Government Guidelines and Legislation
Threatened Species Profile: Narrow-leafed Wilsonia
Source: Department of Environment and Climate Change
http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10838
Scientific name: Wilsonia backhousei
Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
Description
Narrow-leafed Wilsonia is a perennial, sprawling, matted shrub less than 15 cm tall. The narrow, pointed, dark green, stalkless leaves are succulent and less than 20 mm long. The single white flowers are also stalkless. They have a 10 mm long slender tube with curled-back tips, from which purple-tipped stamens and style protrude.
Location and habitat
Distribution
In NSW Narrow-leaf Wilsonia is found on the coast between Mimosa Rocks National Park and Wamberal north of Sydney (Nelson’s Lake, Potato Point, Sussex Inlet, Wowly Gully, Parramatta River at Ermington, Clovelly, Voyager Point, Wollongong and Royal National Park). It grows in all southern states.
Habitat and ecology
This is a species of the margins of salt marshes and lakes, both coastal and inland. Flowering occurs in spring and summer.
Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.
Threats
- Trampling by grazing stock.
- Habitat may be lost to coastal development.
- Weeds may compete with Narrow-leaf Wilsonia.
- Four wheel drive vehicles have damaged one population (and continue to damage part of it).
- Rubbish dumping.
What needs to be done to recover this species?
- Alert local Councils to the occurrence of populations off-park (especially in the Sydney metropolitan area) and ensure that they are considered in development proposals.
- Survey proposed development sites in likely Narrow-leaf Wilsonia habitat in the spring-summer flowering season.
- Ensure runoff from agriculture, roads and urban infrastructure above wetlands is controlled.
- Fence off known sites where four wheel drive vehicles have entered or where rubbish dumping occurs.
- Exclude stock from known Narrow-leafed Wilsonia populations.
- Undertake weed control in the vicinity of known populations and likely habitat.
- Search for species in suitable habitat.
Map from PlantNet, the Plant Information Network System of the Botanic Gardens Trust Version 2.0.
For more information on identification of Wilsonia backhousei
