Tecticornia Flabelliformis Bead Samphire

PLANT Tecticornia flabelliformis Bead Samphire

AUS SA AMLR Endemism Life History the same species.6

V V V - Perennial Across its range, approximately 30 wild populations are known. Total abundance across all known populations Family CHENOPODIACEAE may be more than 10,000 plants.2

Pre- and post-1983 AMLR filtered records restricted to the northern coastline near Torrens Island, St Kilda Beach and Middle Beach.3 Specifically, significant populations in the AMLR occur on the coast at Thompson’s Beach, Port Parham, St Kilda, Webb Beach, Port Prime, Garden Island and Middle Beach.2,4

Habitat Salt-tolerant and usually associated with saline environments, such as inland saline flats, evaporation pans and the margins of salt lakes, coastal tidal flats, and coastal or sub-coastal salt pans and clay pans. Reported to grow in wet, blue-grey, fine, silty muds, and on sandy soils with a high kopi (flour gypsum)

Photo: © Ron Taylor content (Browne 1982; Chinnock in Wilson 1980; Rogers et al. 2003). Can tolerate a very wide range of soil Conservation Significance moisture content (Coleman and Cook unpublished The AMLR distribution is disjunct, isolated from other data).6 extant occurrences within SA. Within the AMLR the species’ relative area of occupancy is classified as Commonly forms monospecific low shrublands or ‘Very Restricted’. Relative to all AMLR extant species, grows in mixed stands with other Samphires species the species' taxonomic uniqueness is classified as such as Halosarcia spp., Sclerostegia spp., Sarcocornia ‘High’.3 spp and Atriplex paludosa (Scarlett and Parsons 1993; Venn 1999; Environmental Database of South Australia Description undated).6 Woody perennial shrub or sub-shrub with fleshy branches about 2.5 mm wide and up to 20 cm long. Within the AMLR the preferred broad vegetation group Flowers occur at ends of branches. Deciduous and is Coastal.3 generally found in monospecific patches (Scarlett and Parsons 1993; Walsh 1996; Wilson 1980, 1984, Within the AMLR the species’ degree of habitat 1986). Plants may contain up to 50% salt (Rogers et al. specialisation is classified as ‘High’.3 2003).6 Biology and Ecology Synonym: Halosarcia flabelliformis.5 Flowers from January to May (Wilson 1986). At Port Wakefield, populations exhibited active recruitment Distribution and Population and a multi-age structure, however seedling Widespread but scattered in saltmarsh vegetation recruitment and growth rates are not known across southern mainland Australia (VIC, SA and (Halliburton KBR 2002). Plants appear to be tolerant of WA).2 In SA occurs in NL, SL, SE, YP and EP regions.1 seasonal inundation (Venn 1999; see also Halliburton KBR 2002).6 Originally thought to be restricted to SA and VIC, however specimens collected from WA in the 1990s Aboriginal Significance are considered to fall within the current taxonomic Post-1983 records indicate the entire AMLR distribution concept of this species (Shepherd 2004; Venn 1999). occurs in Kaurna Nation.3 Similar plants have been reported from inland parts of Eyre Peninsula, but it is uncertain whether these are

Further information: Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999 http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/  Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008 Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014

Threats Australia and Victoria 2006- 2010. Department of Sustainability Threats include: and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.  altered hydrology: particularly over-flooding when surplus freshwater from nearby areas is 3 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Recovery Pilot Project directed into saltpans and rising saline Database. Unpublished data extracted and edited from 2 groundwater tables BDBSA, SA Herbarium (July 2007) and other sources.  mining activities (salt and gypsum)  other physical disturbance (use of off-road 4 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). State vehicles and trail bikes) Herbarium of South Australia Database. Unpublished data,  trampling extracted October 2007.  rubbish dumping; tidal saltmarsh communities are commonly regarded as ‘wasteland’ 5 Jones, D. L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of 7 Australia including the island territories. New Holland (Graham 2000) Publishers, Australia.  coastal development (residential, military use and marinas) (Halliburton KBR 2002).6 6 Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2005). EPBC Nomination to de-list Halosarcia flabelliformis (Bead Additional current direct threats have been identified Glasswort). Department of the Environment and Water and rated for this species. Refer to the main plan Resources, Canberra. accompanying these profiles. 7 Turner, M. S. (2001). Conserving Adelaide's Biodiversity: Resources. Urban Forest Biodiversity Program, Adelaide. Regional Distribution

Map based on filtered post-1983 records.3 Note, this map does not necessarily represent the actual species’ distribution within the AMLR.

References Note: In some cases original reference sources are not included in this list, however they can be obtained from the reference from which the information has been sourced (the reference cited in superscript).

1 Barker, W. R., Barker, R. M., Jessop, J. P. and Vonow, H. P., eds. (2005). Census of South Australian Vascular Plants, 5th Edition. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide & State Herbarium, Adelaide.

2 Carter, O. (2005). Draft Recovery Plan for Halosarcia flabelliformis (Bead Glasswort) in South Australia, Western