Plectranthus torrenticola 

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Plant  information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms  > Eudicots > Asterids > Lamids > Lamiales > Lamiaceae > Plectranthus torrenticola

Other links:    Plectranthus torrenticola

https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=55728

Common name:        none

Conservation status: Endangered

• There is no information on the abundance of Plectranthus torrenticola

• One source suggested that the species is "not common" at known sites (Qld DNR 2000)

Etymology:   

Flowers:                  

• Inflorescences are terminal spikes to 30 cm long

• With clusters of 10–12, light-purple, two-lipped flowers, 9.8–12.2 mm long

• Flowering occurs in February–April 

• It is believed to be fire-sensitive

• Pollinators are suggested to be bees and flies, as these are the most common pollinators for other Plectranthus species

Fruit:                         

Leaves:         

• The leaves are opposite

• Narrowly oval-shaped, fleshy, silvery hairy

• 10–16 teeth on each margin

Stem & branches:  

Roots:         

• Like many Plectranthus species, P. torrenticola produces roots from branch nodes where the branches come in contact with the soil surface

Habit:        

• Plectranthus torrenticola is a slightly scented, multi-stemmed herb 30–50 cm in height

Habitat:   

• Grows in open heathland on rock outcrops, or in dappled shade under eucalypt open forest close to margins of rainforest and often along creek lines, at altitudes of 250–450 m 

• The species occurs on shallow soils and often, but not exclusively, near water 

• In dry sclerophyll forest communities adjacent to Plectranthus torrenticola stands,  the common dominant trees are Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis), Flooded Gum (E. grandis), Grey Gum (E. propinqua) and Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus). Other associated species include Cockspur Flower (Plectranthus parviflorus), P. graveolens, Small-leaved Bleeding Heart (Omalanthus stillingifolius), Spiny-headed Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia), Peperomia leptostachya, Rock Felt Fern (Pyrrosia rupestris), Basket Fern (Drymaria rigidulai), Logania spp., Dodonaea spp., Schoenus spp. and Westringia spp. 

Distribution:                  

• It is known from eight locations in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of south-east Queensland, from the Blackall Range (south of Nambour) to Kin Kin (between Gympie and Noosa)

• Five of these locations are in national parks and forest reserves and three occur outside of conservation reserve (Queensland Herbarium 2008)

• The distribution has a range of approximately 60 km and encompasses an extent of occurrence of approximately 500 km²

Additional notes:     

• Identification

  • Plectranthus torrenticola is distinguished from the closely related P. argentatus, P. graniticola and P. omissus by the complete absence of sessile (not stalked) glands and the larger, hairless flowers

  • Characters distinguishing Plectranthus torrenticola from P. argentatus and P. omissus are presented in Halford, 1998

• A number of threats affecting Plectranthus torrenticola have been identified, including:

  • weed invasion by Crofton Weed (Ageratina adenophora) and Mistflower (Ageratina riparia), which compete for habitat at one site within a national park 

  • habitat degradation (trampling) caused by unregulated visitation at Kondalilla NP 

  • broad-scale clearing 

  • inappropriate fire regimes 

  • degradation caused by feral Pigs (Sus scrofa) 

  • grazing pressure 

  • restricted distribution 

  • inappropriate timber harvesting, although the harvesting and clearing of rainforest for timber has ceased

  • One of the three populations occurring outside of conservation reserves is in an area of remnant vegetation as defined under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999 and is currently protected from broad-scale clearing

  • Of the other two sites, one is in an area proposed for urban development and the other is subject to high unregulated visitation 

• Threat Abatement

  • Refer to the Commonwealth Conservation Advice (TSSC 2010sy) for information on research priorities and recovery priority actions to mitigate threats including habitat loss, disturbance and modification, and weeds

  • Raising awareness of the species and enabling recovery of additional populations are also encouraged in the Advice

  • Due to the inadequate conservation of populations, it has been suggested that further protection is needed for the species long term survival and the maintenance of its genetic diversity 

Sources of information:

• (2023)