Endangered Orchid grows along Tourist Road

This is a photograph of a "Leek Orchid" (Prasophyllum sp) which I took along the edge of Tourist Road, in East Kangaloon, on 21 October 2005. At the time, I was unable to identify the plant, because I was relying upon general plant reference books for plants of the Sydney Region.

Prasophyllum appendiculatum
(Amended ID, by Dr Mark Clements)

I did know enough to know that it was not one of the regular species of Leek Orchids which occur in this district. At the time, I published my photograph as an "unidentified Leek Orchid".

I have since done more checking and now believe that this plant is the Wingecarribee Leek Orchid, (Prasophyllum uroglossum). That species in known to occur (in very small numbers) in the Wingecarribee Swamp, just a few kilometres away. That is the only published location for the species.

((( DJW Edit: I have been advised that this plant is NOT
the Wingecarribee Leek Orchid.
But it does not appear to have been properly identified,
or possibly it has not yet described. Dec 2010.)))

SUBSEQUENT EDIT
These plants have now been identified by Dr Mark Clements
(CSIRO Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research)
Prasophyllum appendiculatum Nicholls,
Victorian Naturalist 66: 212, f. F-J (1950).
Type: ‘Victoria, Genoa Creek’, 13 Nov.1949, N.A.Wakefield s.n. (holo MEL).

Thanks to Nick Corkish for the advice, 

as of 7 March 2012.

Nick Corkish

Project Officer

Growth Centres Biodiversity Offset Program

Biodiversity Survey & Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, 

Office of Environment and Heritage  (NSW)

Prasophyllum appendiculatum
(Amended ID, by Dr Mark Clements)

It is classed as an "Endangered Species" under the NSW and Commonwealth legislation. If my identification of this plant is correct, it might be the only record of this species occurring outside the Wingecarribee Swamp.

The documentation under the NSW Threatened Species declaration for this species requires that to recover this species, that what must be done is to: "Retain and do not disturb all vegetation within 200m of swamps supporting the species."

In view of the amended ID for these plants - the reference to them being an Endangered Species is no longer supported.  DJW 7 March 2012

Will the SCA take notice of this legal requirement when it comes to plans to put either power lines or even a pipe line along the edge of Tourist Road, in East Kangaloon, right where this plant is growing?

Prasophyllym uroglossum
(Plantnet)

Prasophyllum uroglossum is listed as an Endangered Species on Schedule 1 of the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995. This species is also listed as an Endangered Species on Schedule 1 of the Commonwealth
Endangered Species Protection Act, 1992.

Source: NPWS Threatened Species Information:
Prasophyllum uroglossum.


Prasophyllum fuscum
(Plantnet)


There is confusion about the taxonomic status of this species. Jones (1993) claims the species is identical with P. fuscum.
(see illustration at left)
However, Bishop (1992) claims B. Bates of Adelaide has established that P. uroglossum is a distinct species.

Source: NPWS Threatened Species Information:
Prasophyllum uroglossum.