Pimelea pauciflora (poison rice flower)

Status

• Rare on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. • Reserved in: Black Jack Hill Forest Reserve, Blue Tier Forest Reserve, Great Western Tiers Conservation Area, Lake Binney Forest Reserve, Mole Creek Karst National Park, Tarraleah Forest Reserve, Wentworth Creek Forest Reserve. The species has also been protected/managed on private property and State forest under FPPs (e.g. Ben Nevis area, Reedy Marsh area).

Distribution

• Northeast - Pyengana - Lottah Road - Ringarooma/Branxholm area - Ben Nevis area - Camden/Diddleum Roads - Burns Creek area - Nunamara area • Central Highlands - 14-Mile Road - Bronte Park - Tarraleah area - Strickland area • Central North (Deloraine area) - Mole Creek area - Western Creek area - Deloraine/Reedy Marsh area

Ideal sites to see the species

• Camden Road near Ben Nevis Estate entrance • Tasman Highway at Nunamara and between Branxholm and Derby • Bridge at Ringarooma • Grassy areas along 14-Mile Road near Bronte Park

Identification

• Erect shrub 2-3 m high • Long, slender, reddish branches • Thin, opposite leaves, narrow-linear or linear-lanceolate, 10-25 mm long, flat, midrib clearly seen • Green-yellowish flowers in small clusters, terminal on the main stems and on axillary branches

Habitat • Associated with higher altitudes, higher rainfall and lower temperatures • Range of forest types but often associated with streams/rivers and surrounding flats, and open grassy woodlands at higher altitudes (e.g. 14-Mile Road area). • Grassy to shrubby forest (dry through to wet sclerophyll) with E. amygdalina, E. obliqua, E. delegatensis, E. viminalis, E. pauciflora, E. ovata and E. rodwayi. • Often associated with disturbed sites such as old snig tracks, landings, sawmill sites and roadsides.

Pimelea field day: Pimelea pauciflora information sheet (available at www.fpb.tas.gov.au). Typical habitat of Pimelea pauciflora along 14-Mile Road, Central Highlands. The species occurs in similar situations in the northeast and central north.

Growth habit of Pimelea pauciflora along 14-Mile Close-up of Pimelea pauciflora. Road, Central Highlands. The species occurs in Note the reddish stems; thin, similar roadside situations in the northeast and opposite leaves; yellowish-green central north. flowers.

Pimelea field day: Pimelea pauciflora information sheet (available at www.fpb.tas.gov.au).