Leafy Greenhood Version Has Been Prepared for Web Publication
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#54 This Action Statement was first published in 1993 and remains current. This Leafy Greenhood version has been prepared for web publication. It Pterostylis cucullata retains the original text of the action statement, although contact information, the distribution map and the illustration may have been updated. © The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2003 Published by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria. Leafy Greenhood (Pterostylis cucullata) Distribution in Victoria (DSE 2002) 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, Description and Distribution distributions: inland and coastal. Plants in Victoria 3002 Australia The Leafy Greenhood (Pterostylis cucullata coastal populations appear above ground in R. Brown) is a ground-dwelling orchid. It late autumn and early winter, inland This publication may be of produces a single flower which emerges populations emerge later in winter. Similarly assistance to you but the from a bright green basal rosette of about 5- the coastal populations may begin flowering State of Victoria and its towards the end of winter while the inland employees do not guarantee 7 oblong to elliptical leaves. Some flowers populations begin in spring. that the publication is are nestled and cloaked amongst the basal without flaw of any kind or leaves while others can reach up to 45 cm Coastal populations occur from Wilsons is wholly appropriate for in height with lanceolate leaves scattered Promontory in the east to Nelson in the west your particular purposes up and around the stem. The tip of the including Mornington Peninsula (Cape and therefore disclaims all hood is reddish brown, the lower part is Schanck, Rye and Tootgarook), Cape Otway, liability for any error, loss predominantly white with green stripes. and Portland (Bridgewater Lakes and Cape or other consequence which The lateral sepals loosely embrace and Bridgewater). may arise from you relying Inland it is found in the Central Highlands on any information in this protrude slightly above the hood; they are (Lake Eildon, Howqua River and Licola)the publication. mostly reddish brown (Nicholls 1969). The Leafy Greenhood is summer deciduous, Strathbogie Ranges and East Gippsland ISSN 1448-9902 dying back after flowering to a fleshy (Serpentine Creek, Buchan and Benambra), rounded tuberoid up to about 1 cm in with one small population in a remnant of diameter at a depth of 2-8 cm. Several extra the lowland Gippsland plains at Moormurng tuberoids may also be produced. The Leafy Reserve east of Bairnsdale. The Moormurng Greenhood remains dormant underground area is closely allied vegetatively to coastal for one of the longest periods of any areas despite being geographically inland. Greenhood species (Jones pers. comm.). There is also a record of the Leafy The Leafy Greenhood occurs in South Greenhood at Broadmeadows (Beardsell Australia and on islands off the north-east 1984-6, Tribe pers. comm.). coast of Tasmania (Davies, 1986). In The typical habitat of coastal populations is Victoria the taxon displays two distinct stabilised sand dunes under open to closed scrub of Coast Tea-tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) or Conservation Status Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata) with an open ground Current Status stratum. The sites are usually sheltered, south-east to west Briggs & Leigh (1988) Vulnerable (Australia) facing, with seasonally damp but well-drained humus-rich Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 Vulnerable (Australia) sandy loams, often with moss and deep leaf litter (Beardsell Gullan et al. (1990) Vulnerable (Victoria) &Scarlet 1986, Walsh, pers. comm.). Dune swales with SAC (1991) Threatened dense herbaceous ground strata, dry dune crests or areas of young regrowth vegetation are unsuitable for the species Reasons for Conservation Status (Beardsell & Scarlett 1986). The Leafy Greenhood is more secure inland than in coastal Some coastal populations of Leafy Greenhood also occur in areas where it is presumed extinct at Frankston, Hampton, Coast Manna Gum (Eucalyptus pryoriana) woodland with a Nelson, Queenscliff and Sorrento. sparse shrub layer. Human habitation has caused most of the decline in coastal The habitat of the Moormurng population is dominated by populations through habitat clearing for development, weed a Forest Red Gum (E. tereticornis) forest on clay loamy soils invasion and the change in species composition of remnant with a grassy understorey of Branched Wallaby-grass habitat. (Danthonia racemosa) and Weeping Grass (Microlaena Several populations at Wilsons Promontory are thought to stipoides) as well as Spiny-headed Mat Lily (Lomandra have been eliminated by grazing rabbits and by clearing Coast longifolia) and Thatch Saw-sedge (Gahnia radula). Tea-tree from beside paths (Beardsell & Scarlett 1986). Part of a The numerous populations at Licola represent the most known population's Coast Tea-tree habitat was slashed in a important known occurrence of the orchid in the state program of grassland and open woodland restoration on (James 1992). Most of them are in the Alpine National Park, Yanakie Isthmus. although some occur on nearby private property. These About half the remaining coastal populations are on private populations are often found protected from hot sun on property. Possibly the last coastal strongholds for Leafy southerly or easterly aspects of steep river banks amongst a Greenhood on public land are several populations on Yanakie diverse herbfield under an open canopy of Apple Box (E. Isthmus, in Wilsons Promontory National Park and bridgesiana). A few taller shrubs are present in places. Other Tootgarook, Mornington Peninsula. With future surveying Leafy Greenhood populations at Licola are found in Cape Otway may also be found to be a significant coastal area. herbfields on alluvial flood plains beneath a canopy of The Moormurng population is in an area with a history of light Apple Box and other eucalypts such as Yellow Box (E. grazing that has rarely been burnt and is relatively free of melliodora), Red Stringybark (E. macrorhynca), Manna Gum weeds. (E.viminalis) and Blue Gum (E. globulus ssp. pseudoglobulus). Of the inland populations on public land, only that at Frys Hut Populations at Lake Eildon and the Strathbogie Ranges on the Howqua River, is thought to have disappeared. Weed occur in similar habitats; that is, shaded sites on both invasion in the last 20 years, accelerated by the presence of alluvial flats and easterly slopes close to creeks. stock and intensive recreation pressure nearby is believed to be The number of populations in any one location varies partly responsible. significantly. Existing populations are as follows: A range of threats face remaining inland and coastal populations: urban development, roadworks, vehicle Geographic Area Locality movement, recreational activities, weed invasion, introduced Coastal . animals and trampling of habitat and collection by enthusiasts. Wilsons Promontory Yanakie Isthmus Many populations are more vulnerable to natural catastrophes Mornington Pensinsula Cape Schanck and changes in environmental factors over time because of . Rye their small size (Schaffer 1981). Tootgarook The Leafy Greenhood is endangered in other states (Carr pers. Cape Otway Cape Otway comm.). Populations on the Bass Strait islands near north-east South West Bridgewater Lakes Tasmania are threatened by cattle trampling and grazing by . Cape Bridgewater introduced snails (Zeigler pers. comm.). South Australia's Mt. *Nelson Lofty Ranges have most recorded populations, of which more Inland than half are extinct (Davies 1986). Strathbogie Ranges Strathbogie Ranges In its final recommendations, the Scientific Advisory Central Highlands Lake Eildon Committee (1991) determined that the Leafy Greenhood Licola Orchid is significantly prone to future threats likely to result in East Gippsland Benambra extinction. Buchan *Moormurng Major Conservation Objectives *Serpentine Creek • To secure all remnant populations of Leafy Greenhoods * Only one known population in these locations. and allow for their expansion by controlling threats to To minimise the risk of trampling by enthusiasts and the their survival. likelihood of collection, the precise location of the orchid populations will remain confidential. 2 • To secure the range of genetic variation held within Serpentine, are significant because of their geographic isolation threatened or small populations (less than 100 even though they are small. individuals). Small populations of clonal species have a greater potential to • To expand the knowledge of the ecological remain genetically viable in the long term, given their capacity requirements of Leafy Greenhood as a basis for for vegetative reproduction, than species reliant on sexual informed future management decisions. reproduction. Setting priorities for the Leafy Greenhood's conservation Management Issues should therefore be determined on factors other than population size (Refer to the discussion of management of Ecological Issues Specific to the Taxon clonal species in the Brittle Greenhood Action Statement). Characteristics of the species There is little published No attempts should be made to cross Leafy Greenhood information on the biology and ecology of the orchid populations from widely separated parts of the state as it may although several individuals have detailed knowledge of its be deleterious to their long-term survival (refer to Enhanced life history (Beardsell, Carr, Eichler, pers. comm.) Recruitment and ex situ Conservation under