THREATENED SPECIES INFORMATION glaucescens Sieber ex Sprengel Conservation status main distinguishing feature being its red leaf margins and red young stems. Persoonia glaucescens is listed as a vulnerable species on Schedule 2 of Distribution the NSW Threatened Species P. glaucescens is endemic to a Conservation Act 1995 and as a relatively small area of the south- vulnerable species under the western Central Coast and south- Commonwealth Endangered Species eastern Central Tablelands Botanical Protection Act 1992. Divisions in the Sydney Basin Description Bioregion. Within this range, habitat is patchy and linear and has been P. glaucescens () is an subject to substantial clearing due to erect shrub that grows to 3m and has a the relatively arable nature of the low smooth, mottled stem and brownish- relief, clayey soils. red branches and branchlets with a light covering of short, hairs. The Recorded occurrences in leaves are erect, greyish-green, with a conservation reserves very light covering of short hairs. The Two populations of P. glaucescens midvein is slightly raised; the margins have been recorded from Nattai are flat and are tinged with red; the National Park, one population from apex terminates in a short, thick point Thirlmere Lakes National Park and (Harden 1991). three populations from Bargo State Recreation Area. However, recent surveys failed to locate the species in Thirlmere Lakes National Park, despite the presence of suitable habitat. It is known from numerous records in the proposed Bargo River National Park and a relatively large population occurs in the Box Valley Tramway Crown Reserve at Welby. The record known from Ironmines Reserve in Mittagong was not relocated during a survey in 1999. Habitat P. glaucescens grows in woodland to dry sclerophyll forest on clayey and gravelly laterite (Douglas pers. obs.). The preferred soils are associated Photo: Douglas 1999 with the Mittagong Formation The flowers are light to deep yellow (passage beds between Wianamatta and the fruit resembles a small plumb Shale and Hawkesbury Sandstone) (Blombery and Maloney 1992). P. and are represented by the Lucas glaucescens resembles the common Heights Soil Landscape. and widespread P. lanceolata, its

May 2000 P. glaucescens seems to prefer the Mechanical disturbance of the interface between Lucas Heights and seedbank and/or the reduced the Hawkesbury and Gymea Soil competition and increased light Landscapes. The preferred topography associated with such disturbance is ridge-tops, plateaux and upper appears to advantage this species slopes. Aspect does not appear to be a (sensu Wasley 1997; Douglas pers. significant factor. obs.). Commonly associated canopy species Threats are , Eucalyptus P. glaucescens occurs primarily sieberi and E. sclerophylla as well as outside conservation reserves and is E. pauciflora at higher altitudes west threatened by trail and road of Mittagong. Associated understorey maintenance and "tidying up" of road species include formosa, verges due to its preference for spinulosa, B. serrata, disturbance margins on clayey ridge- sericea, Acacia terminalis, tops and upper slopes. A. brownei, A. ulicifolia, Petrophile pedunculata, Eriostemon australis, Similarly, all records from NPWS , Bossiaea lands and other conservation reserves obcordata and Pimelea linifolia are close to access trails and are at (Wasley, 1997, Douglas, pers. obs.). risk from inappropriate use of these trails and from maintenance activities. Within its habitat, P. gl aucescens is Most of these records are also close to generally rare and the populations are the margins of the reserves. linear and fragmented. Under ideal circumstances, the species can be P. glaucescens is also threatened by locally common, though such its very low seed viability and conditions are very rare. herbivory of seedlings (Wasley 1997). Ecology Genetic dilution of P. glaucescens The longevity of this species is through hybridisation with the unknown. F lowering occurs mainly in common P. lanceolata is a potential late summer and in autumn. Peak threat that warrants further study. flowering appears to occur in February, though this is likely to vary Bernhardt and Weston (1996) suggest considerably with local climatic that the introduced European honey conditions. bee (Apis mellifera) may be a threat because it is unlikely to facilitate P. glaucescens is fire sensitive. effective pollination even though it (Wasley 1997). Adults are generally can readily collect pollen. killed by fire and recruitment is solely by seed. Management Seed viability is very low (Wasley Management actions should be aimed 1997). Seed is mainly stored in the at protection and enhancement of litter layer, where it may be at risk of habitat and removal and management high mortality during fire (Wasley of other threats such as recreational 1997). However, they survive the vehicle activities. A fire interval of at temperatures is stored in the soil. least 10-15 years is recommended by Germination may be enhanced by fire, Wasley (1997), as is a mosaic pattern even though germination levels are of burning. low. Seed banks may take greater than Recovery Plans 10 years to develop (Wasley 1997). No recovery plan has been prepared for P. glaucescens.

May 2000 For further information contact Threatened Species Unit, Central Directorate, NSW NPWS, PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 2220. Phone (02) 9585 6678 or visit our website www.npws.nsw.gov.au. References Bernhardt, P. and Weston, P.H. (1996) The pollination ecology of Persoonia (Proteaceae) in eastern Australia. Telopea 6(4): 775-804. Blombery, A. and Maloney B. (1992) The Proteaceae of the Sydney Region. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst. Harden, G. (Ed.) (1991) Flora of NSW Vol. 2. UNSW Press, Kensington. Wasley, J. (1997) Ecology of three obligate seeding Persoonia species in a fire prone habitat. Honours Thesis, University of Wollongong.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the editor expressly disclaim all liability and responsibility to any person, whether a purchaser or reader of this document or not, in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any person in reliance upon the contents of this document although every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented in this document is accurate and up to date.

May 2000 Nattai SCA He Persoonia glaucescens Picton # Distribution Yerranderie SCA Dharawal SCA Tahmoor # Copyright NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, October 2000 Thirlmere #Lakes NP This map is not guaranteed to be free from error or omision. The Dharawal NSW N at io nal Parks and W ild flife Servi ce an d its em plo yee s di scla im # ## liability for any act done or omission made on the information in # WOLLONDILLY the map and any consequences of such acts or omissions. Nattai NP ### Bargo # # #### # Illawarra Escarp # Persoonia glaucescens # Local Government Boundaries Rivers Bargo SCA # Wollondilly River NR # Roads # #### NPWS Estate Oakwood Joadja NR # # # # # Wollongong ## Aylmerton # # #### #################################### Bangadilly NP WOLLONGONG ### # Bowral # Five Isla Berrima Berkeley NR Map C omp il ed F rom : Spec ies re cor ds from the NPWS W ildife Atlas, RBG, Dougl as 19 99 Roa ds, Ri vers a nd To wns fo rm AUSL IG LGA Bou nda rie s from LI C NPWS Es ta te fr om NS W NPW S 0510Kilometers # Macquarie Pass NP SCALE 1: 509,000 N

MULW AREE # SHELLHARBOUR PROJECTION Robertson Australian Map Grid Avoca Zo ne 56 WINGECARRIBEE #

# Budderoo NP KIAMA Barrengarry NR Barren Grounds NR

Printed By Kangaroo River NR Rodway NR TSU CPPD Central 30 October 2000