Australian National Herbarium
and
Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research

Dampiera fusca (Goodeniaceae):
An extension of range, conservation status
assessment, and identification notes

Abstract

In the course of field work in January 1993, a small population of Dampiera fusca Rajput & Carolin (1988: 205) was discovered in the Tinderry Range Nature Reserve, c. 47 km SSE of Canberra. Herbarium specimens were collected (Lyne 1134 & Telford; CBG, MEL, NSW). Approximately 20 plants were seen in a localised population at 35 deg. 43' 41" S, 149 deg. 16' 20" E (grid reference 8726 Michelago: 055,443), high on the western flank of the Tinderry Range at 1400 m altitude.

Geology of the area is dominated by Tinderry Granite (biotite granite). The population found occurs in a shallow basin just below the summit ridge, draining westward towards the Murrumbidgee River. All plants were growing on the floor of the basin in a well-drained coarse sandy granite-derived gravel with little humus present.

The plants occur in a sparse herbaceous understorey in an opening of Eucalyptus pauciflora and E. latiuscula woodland on the basin floor. The species does not occur on the adjacent slopes which support a loamy soil with an open forest of the same two eucalypt species and a dense shrub understorey of Ozothamnus thyrsoides, Olearia montana, Polyscias sambucifolia and Oxylobium ilicifolium.

Range

The Kybeyan Range populations occur on peaks and ridges at the edge of the tablelands escarpment at altitudes of 940 to c. 1200 m, over a range of roughly 12 km, on the catchments of the upper Tuross and Wadbilliga Rivers. Vouchered localities are: [upper Bumberry Creek area] (Parris 9169; CBG, NSW); Kydra Peak (Rogers & Willis, 11 Jan 1970; Holotype MEL 501963, Iso NSW); and `SE of Wadbilliga Trig' (Telford 3662; CBG, MEL).

The Bumberry Creek site is dominated by Allocasuarina nana heathland, with recorded associate species including Eucalyptus sp. aff. radiata, Daviesia ulicifolia, Baeckea denticulata, Acacia lucasii, Pimelea collina, and Pultenaea sp.; substrate is recorded as `loam over sediments', probably Ordovician metamorphics. The Kydra Peak population is recorded as occurring on sandstone (presumably the Lambie Shelf formation). The Wadbilliga Trig population is probably on similar Lambie Shelf formation substrates and is recorded from `open eucalypt forest'.

The Nunniong Plateau records (upper Buchan River catchment) were collected from ridge lines in the area of Brumby Point and Diggers Hole Track, at altitudes of 1350-1500 m (inferred) ; associated vegetation is given on one label (Forbes 267, MEL) as Eucalyptus pauciflora with Oxylobium alpestre and Poa australis. The general area is dominated by mallee shrublands and montane sclerophyll woodland; geological substrates are primarily sedimentary and metamorpic strata including slates and quartzite.

Conservation status

Identification

In Rajput & Carolin (1992), the key to artificial groups (p. 35), couplet 3 requires D. fusca specimens to agree with the clause `young stems flat, triangular, or with a narrow groove ...' for successful identification (via Group 3). The Tinderry Range material has youngest stems appearing subterete, although when a cross-section is taken they are seen to be obscurely triangular; older stems are fairly clearly 3-angled.

In Group 3 (p. 37), couplet 8 requires D. fusca to have `Corolla hairs yellowish grey, yellowish brown, or golden', as opposed to `grey or black'. We have found this character state difference to be unreliable. Most specimens have an apparently two-layer indumentum, the lower layer comprising short (juvenile?) stellate hairs with more or less equal length arms, and the basal branches of fully developed `type v' branched hairs (sensu Rajput & Carolin). The apparent overlying layer comprises the elongate arms of mature `type v' hairs. In the Tinderry Range material, the `basal layer' is dirty grey in colour, and the overlying layer is pale but not yellowish. Some other specimens from New South Wales provenances (e.g. Rogers MEL 600175; Cambage NSW 100308) have the `basal layer' of a similar grey colour and the `overlying layer' not, or scarcely, yellowish. Other characters of the Tinderry Range material appear fully consistent with D. fusca and there seems no serious reason to doubt its assignment to that species.

We suggest the following amendment to the Flora of Australia key in Group 3, to accomodate grey-haired material:

14 Sepals distinct, > 1 mm long ................................... D. sylvestris

14: Sepals minute (< 1 mm long, obscured by hairs), or obsolete

15 Corolla indumentum more or less smooth-appressed, with `type iv'hairs (Western Australia) .............................. D. loranthifolia

15: Corolla indumentum loose-ascending, with `type v' hairs (south-eastern Australia) .............................. D. fusca

2 Stems always with a mid-dense conspicuous indumentum of stellate hairs on the upper few internodes, gradually glabrescent below; inflorescences very shortly pedunculate or sessile, flowers and subtending leaves forming congested pseudo-whorls on suppressed lateral branchlets; leaves cuneate-oblanceolate to obovate in gross outline .................. D. fusca

2* Stems quite glabrous (or occasionally a short open indumentum of stellate hairs on newest growth only); inflorescences usually obviously pedunculate, flowers and subtending leaves not (or only loosely) clustered along stems; leaves linear to oblong, elliptical or lanceolate in gross outline

(then resume key as published, at couplet 3).

Acknowledgements

This paper was prepared as part of work performed under the 1993 Botanical Student Internship Program of the Australian National Botanic Gardens Herbarium.

References

Carolin, R.C. (1992): 143 Goodeniaceae. In Harden, G.J. (ed.), Flora of New South Wales Vol. 3. University of New South Wales Press, Kensington.

Rajput, M.T.M. & Carolin, R.C. (1992): Dampiera. In: Flora of Australia 35, pp. 34-80. AGPS, Canberra.

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Placed here by Andrew Lyne (al@anbg.gov.au)

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