Nematolepis rhytidophylla, Family Rutaceae, also known as Nalbaugh Nematolepis and previously known as Wrinkly Phebalium or Phebalium rhytidophyllum, is a densely foliaged shrub to 3 m tall with warty stems and heart-shaped, slightly warty leaves to 12 mm long and 10 mm wide. The upper surface is glossy green and gland-dotted and the lower surface silvery scaly. The white five-petalled flowers with long stamens are approximately 1 cm across, in clusters of up to three in the leaf axils. The fruit has 1Ð5 cells each of which is about 3 mm long, and splits when ripe along the upper angle to release a shiny black seed about 2 mm long (Walsh & Albrecht, 1988; Harden, 1991).
Nematolepis rhytidophylla |
Nematolepis rhytidophylla
Status: Vulnerable on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Nematolepis rhytidophylla
Threats The main threats to N. rhytidophylla have been identified as changed fire regimes; exotic weeds and feral animals (ANRA; 2008).
Fire frequency of less than five years is likely to cause extinction because juveniles need at least five years to reach reproductive maturity; and adults are unable to epicormically resprout (Walsh 2008; pers. comm.).