EryngiumListing Statement ovinum for ovinum (blue devil)

blue devil

T A S M A N I A N T H R E A T E N E D S P E C I E S L I S T I N G S T A T E M E N T

Image by Mark Wapstra

Scientific name: Eryngium ovinum A.Cunn., Geogr. Mem. New South Wales [Field]: 358 (1825) Common Name: blue devil (Wapstra et al. 2005) Group: vascular , dicotyledon, family

Status: Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 : vulnerable Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 : Not listed

Distribution: Endemic status: not endemic to Tasmania Tasmanian NRM Region: South

Figure 1. Distribution of Eryngium ovinum in Tasmania, Plate 1. Eryngium ovinum : habit and flowers showing NRM regions (image by Mark Wapstra)

1 Threatened Species and Marine Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eryngium ovinum (blue devil)

SUMMARY: Eryngium ovinum (blue devil) is a disturbance such as flood, wildfire and heavy perennial herb in the Apiaceae (carrot) family grazing. with distinctive spiny foliage and metallic-blue flower-heads. It is known in Tasmania from Survey techniques about 24 sites in the State’s southeast and east, usually growing in fertile heavy soils in Surveys for Eryngium ovinum are best undertaken grasslands and grassy woodlands below about in November to January when the have 350 m elevation. The species is poorly reserved, reached their full stature and the distinctive with the majority of sites on unsecured private metallic-blue flower-heads are obvious. land and most subpopulations are thought to be small, making them subject to inadvertent or Description chance events. The risk is exacerbated as the Eryngium ovinum is an erect glabrous perennial species may become confined to rootstock or herb to about 60 cm tall, with a short rootstock the soil seed store during unfavourable periods. and clusters of blackish tubers. The basal leaves Eryngium ovinum is subject to a range of are up to 45 cm long and divided into segments threatening processes, including historical and which are linear and spine-tipped. The main contemporary depletion and modification of flowering stem arises from the base of the plant habitat, competition by weeds, and and is one to three times branched from a pair inappropriate disturbance regimes (e.g. grazing, of opposite spiny bracts about 7 to 35 cm fire and mechanical disturbance). above ground level, and then dichotomously or ternately branched from succeeding pairs of IDENTIFICATION AND ECOLOGY bracts, producing a rather rigid dichasial Eryngium ovinum is a perennial species, dying inflorescence. The strongly ribbed flowering down during autumn, emerging in late winter, stems and flowering heads are usually metallic and flowering in summer. In late winter the blue. The globular, thistle-like flowering heads plant develops a rosette of narrow, spiny, are mostly 10 (to 15) mm long and 10 mm divided leaves with the flowering stems wide. The bracteoles of the involucre and apex extending and producing a mass of crowded are 15 to 20 mm long with those subtending bright blue thistle-like flower heads on rigid the flowers conspicuous and exceeding the branched stems by mid summer. The terminal flowers by 8 to 15 mm. The petals are bluish- flowerheads open first, followed by those on purple with a fringed apex. The fruit is 4 to the side branches below, with each flower 5 mm long, with acute bladdery scales, and is lasting several weeks (Ollerenshaw 1981). The crowned by the persistent sepals. species is likely to be pollinated by a wide range [description based on Curtis 1963, Harden of flies, mosquitoes, gnats and bees. 1992, Walsh & Entwisle 1999] Eryngium ovinum recruits from seed, with germination substantially inhibited by darkness Confusing species (Morgan 1998), a trait conducive to the Eryngium ovinum is a highly distinctive species formation of a persistent seed bank with due to its growth habit, spiky leaf morphology recruitment reliant on the formation of gaps, and flower colour. The only potentially most likely through factors such as periodic confusing species in Tasmania is Eryngium drought or disturbance. This is supported by vesiculosum (prickfoot), a widespread and evidence of the proliferation of the species common species, which is believed to co-occur following disturbance at some sites. Eryngium with Eryngium ovinum at one site. Eryngium ovinum is relatively long-lived, with some plants vesiculosum has leafy stems that are prostrate thriving at the Australian National Botanic rather than erect, and also has much smaller Gardens for ten years or more (Ollerenshaw flower-heads that are greyish-blue, whereas 1981). It is likely that the species can survive those of Eryngium ovinum are greenish at first long periods of drought, regenerating from but finish a deep metallic-blue. rootstock after the breaking of drought and 2 Threatened Species and Marine Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eryngium ovinum (blue devil)

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT for the total area of occupancy are not Eryngium ovinum occurs in New Zealand, and in available. South Australia, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and The largest known subpopulation, at the Tasmania. Within Tasmania the species occurs Pontville Smalls Arms Range Complex and mostly in the far southeast, with outlying private land to its south, consists of more than occurrences on the central east coast near Little 100,000 plants over several hectares of native Swanport (Figure 1). grassland, while several subpopulations number in the 1000s. Most of the other subpopulations In Tasmania Eryngium ovinum occurs in eucalypt are represented by apparently low numbers (10 woodland/forest with a grassy or lightly to 50 plants) and small areas of occupancy. shrubby understorey (Plate 2). The dominant eucalypt is usually Eucalyptus ovata (black gum) Curtis (1963) described the distribution of or Eucalyptus globulus (blue gum), but may also Eryngium ovinum in Tasmania as ‘local, recorded include Eucalyptus tenuiramis and Eucalyptus from one locality near Bellerive in southern amygdalina . Eryngium ovinum may also occur in Tasmania’. Despite the distinctiveness of the native grassland, with Themeda triandra species and its apparent predilection for the (kangaroo grass) and Poa species prominent. fringes of the Greater Hobart area in easily Soils are relatively deep and fertile, usually accessible habitat, the species went unrecorded derived from Tertiary basalt or Jurassic dolerite, again until 1980 when it was discovered at while landform ranges from broad flats, toe Flagstaff Gully a few kilometres north of slopes, gentle saddles, broad ridges and moist Bellerive, with additional sites recorded since. upper slopes. The elevation of known sites This suggests that the likelihood of new ranges from close to sea level to about 350 m, subpopulations being detected is high, with most sites below about 150 m. particularly as large areas of mainly private land within the current extent of occurrence have only been subject to cursory botanical surveys. Range infillings and minor range extensions are considered a high probability.

RESERVATION STATUS Three subpopulations of Eryngium ovinum are contained wholly, or in part, on private property subject to conservation covenants established under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002 (Table 1).

CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT

Eryngium ovinum was listed as endangered on the Plate 2. Eucalyptus ovata grassy woodland habitat of Eryngium ovinum (image by Mark Wapstra) original schedules of the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and downlisted to vulnerable in 2001 following the discovery of POPULATION PARAMETERS five new subpopulations. While the number of Eryngium ovinum is known in Tasmania from subpopulations have doubled since, the status about 24 subpopulations (Table 1). Many sites of the species in the disjunct East Coast do not have estimates of either plant numbers location and other recorded sites that have not or the area occupied, making estimates of the been seen in the past decade need to be total population problematic. In Tasmania the assessed before considering a further change in species has a linear range of 83 km and extent the conservation status of the species. of occurrence of 2,600 km 2. Reliable estimates

3 Threatened Species and Marine Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eryngium ovinum (blue devil)

Table 1. Population summary for Eryngium ovinum in Tasmania

NRM 1:25000 Year last Area Number of Subpopulation Tenure Region Mapsheet (first) seen occupied individuals (ha) 1 Boomer Creek, private property & South Royalty 1996 0.35 1900 Little Swanport road reserve (1989) 2 Tasman Highway, private property South Royalty 2002 < 0.001 unknown Pontypool (1993) 3 Fulham Road private property South Dunalley 2000 unknown c. 50 (near Camden Brook) 4 Fulham Road private property South Dunalley 2000 unknown numerous on (near Fulham Point) road shoulder 5 Flaggy Creek private property South Carlton 2011 0.15 c. 30 6 Nelsons Tier Road private property South Sorell 2010 5.2 10s to 100s in (2001) each of 8 patches 7 Pawleena Reservoir private property South Runnymede 1993 0.3 restricted, but (1992) plentiful 8 Sorell Rivulet private property South Runnymede 2001 1–5 1000s (1993) 9 Black Charlies Opening private property & South Runnymede 2008 0.3+ 1000s public reserve (1992) 10 Fingerpost Road private property South Runnymede 2011 0.0001 4 (early 1990s) 11 Colebrook Road private property South Runnymede early 1990s unknown unknown 12a Pontville Small Arms Commonwealth South Tea Tree 2012 5.2 122,000 Range Complex (Department of (1996) ±16,600 Defence) 12b Pontville (south of & private property South Tea Tree 2012 c. 2 1000s contiguous with 12a) (1996) 13 Tea Tree Road private property) South Tea Tree 2007 0.002 34 14 E side of Jordan River, private property South Tea Tree 2004 0.001 6 opposite Woodrieve 15 Summerfield Hill private property * South Broadmarsh 2006 unknown unknown 16 Grahams Creek Road private property * South Broadmarsh 2006 0.02 20 17 Strathelie, Broadmarsh private property South Broadmarsh 1996 unknown 254 (1988) 18 Cross Rivulet private property * South Hobart 2006 unknown unknown 19 Canopus Road, private property South Hobart 2010 0.0001 12 Cambridge 20 valley outside Bellerive, unknown South Hobart 1920s? unknown unknown near the old Sorell railway line 21 Bellerive unknown South Hobart 1929 unknown unknown 22a Flagstaff Gully private property South Hobart 1996 0.005 c. 30 (1980) 22b Flagstaff Gully reservoir Southern Water South Hobart 2005 0.002 36 (2000) 23a Jim Bacon Memorial Glenorchy City South Hobart 2013 2.7 1000s Reserve, Springfield, Council reserve (1999) Moonah 23b Mayhill Court, West private property South Hobart 2004 0.0001 1 (not seen in Moonah recent years)

4 Threatened Species and Marine Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eryngium ovinum (blue devil)

NRM 1:25000 Year last Area Number of Subpopulation Tenure Region Mapsheet (first) seen occupied individuals (ha) 24 Queens Domain on Hobart City South Hobart early 1900s anecdotal report of a single disused sports oval Council reserve plant not seen since (AVK Environmental Management 2008) NRM = Natural Resource Management region * covered wholly or partly by a conservation covenant under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002

THREATS, LIMITING FACTORS AND 2012) and the subpopulation in the Jim Bacon MANAGEMENT ISSUES Memorial Reserve which is managed by Most subpopulations of Eryngium ovinum in Glenorchy City Council as a bushland reserve. Tasmania are subject to a wide range of Inappropriate fire regimes: The grassland threatening processes, including historical and and grassy woodland habitat of Eryngium ovinum contemporary depletion and modification of is highly adapted to fire, and the species itself is habitat (through urban and industrial sprawl known to regenerate from rootstock after and agricultural expansion), inappropriate medium intensity fire (AVK Environmental disturbance regimes (e.g. stock grazing, fire Management 2008). However, the species may frequency and intensity), mechanical be impacted deleteriously if the fire frequency disturbance (e.g. from farm machinery, roadside and/or intensity increases or is followed by maintenance, stock trampling, quarrying, timber more intensive grazing or proliferation of harvesting), road construction and competitive weeds. maintenance, competition with weeds, and Weeds: Several subpopulations occur in sites stochastic events. severely infested with woody weeds (e.g. gorse, Land clearing and/or habitat modification: Ulex europaeus ), and more ubiquitous herbs and Native vegetation has been extensively cleared exotic grasses. Eryngium ovinum is likely to be and/or modified over much of the southern poorly competitive with dense woody weeds, Midlands and fertile hinterlands of the east and although it appears to persist at sites with a southeast coast of Tasmania, where Eryngium lower density of weeds (e.g. in the Jim Bacon ovinum appears to be restricted. While the Memorial Reserve where the species is species may have a naturally scattered thriving). distribution, the contemporary occurrences in Inappropriate grazing and disturbance southeast Tasmania appear to be, at least regime: Parts of some subpopulations are partially, the result of land clearing (e.g. through subject to stock grazing and stock trampling, urban and industrial sprawl in the greater which could lead to changes in population Hobart to Brighton area) and vegetation structure. Anecdotal reports suggest that heavy modification practices. At least two grazing may be to the detriment of the species, subpopulations occur on land that has been though light to moderate grazing may be subdivided since their discovery. The single beneficial by reducing surrounding competitive individual could not be re-located at the Mayhill vegetation. More intensive primary production Court site in West Moonah in recent years and (e.g. ploughing, enrichment, sowing, etc.) may the status of the Canopus Road subpopulation lead to local extinctions. is not known. Some sites are free from the anthropogenic threat of land clearing and Quarrying: At least two subpopulations occur habitat modification, such as those on land with at sites where rock and gravel material has been conservation covenants, the subpopulation at extracted (Black Charlies Opening and Flagstaff Pontville on land owned and managed by the Gully). The degree to which these activities Commonwealth Department of Defence which have affected the species has not been places certain legislative obligations on the site’s evaluated. management (North Barker Ecosystem Services 5 Threatened Species and Marine Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eryngium ovinum (blue devil)

Timber harvesting: At least two What has been done? subpopulations occur at sites subject to native Survey and monitoring: The subpopulation at forest silviculture (Sorell Rivulet and Nelsons the Pontville Small Arms Range Complex was Tier Road). While known patches of one subjected to a detailed survey and a monitoring subpopulation were excluded from harvesting, plan was prepared in 2012 (North Barker the species proliferated on landings, snig tracks Ecosystem Services 2012). and amongst selectively harvested grassy forest, presumably recruiting from soil stored seed. Roadside management : In September 1992 a Selective harvesting was permitted over the part number of plants that were to be impacted by of the other subpopulation though the impact road-works at Black Charlies Opening were of this activity has not been assessed. removed to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens with 90 plants grown on and planted Road construction and roadside close to the original site within a road reserve in maintenance: Some subpopulations occur on May 1993. the verge of public roads or property access tracks, which are subject to periodic Management planning: An environmental maintenance such as scraping and slashing. The management plan has been prepared for the construction of the roads is likely to have Jim Bacon Memorial Reserve (ECO tas 2011). resulted in the loss of part of the The plan is being implemented, with significant subpopulations, and continued maintenance progress in improving the condition of the may, if not undertake carefully, further degrade species’ grassy woodland habitat. the supporting habitat. Several plants are Ex situ conservation: Seed was collected from known to have been destroyed during the the Black Charlies Opening subpopulation in construction of the Brighton Bypass. 2008 for long-term conservation storage at the Linear infrastructure: The species likely to Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre based at have been locally and temporarily affected by the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in the installation of linear infrastructure such as Hobart. telecommunications cables but subpopulations may benefit from the disturbance in the longer What is needed? term. For example, the species has apparently Agencies, groups or individuals may assist with proliferated along the once-cleared Telstra line some or all of the following recovery actions. near Sorell Rivulet. Coordinated efforts may achieve the best and Stochastic risk: The apparently low numbers most efficient results. of individuals in several highly localised subpopulations exposes them to the risk of • provide information and extension support local extinctions due to unforeseen human to relevant Natural Resource Management activities or stochastic events. The risk is committees, local councils, government exacerbated as subpopulations may become agencies, the local community and restricted to rootstock or the soil seed store in development proponents on the locality, unfavourable times. significance and management of known subpopulations and potential habitat;

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY • surveys sites that have not been visited in the past decade to determine their status, Management objectives condition of habitat and threats; The main objectives for the recovery of • undertake extension surveys radiating out Eryngium ovinum are to prevent the inadvertent from the known sites into areas of potential destruction of subpopulations, maintain the habitat; viability of existing subpopulations, and • closely monitor a subset of subpopulations promote recruitment. to better understand the response of the species to management actions and disturbance such as roadside maintenance 6 Threatened Species and Marine Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eryngium ovinum (blue devil)

activities, fire, grazing, slashing, weed Wapstra, H., Wapstra, A., Wapstra, M. & removal and native forest silviculture; Gilfedder, L. (2005, updated online • monitor compliance with existing annually). The Little Book of Common Names for covenants and revise management Tasmanian Plants . Department of Primary prescriptions where appropriate; Industries, Water & Environment, Hobart.

• ensure that existing and proposed activities do not impact significantly on the species, Prepared in January 2013 under the provisions taking cumulative and indirect impacts, as of the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act well as the potential impacts of 1995. Approved by the Secretary and published fragmentation into consideration; in April 2014. • develop management agreements with Cite as: Threatened Species and Marine private landowners and public land Section (2014). Listing Statement for Eryngium managers, and ensure that current priorities ovinum (blue devil). Department of Primary for the species are incorporated into the Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Private Land Conservation Program’s Tasmania. (DPIPWE) reservation strategies. View: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/threatenedspecieslists BIBLIOGRAPHY Contact details: Threatened Species and AVK Environmental Management (2008). Marine Section, Department of Primary Queens Domain Fire Management Plan . Report Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, prepared by AVK Environmental GPO Box 44 Hobart Tasmania Australia 7001. Management (Sandford) for Hobart City Ph. (03) 61654340; fax (03) 62333477; Council. [email protected] Curtis, W.M. (1963) The Student’s Flora of Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, Tasmania Part 2. Government Printer, damage or destroy this species unless under Hobart. permit. ECO tas (2011). Ecological Reserve Management Plan for the Jim Bacon Memorial Reserve, West Moonah, Tasmania. Report by Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) for Glenorchy City Council. Harden, G.J. 91992). Flora of New South Wales: Volume 3. New South Wales University Press, Kensington. Morgan, J.W. (1998). Comparative germination responses of 28 temperate grassland species. Australian Journal of Botany 46(2): 209 −219. North Barker Ecosystem Services (2012). Pontville Small Arms Range Complex: Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring Plan . Report for Department of Defence. Ollerenshaw, N. (1981). Eryngium ovinum . Posted at http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/ gnp11/eryngium-ovinum.html. [accessed 17.01.2013] Walsh, N.G. & Entwisle, T.J. (1999). Flora of Victoria Volume 4 Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae . Inkata Press, Carlton. 7 Threatened Species and Marine Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment