Rare Verticordia Discovery Turns Hearts of Local Botanists

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Rare Verticordia Discovery Turns Hearts of Local Botanists
A search for the rare and endangered Verticordia spicata subsp. squamosa, commonly known as the scaly-leaved featherflower, has struck it lucky with two new sub-populations being identified in the Midwest.

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) conservation officer Alanna Chant said the find was very significant, as it more than doubled the known number of natural wild plants.

“We now have two new sub-populations, one with eight plants and the other with two plants. We can now collect seed from these plants and we’ll have greater genetic diversity within the plants that we grow,” she said.

“Actions so far undertaken by DBCA to save the scaly-leaved featherflower have included seed collection, seed storage, habitat protection and restoration, along with translocations to enhance wild populations.”

To help improve the trajectory of this rare flora, NACC has been working with the local community and DBCA to try to increase the size of the population.

In late spring, NACC and DBCA hosted a search and rescue field day to search for the scaly-leaved featherflower and also help staff and volunteer community members to distinguish the plant from a range of similar Verticordia that often grow in the same habitat.

NACC’s Biodiversity Program Coordinator Dr Jessica Stingemore said that species close to extinction, like the scaly-leaved featherflower, require special effort to increase their chances of survival and that the community can play an important role.

“The skills and passion of these individuals, groups and volunteers caring for our threatened and rare plants helps drive positive NRM results in our region.”

“And given the series of inter-related problems that exist for threatened plants, NACC is proud to partner with DBCA, landholders and local community to help save this species from extinction.”

The scaly-leaved featherflower is a dense bushy shrub with rounded leaves that closely overlap and are pressed to the stem, providing the scaly appearance from which this subspecies derives its name (the Latin word for scaly is squamosus). The striking flowers are produced in late spring and early summer forming dense spikes on the ends of the branches. They open mauve-pink before the whole spike fades evenly to white with age.

The species is believed to have once been widespread, but is now found in only a few locations near Three Springs and Mingenew. Much of the habitat for this plant has been historically cleared, and it now grows only in areas of remnant vegetation on farmland.

Before this exciting find there were only six natural wild plants known in two locations.  In addition to the natural populations there are around 100 translocated nursery grown plants established across three sites.

With these new discoveries there are now 16 natural wild plants in four populations and sub-populations of scaly-leaved featherflower in the Midwest.

NACC and DBCA are delivering translocation and monitoring project services for the scaly-leaved featherflower populations in a partnership approach.  These project services are supported by the Australian Government’s Regional Land Partnerships (part of the National Landcare Program).

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.