Synaphea sp. Serpentine was segregated from S. odocoileops (Priority One) as a new taxon in
2005. When it was segregated, S. sp. Serpentine was given a lower conservation listing (Priority 3) as collections had been made from secure tenure (Serpentine) with other localities scattered from Byford to Elgin (NB: This species has not been relocated at many of its originally stated collection locations (i.e. near Byford, near Elgin). Synaphea odocoileops was described by George in 1995 but, regrettably, the description of this species was based primarily on collections which differ significantly from the type specimen (A.S. George 17072; ‘near Elgin, south of Bunbury, W.A.’). Accordingly, S. odocoileops was segregated into S. odocoileops sens. str. (‘in the strict sense’) and S. sp. Serpentine, with the majority of specimens being re-determined as S. sp. Serpentine. The diagnostic characters of
S. odocoileops discussed by George (1995) refer mainly to S. sp. Serpentine. As such, when George (1995) stated that S. odocoileops was distinguishable from S. stenoloba (T) by its “lessdivided leaves with longer, flatter terminal lobes and a long-pilose petiole, and slightly smaller flowers”, this statement actually refers to S. sp. Serpentine. Typical plants of S. odocoileops are more similar to S. stenoloba than has been previously documented, but the two taxa are still distinguishable in the field and from herbarium specimens.
Synaphea sp. Serpentine |
Synaphea sp. Serpentine
Status: Critically Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
-
Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Synaphea sp. Serpentine
Inappropriate fire regimes Climate change Cardup Rail reserve 2011 10 140 m2 Very good Past As above Weeds Habitat fragmentation (due to land clearing) Road; rail construction and maintenance Changes in hydrology (local changes to drainage systems) Current Appendix A Weeds Herbicide spread Low plant numbers Fragmented habitat Future Weeds Accidental herbicide spray Inappropriate fire regimes Climate change Mundijong Government 2011 52 2;247m2 Very good to disturbed Past As above Requirements Weeds reserve Habitat fragmentation (due to land clearing) Road; rail construction and maintenance Changes in hydrology (local changes to drainage systems) Current Weeds Fragmented habitat Herbicide spread Low plant numbers Future Planned road construction (Tonkin Hwy extension) Weeds Accidental herbicide spray Inappropriate fire regimes Climate change Form to nominate a Western Australian species for listing as threatened; change of category or delisting 2012 (Updated 2016).
Serpentine occurs in four locations when considering fire as the most serious plausible threat at one point in time.
A real threat of too frequent fire is also highly likely along the road and rail reserves.