Xylosma parvifolia (a shrub) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the shrub Xylosma parvifolium Jessup as an ENDANGERED species in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of endangered species is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

This final determination has been superseded by the May 2024 determination for Xylosma parvifolia.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

This species is now known as Xylosma parvifolia Jessup.

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Xylosma parvifolium Jessup (family Flacourtiaceae) is described by Green (1994) as: a Shrub to 2 m tall, young shoots minutely puberulous. Leaves with petiole 2-3 mm long, reddish-brown, minutely puberulous; lamina elliptic-ovate, 0.4-1.2 (-3) cm long, 0.4-0.8 (-1.5) cm broad, acute to obtuse-rounded at base, serrate, obtuse at apex, with 2 or 3 primary veins on each side of midrib. Flowers solitary or up to 3 (-5) in racemes. Sepals 5, obovate, c. 1mm long, entire and glabrous on margins. Male flowers with c. 12 stamens; filaments 2-2.5 mm long. Fruit ovoid-globose, 3 mm long, slightly fleshy, purple. Seeds 2.

2. Xylosma parvifolium is endemic to Lord Howe Island. The species is largely restricted to a particular habitat, i.e. narrow, exposed ridges (mainly south westerly or south easterly) off the two mountain peaks in the southern mountains. All populations of Xylosma parvifoliumare within the Permanent Park Preserve.

3. Recent survey work (Hutton 2001, Hutton pers. comm.) suggests that less than 100 mature Xylosma parvifolium plants are known and given the available habitat on Lord Howe Island, less than 250 mature plants are likely to exist in the wild.

4. Currently, there are no major threats to the species, although it is subject to some disturbance from individuals climbing Mt Lidgbird and minor weed problems. Because of the very small population size and the very limited area of suitable habitat, the species is also threatened by demographic and environmental stochasticity.

In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Xylosma parvifolium Jessup is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Proposed Gazettal date: 01/11/02
Exhibition period: 01/11/02 - 05/12/02

References

Green, P. (1994) Flacourtiaceae.Flora of Australia 49, 119-121.

Hutton, I. (2001) Surveys of rare plants on Lord Howe Island - June 2001. Report to NSW Scientific Committee.