergreen rainforests. This tree fern has a slender trunk with leaves that sprout short prickles at their bases. This plant is threatened by pig rooting and human activity.

Blue Devils

The blue devil (Eryngium fontanum) is a perennial herb endangered across Australia. This herb has a circular leaf cluster and a fleshy, solid taproot. The upright, flowering stems bloom long flower heads from December through April. This plant grows in the wetlands fed by the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). The primary threats to this plant species includes wetland excavation, pig rooting and the excessive removal of groundwater.

Basalt Greenhood Orchid

The Basalt Greenhood orchid (Oligochaetochilus basalticus) grows only in the grasslands of southwestern Victoria. Each orchid plant produces 1 to 15 translucent, white flowers with brown and green stripes. This plant has a rosette of oval leaves that wither by the time the plant blooms. This orchid goes dormant in the Australian summers. The Basalt Greenhood orchid is mainly threatened by weed invasion, roadworks and heavy grazing by livestock.

Reference

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/pubs/plants.pdf

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/endangered_plants/eryngium_fontanum.html

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/endangered_plants/cyathea_exilis.html

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/endangered_plants/aponogeton_bullosus.html

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/endangered_plants/eriocaulon_carsonii.html

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/endangered_plants/anglestemmed_myrtle.html