Nowra Heath-myrtle is a small, erect shrub to 5 m tall. The branchlets have a grey, scaly bark. The small paired leaves are blunt-tipped with the broadest part above the middle. Leaves are only 5 mm long by 1.7 mm wide. They have a row of large oil glands on either side of the mid-rib and are highly aromatic when crushed. The flowers are creamy-white and occur in pairs. The fruits are hemispherical and wrinkled.
Nowra Heath-myrtle |
Triplarina nowraensis
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Triplarina nowraensis
Climate change projections show that southern Australia is likely to experience increased intensity and frequencies of fire (CSIRO 2015).
This type of event is increasingly likely to reoccur as a result of climate change.
Decreased rainfall; Timing future Climate change projections show that increased temperatures Confidence inferred Australia s climate will get hotter and drier; with time in drought predicted Consequence moderate to increase over southern Australia Trend increasing (CSIRO 2015).
Such changes in Extent across the entire range climate are likely to cause forest decline; with drought stress leading to plant mortality (Choat et al. 2012).
The Nowra Heath myrtle is threatened by several fire related threats; including high frequency and high severity fires; and fire drought interactions.
Given the proximity of the main subpopulation to urban areas there is also likely to be increasing pressure to undertake fire hazard reduction burning within the species habitat.
Fire intensity and severity varied across the bushfire extent; with many patches burning at extreme intensity and severity while others remained unburnt (DPIE 2020a).
Furthermore; Nowra Heath myrtle; like other resprouting species; may be subject to threat from fire drought interactions.
Resprouting stems are vulnerable to embolization and drastically lowered xylem hydraulic conductivity during post fire drought; increasing individual mortality risk (Pratt et al. 2014).
The Nowra Heath myrtle is threatened by several fire related threats; including high frequency and high severity fires; and fire drought interactions.
Furthermore; Nowra Heath myrtle; like other resprouting species; may be subject to threat from fire drought interactions.
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