The Wongan cactus is an erect, hairless shrub, which grows up to 80 cm high with thick
cylindrical branches of a pithy texture inside. The smaller branches are erect, several
centimetres in length and 6 – 10 mm in diameter. The leaves are minute, scattered, prickly,
conical scales, less than 2 mm long. The pea-like flowers are yellow and maroon in colour. The
flowers grow 7 – 8 mm in diameter, with several borne in short clusters along the stems. The fruit
is a triangular pod approximately 1 cm long with a large beak at one end (Leigh et al., 1984)
Daviesia euphorbioides |
Daviesia euphorbioides
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Daviesia euphorbioides
The main factors that are the cause of the species being eligible for listing in the Endangered category are the severe fragmentation of populations and continuing decline in plant numbers due to threats including weed invasion; inappropriate fire regimes; chemical drift; grazing and soil disturbance by rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus); and road and track maintenance.
Threat factor Threat Evidence base type and status Fire High known; While experimental burning of dead plants has shown that the frequency current species soil stored seed germinates following fire; fire kills adult plants.
Absence of known; The total absence of fire is a threat to the species as it fire current suppresses recruitment.
They also exacerbate grazing pressure and increase the fire hazard with easier ignition and faster fire movement (Phillimore Brown 2000).