The one-headed smokebush is restricted to low lying sandy clay soils between Gingin and Moora. Most Conospermums are insect pollinated by either native bees or flies which trigger the explosive mechanism in the flower. Although copious amounts of fruit are produced, the amount of viable seed is low. The species appears to be a disturbance opportunist with germination occurring after soil disturbance. It differs from the common subspecies C. d. subsp. densiflorum by having a single flower on each scape rather than many flowers in a compact corymb.
One-headed Smokebush |
Conospermum densiflorum subsp. unicephalatum
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Conospermum densiflorum subsp. unicephalatum
Threats The threats to the one headed smokebush are habitat fragmentation; road and rail maintenance; weed invasion; inappropriate fire regimes; lack of associated vegetation; and fertiliser and herbicide use.
Weed invasion has the potential to suppress early plant growth by competing for soil moisture; nutrients and light; to exacerbate grazing pressure and to increase the fire hazard.