Dracophyllum macranthum

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms  > Eudicots > Asterids > Ericales > Ericaceae  > Drachophyllum

Other links:

Plant  information

Common name:                . . . 

Conservation status:  Vulnerable

• Estimates of the population have ranged widely

  • One study from 2007 estimated the population to be around 2,500–5,000

  • While a 2018 study estimated it to be at least 100,000\

• Threats include invasive weeds such as Lantana camara and Ageratina riparia, as well as road and track maintenanc

• The pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi is also thought to be a potential threat, though whether the plant is susceptible is yet to be tested

• In 2008, the NSW Scientific Committee listed Dracophyllum macranthum as a 'Vulnerable Species' under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, due to its restricted range and small population.

• The species continues to be listed as such under the later Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, which repealed the former Act

• However, subsequent research has suggested that the population may be large enough to warrant being de-listed from this category.

Etymology:   

• The specific epithet, macranthum, is derived from two Greek words: μακρός (macros, meaning large) and ἄνθος (anthos, meaning flower)

Flowers:                  

• Produce rose-to-pink coloured flowers between August and October

Fruit:                         

Leaves:         

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

•  A small shrub

• Plants grow to 0.6–2.0 m tall

Habitat:   

• Plants are typically found on rocky outcrops, such as those found in stream gullies, or on roadside cuttings

Distribution:                  

• Endemic to the northern coast of NSW

• It has a restricted range in the forests north of Taree, NSW

• The species is known to be found in the Lansdowne and Comboyne State Forests, and in Coorabakh National Park   

Additional notes:     

Sources of information:

• (2023)