Listing ThynninorchisStatement for Thynninorchis nothofagicola nothofagicola (myrtle elbow orchid) myrtle elbow orchid T A S M A N I A N T H R E A T E N E D F L O R A L I S T I N G S T A T E M E N T Image by Les RubenachD Scientific name: Thynninorchis nothofagicola (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., Orchadian 13(10): 457 (2002) Common name: myrtle elbow orchid (Wapstra et al. 2005) Group: vascular plant, monocotyledon, family Orchidaceae Name History: Arthrochilus huntianus subsp. nothofagicola Status: rThreatened Species Protection Act 1995: endangered Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Critically Endangered Distribution: Endemic status: Endemic to Tasmania Tasmanian NRM Region: South a f t Figure 1. Distribution of Thynninorchis nothofagicola, Plate 1. Thynninorchis nothofagicola flower showing Natural Resource Management regions. (image by Les Rubenach, 1995) Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Listing Statement for Thynninorchis nothofagicola (myrtle elbow orchid) IDENTIFICATION AND ECOLOGY CONFUSING SPECIES Myrtle elbow orchid is so named because the There are no confusing species within similar labellum is jointed and elbow-like, and the habitat in Tasmania. Thynninorchis nothofagicola species grows in mixed forest where myrtle can be distinguished from the allied (Nothofagus cunninghamii) is the dominant Thynninorchis huntianus by its labellum hinge understorey species. Both species of which is only partially functional, and its fewer Thynninorchis in Tasmania, Thynninorchis and smaller flowers with a much reduced nothofagicola and Thynninorchis huntianus, are labellum callus with fewer shorter bristles leafless saprophytes that reproduce only from (Jones et al. 1999). Thynninorchis huntianus is seed (Jones et al. 1999). The tiny irregular known in Tasmania from a single site on tubers are dormantD during late winter and Flinders Island in the State’s northeast, though spring, with flowering occurring in late it is now presumed extinct (Jones et al. 1999). summer. The species is cryptic and may not emerge each year. The inconspicuous flowers DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT have an insect-shaped labellum (lip) supported on a hinged stalk. Male thynnine wasps — Thynninorchis nothofagicola is endemic to which give rise to the generic name — are Tasmania, being known from a solitary site in attracted to the flowers by a scent resembling the State’s southwest (Figure 1). Vegetation at that released by their flightless females, and the site consists of tall mixed forest, with r Eucalyptus delegatensis over an understorey of attempt to carry off the labellum for mating. In doing so the labellum pivots on its hinged stalk, Nothofagus cunninghamii, Phyllocladus aspleniifolius and the insect picks up or deposits pollen. and Dicksonia antarctica (Plate 2). Other species However, the flowers of Thynninorchis include Acacia melanoxylon, Nematolepis squamea, nothofagicola may be self-pollinating, as the Pittosporum bicolor, Trochocarpa gunnii, Cenarrhenes labellum hinge is only partially functional. nitida, Coprosma quadrifida, Blechnum wattsii, Drymophila cyanocarpa and Grammitis billardierei. Survey techniques The altitude of the site is 470 metres above sea a level, and the annual mean rainfall c. 1500 mm. Surveys for the species should be undertaken during its core flowering period, February There are large areas of Eucalyptus delegatensis (Wapstra et al. 2010). mixed forest in Tasmania, with about 13,600 hectares mapped within a 20 km radius of the Description known site (Tasveg 3.0). Thynninorchis nothofagicola has inflorescences with two to four flowers on an extremely thin, wiry, reddish stem to 10 cm tall, and with two to four sheathing bracts fat the base. The insect-like, reddish green flowers are about 8 mm long and 1 mm wide. The sepals and petals are reflexed against the ovary, the dorsal sepal to 3 mm long and 1.2 mm wide, the two lateral sepals to 4 mm long and 1.2 mm wide and the two petals to 3 mm long and 0.8 mm wide. The labellum is at the end of two hinged stalks each to about 6 mm long. The labellumt is about 4 mm long and is fringed with long purple or reddish glandular hairs. The outer end has paired glandular tails that project forward and the inner end has two Plate 2. Habitat of Thynninorchis nothofagicola short glands ending in shiny black clubs with an (image by Richard Schahinger, 2015) irregularly rounded purple gland at their base. The column has two pairs of slender wings. (description from Jones et al. 1999) Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 2 Listing Statement for Thynninorchis nothofagicola (myrtle elbow orchid) Table 1. Population summary for Thynninorchis nothofagicola Subpopulation Tenure NRM 1:25 000 Year last Area of Number region * mapsheet (first) seen occupancy of mature (ha) plants 1 Gordon River Road Southwest South Adamsfield 2003 0.0001 3 National Park 1995 2 (1994) c. 10 * NRM region = Natural Resource Management region POPULATION PADRAMETERS contraction in the range of the genus. It is likely Thynninorchis nothofagicola is known from a single that Thynninorchis nothofagicola has evolved on subpopulation with fewer than 10 plants mainland Tasmania due to isolation from the (Table 1). The site was discovered in 1994, with broader distribution of Thynninorchis. Although plants being observed again in 1995 and 2003 in difficult to show through empirical studies, it is an area of just a few square metres. The species possible that Thynninorchis nothofagicola is self- has not been seen since, despite targeted annual pollinating as the labellum hinge is only partially surveys of the known site. The species’ operational (Jones et al. 1999). This would offer diminutive stature and the low light conditions a mechanism for reproductive isolation that r may have operated in concert with increasing of its mixed forest habitat mean that the chances of finding new subpopulations are physical isolation, to result in the evolution of inherently low. Surveys are predicted to be Thynninorchis nothofagicola from Thynninorchis most successful in years when plants at the huntiana or a closely related extinct species. known site are flowering. Lyrebirds: Thynninorchis nothofagicola is considered to be at risk from the activities of RESERVATION STATUS the introduced superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) which occurs in high numbers in The only known asite is in Southwest National the vicinity of the only known site. Lyrebirds Park, and also within the Tasmanian Wilderness turn over leaf litter to a depth of perhaps 15 cm World Heritage Area. in search of food (Tassell 2014), and have been observed eating orchid tubers on mainland CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT Australia. Thus it is reasonable to assume that Thynninorchis nothofagicola qualifies for listing as the shallow tubers of Thynninorchis nothofagicola endangered on the Tasmanian Threatened Species would be targets for this exotic pest species. Protection Act 1995 under criterion D1 and D2: Lyrebirds may also limit recruitment from seed, as aggressive foraging in the leaf litter would D1. Total populationf estimated to number destroy newly established seedlings. fewer than 250 mature individuals; Fire: The occurrence of Thynninorchis D2. Total population with an area of nothofagicola in mixed forest suggests a negative occupancy less than one hectare, and fire response, as mixed forests are burnt typically in five or fewer locations that infrequently (in the order of hundreds of years provide an uncertain future due to the between fires) and the species’ small shallow effects of human activities or stochastic tubers are unlikely to survive a fire. The only events, and thus capable of becoming known subpopulation is likely to become extinct withint a very short time period. extinct if it its habitat were burnt. Forestry activities: Areas of potential THREATS AND LIMITING FACTORS Thynninorchis nothofagicola habitat in western Origin and recruitment issues: Both Tasmania may be subject to forestry operations. Thynninorchis nothofagicola and Thynninorchis Timber harvesting practices could destroy huntiana have only been recorded from single unknown subpopulations through physical populations in Tasmania. Their distribution is disturbance or the use of fire. The non- suggestive of a long-term decline and Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 3 Listing Statement for Thynninorchis nothofagicola (myrtle elbow orchid) emergence of the species in some years, its group Threatened Plants Tasmania, though no diminutive character and narrow identification plants were found. window makes it difficult to adequately survey potential habitat and prevent or mitigate What is needed? unfavourable disturbance. At the time of the species’ listing on the TSP Act the known site Recovery actions necessary to decrease the was within State Forest, but is now within extinction risk to Thynninorchis nothofagicola are: Southwest National Park, while large areas of long-term monitoring of the only known suitable habitat are protected in nearby formal population, including monitoring the need reserves. to reduce competition from woody Climate Change:D Present climate change understorey species; trends could exacerbate the decline of Thynninorchis nothofagicola, particularly if long-term monitoring of indicators of predicted longer droughts prevent emergence, climate change, such as average