Small-flowered Conostylis)  |  

Conostylis micrantha

Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list

The small-flowered conostylis is a rhizomatous tufted perennial herb. It occurs in an area north east of Dongara, over a range of approximately 35 km. In 2004, a total of 310 plants were known from eleven populations. Most populations occur on narrow road or railway reserves in fragmented, remnant heath vegetation. Four populations occur in nature reserves.

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

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  • Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Conostylis micrantha

    Small flowered conostylis is both directly and indirectly affected by weeds due to direct competition; inhibiting the growth of small flowered conostylis and displacing it where it once grew; a decrease in the diversity of the habitat of small flowered conostylis; altered nutrient cycling; altered soil acidity; and increased fire hazard due to easy ignition of the high fuel loads that are produced annually; and the formation of a continuous fuel bed permitting a fire to spread quickly.

    Fire frequency during the reproductive phase of small flowered conostylis (i.e. flowering; pollination; seed growth and seed dispersal) may result in low nil seedling recruitment.

    High fire frequency may also lead to the degradation of the habitat of small flowered conostylis due to a depletion of soil seed banks and a temporary increase in the availability of nutrients for weed establishment (Panetta Hopkins 1991).