The Hidden Beard-heath is an erect, open shrub growing to about 1.5 m tall with a few long branches that are completely covered by foliage. The broad, almost heart-shaped, stalkless leaves overlap, concealing the stem. The leaves are a pale bluish-green colour, rigid and concave and end in a small sharp point. The leaves are about 1 cm long and 1 cm wide and have fine lines. Two or three creamy yellow flowers are held on very short stalks in each leaf axil. Each flower has six petals, united to form a tube towards the base. The fruits are smooth, green and egg- shaped, with each fruit holding a single seed (Brown et al. 1998).
Hidden Beard-heath |
Leucopogon obtectus
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Leucopogon obtectus
The threat of dieback caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi may interact with bushfire; with the effects of dieback on root health potentially more pronounced directly after fire (Moore et al. 2015).
Inappropriate fire regimes Timing current Although the species was not Confidence inferred substantially impacted by the 2019 20 bushfires with less than 1 of Consequence major modelled distribution burnt (DAWE Trend increasing 2020); the Hidden Beard heath is at Extent across part of its range risk from future bushfire events.
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