Eriocaulon australasicum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Eriocaulaceae |
Genus: | Eriocaulon |
Species: | E. australasicum |
Binomial name | |
Eriocaulon australasicum | |
Synonyms [5] | |
Electrosperma australasicum F.Muell. Contents |
Eriocaulon australasicum (common names southern pipewort, austral pipewort) is an endangered monocotyledonous plant in the Eriocaulaceae family found in Australia, in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. [2] [6]
Eriocaulon australasicum is a small, annual, semi-aquatic herb with a tuft of basal linear leaves which are 20–50 mm long by 1–1.5 mm wide. The flowers occur as egg-shaped to almost globular heads 3–4 mm wide. These are enclosed in lance-shaped outer bracts and by linear inner bracts. The fruits are smooth, with three celled capsules, which each contain a single seed. It possibly requires an inundation period to enable germination from soil-stored seed. Plants start to grow in shallow water (up to 20 cm deep), particularly when the water is clear and the substrate has high organic content. Flowering and seed-set swiftly follow falling water levels and the drying-out of depressions. Little is known about seed set, seed bank accumulation and its persistence and viability. It does not appear to reproduce vegetatively. [7]
It grows in shallow, seasonally-inundated, depressions and on the margins of swamps on clay plains. [7]
It was first described as Electrosperma australasicum by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1854, who found it "on wet places along the Murray, towards the junction of the Murrumbidgee". [3] [8] It was transferred to the genus, Eriocaulon, in 1854 by Friedrich August Körnicke. [3] [4]
Threats to the species are climate change, since Eriocaulon australasicum occurs in seasonally wet habitats, and probably requires a period of inundation to enable stored seed to germinate. With climate change, less frequent inundation of the required habitats will reduce habitat availability. A further threat is the grazing and trampling by sheep of the population in South Australia and possibly grazing by rabbits in Victoria. [7]
Current conservation actions in Victoria include the repair of boundary fencing to remove the grazing of the Little Desert population in Victoria, and the realignment of a vehicle track to eliminate the threat of vehicle disturbance. Additionally, fuel reduction programs in Victorian parks and reserves have been modified to avoid disturbance at sites where Eriocaulon australasicum occurs. [7]
Eucalyptus camaldulensis, commonly known as the river red gum, is a tree that is endemic to Australia. It has smooth white or cream-coloured bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and hemispherical fruit with the valves extending beyond the rim. A familiar and iconic tree, it is seen along many watercourses across inland Australia, providing shade in the extreme temperatures of central Australia.
Eriocaulon is a genus of about 400 species commonly known as pipeworts, of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Eriocaulaceae. The genus is widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group occurring in tropical regions, particularly southern Asia and the Americas. A few species extend to temperate regions, with ca. 10 species in the United States, mostly in the southern states from California to Florida, and only two species in Canada; China has 35 species, also mostly southern. Only one species occurs in Europe, where it is confined to the Atlantic Ocean coasts of Scotland and Ireland; this species also occurs in eastern North America and is thought to be a relatively recent natural colonist in Europe. In the Americas, Eriocaulon is the only genus in its family that occurs north of Florida. They tend to be associated with wet soils, many growing in shallow water, in wetlands, or in wet savannas like flatwoods. In wet soils, their abundance appears to be related to water levels, fire frequency, and competition from other plants such as grasses. Experiments have shown that they are weak competitors compared to many other wetland plant species. Some species can persist as buried seeds during unfavorable conditions. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek εριον, erion, meaning 'wool', and καυλός, caulos, meaning 'stalk'.
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Banksia quercifolia, commonly known as the oak-leaved banksia, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the southwestern coast of Western Australia. It has smooth, greenish bark, wavy, wedge-shaped, serrated leaves, yellow, orange or brown flowers in cylindrical spikes, followed by broadly linear follicles surrounded by the remains of the flowers.
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Asterolasia trymalioides, commonly known as alpine star-bush, is a species of erect, sometimes prostrate shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has leathery, narrow elliptical to circular leaves densely covered with star-shaped hairs on the lower surface, and yellow flowers arranged singly in small groups on the ends of branchlets, the back of the petals covered with brown, star-shaped hairs.
Isopogon fletcheri, commonly known as Fletcher's drumsticks, is a species of plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to a restricted area in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. It is a bushy shrub with narrow egg-shaped to narrow lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and top-shaped to egg-shaped heads of yellowish or creamy green flowers.
Isopogon prostratus, commonly known as prostrate cone-bush, is a species of plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with divided leaves with linear lobes, and more or less spherical heads of yellow flowers on the ends of branchlets.
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Eriocaulon scariosum, commonly named common, rough or pale pipewort, is a species of tufted grass-like herbaceous plants, constituting part of the plant family Eriocaulaceae. The scientific name of Eriocaulon is derived from Ancient Greek εριον, erion, which means 'wool', and καυλός, caulos, which means 'stalk'. Common pipewort plants grow naturally in wetlands, bogs and drainage areas, from central and eastern Victoria, through eastern New South Wales, including the Australian Capital Territory, to eastern and north Queensland, Australia.
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Dodonaea procumbens, commonly known as trailing hop bush or creeping hop-bush, is a species of shrub in the genus Dodonaea found in eastern Australia. It occurs in many places in Australia such as South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Although the information on the abundance of this species is limited, it is estimated that about 5,000 plants occur in about 55 wild populations. The species is currently facing many threats such as the expansion of road facilities, the development of residential and agricultural areas, increased grazing regimes, weed invasions, and regimes changing of fire. As a result, it is listed as vulnerable and threatened. Therefore, it is necessary to provide protective solutions for the long-term development and survival of this species.
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