Gaultheria viridicarpa (family Ericaceae) was described in PlantNET (2018) as a Òspreading low
shrub 0.2Ð0.7 m high, spreading to c. 1.6 m dia., or sometimes slender; stems glabrous or almost
so, with a few scattered bristles. Leaves narrow-elliptic to broad-ovate, 1.5Ð6 cm long, 6Ð20 mm
wide, apex acute to rounded, apiculate, margins finely toothed, lamina glabrous, usually thick,
leathery, the veins often impressed on upper surface; petiole 1Ð3 mm long. Inflorescence 1-
flowered, in upper axils or in a terminal cluster or short panicle, each peduncle with a terminal
flower and 4Ð9 bracteoles. Sepals ovate, enlarging and becoming firm-fleshy in fruit, remaining
green. Corolla 4Ð5.5 mm long, white. Nectary a 10-lobed ring. Fruit, including the green calyx, 5Ð
6 mm diam. when fresh.Ó
Gaultheria viridicarpa has a complicated taxonomic history because of the widespread use of
informal names and unpublished manuscript names. The taxon was originally formally described
as G. appressa var. glabra but has also been called G. sp. A (Williams and Chapman 1992), G.
sp. Point Lookout (J.B.Williams NE37757), G. viridicarpa J.B. Williams ms subsp. viridicarpa, G.
viridicarpa J.B. Williams subsp. Viridicarpa ms, and G. viridicarpa subsp. merinoensis J.B. Williams
ms. The two subspecies of G. viridicarpa, though listed in the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
(BC Act) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), were
never formally described and refer to the two disjunct populations of the species, the type form in
the New England /Ebor area in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales (NSW), and the other
from the Mount Merino area on the border of NSW and Queensland (Qld). Telford and Williams
(2012) raised G. appressa var. glabra to species rank and created the new name G. viridicarpa
and they did not recognise any subspecies.
Green Waxberry |
Gaultheria viridicarpa
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Gaultheria viridicarpa
Climate change Gaultheria viridicarpa grows at high elevations in mist zones receiving high rainfall (Weber and Box 2016 Horton in litt.
July 2018) and moisture from cloud cover; making this habitat particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic climate change (Laidlaw et al. 2011 Tanner McAllister et al. 2018).
Should predictions for rising cloud base layers under a warming climate occur (Pounds et al. 1999 Richardson et al. 2003 Laidlaw et al.
Anthropogenic Climate Change is listed in the Act as a Key Threatening Process.
The habitat of Gaultheria viridicarpa is particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change (Laidlaw et al. 2011 Tanner McAllister et al. 2018) and habitat quality and extent is projected to decline.
The habitat of G. viridicarpa is particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change (Laidlaw et al. 2011 Tanner McAllister et al. 2018) and the quality and extent of the habitat is projected to decline.
The threat of climate change is a plausible future threat that may drive Gaultheria viridicarpa to be critically endangered or extinct.
The main threats to Gaultheria viridicarpa include disturbance by recreational activities (bushwalking; camping and abseiling); erosion and cliff collapse; weed incursion and climate change.
July 2018) and moisture from cloud cover; making this habitat particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic climate change (Laidlaw et al. 2011 Tanner McAllister et al. 2018).
Should predictions for rising cloud base layers under a warming climate occur (Pounds et al. 1999 Richardson et al. 2003 Laidlaw et al. 2011 Tanner McAllister et al. 2018); then the habitat of the species is likely to diminish over time.
Anthropogenic Climate Change is listed in the Act as a Key Threatening Process.
Other threats The other potential threats to Gaultheria viridicarpa include inappropriate fire regimes and stock grazing on private land (OEH Threatened Species Profile 2018).
The habitat is predicted to experience a decrease in cloud cover (Laidlaw et al. 2011) leading to an increased risk of desiccation; and extreme weather events (Dowdy et al. 2015) may lead to increased risk of land slippage.
The habitat is predicted to experience a decrease in cloud cover (Laidlaw et al. 2011) leading to an increased risk of desiccation; and extreme weather events (Dowdy et al. 2015) may lead to increased risk of erosion and land slippage.
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