Plants spring up
from fire disaster The Department of Sustainability and Environment has announced the surprise recovery of one of Victoria’s rarest plants which was severely affected by the Black Saturday bushfires.
   The fires burnt out the only known population of the shrub Shiny Nematolepis in the world in the O’Shannassy catchment.

Just a short time ago, the discovery of a second wild population of Shiny Nematolepis,  one the state's rarest and most threatened plants, has botanists, scientists and rangers buzzing, after the only other known population was burnt in the 2009 bushfires.

 

While undertaking a habitat assessment for the Broad-toothed Rat, Parks Victoria Fire Recovery Officer Jo Antrobus noticed a pocket of seedlings that looked strikingly similar to the Shiny Nematolepis seedlings she had observed two weeks ago at the only other known location in the world (which is in the O'Shannassy catchment)

 

Two mature Shiny Nematolepis trees (approx six metres tall) and between 100 and 500 post-fire seedlings were then confirmed by David Cameron from DSE’s Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) Threatened Species and Communities section and Neville Walsh from the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG).

Ms Antrobus said the unexpected discovery and identification of the only two mature plants in existence was extremely exciting.

“I still can’t quite believe it.  After so much habitat destruction resulting from the fires, it’s great to see that one of the state's rarest plants has appeared at a second location. We’re rapt that it has responded so positively,” said Ms Antrobus.

David Cameron from Arthur Rylah Institute said this population will lead the charge for post-fire recovery of the species for the next five years.

 

“It’s an important discovery,” said Mr Cameron. “We’re all cautiously optimistic for the future of these plants given their vulnerability to drought, fire, and the disturbance or browsing by native and introduced animals.”

 

Ms Antrobus and DSE Biodiversity Officers will continue to proactively manage both known populations of the species. 

 

The area has since been fenced off to protect the plants from deer browsing, wallows and rubbing.  This project is supported by Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority with funding from the Australian Government's Caring for our Country Bushfire Recovery Program.

 

RBG’s Neville Walsh said the discovery of a second population takes some pressure off the only other known population.

 

“Being in the same catchment as the original population suggests that further searches may yet unearth more populations of this plant.”

 

Media contacts –

DSE Nick Talbot (0408 473 278) or Parks Victoria David Petty (0427 031 264)

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