Download Acacia menzelii Menzel`s Wattle - Department of Environment, Water

PLANT
Acacia menzelii
Menzel’s Wattle
AUS
SA
AMLR
Endemism
Life History
V
V
V
State
Perennial
Family LEGUMINOSAE
In the Murray Mallee and Lofty Ranges regions has
been collected from an area bounded by Murray
Bridge, Mannum, Harrogate, Kanmantoo and the SE
Freeway (Davies 1992). The largest population in that
area is believed to occur along the upper slopes of
Kinchena Gorge, about 10 km E of Monarto South
(Whibley pers. comm. in Leigh et al. 1984). One
population is located near Rockleigh, about 20 km N
of Monarto South (Spooner pers. comm. in Leigh et al.
1984).3
Davies (1992) reported twelve populations in the
Murray Mallee region, nine unconserved and three
conserved in Heritage Agreement Areas. The nine
unconserved populations contained a total of 770
plants. Five of these populations each contained
twelve or fewer plants. Three small populations were
confined to road reserves. The three conserved
populations contained eight, one and two individuals,
with no recruitment evident, possibly due to moderate
to heavy exotic grass invasion. Six other populations
had been previously recorded in the Monarto area,
including one in 'Frahn Pascoe Scrub' and another at
'Narinyerri Hills' (Davies 1992; Monarto Development
Commission 1976).3,4
Photo: M. Fagg ©ANBG
Conservation Significance
Endemic to SA (Davies 1992; Whibley and Symon
1992).3,4 The AMLR distribution is part of a limited
extant distribution in adjacent regions of SA. Within
the AMLR the species’ relative area of occupancy is
classified as ‘Very Restricted’.2
Description
Compact, rounded and resinous shrub of 1-2 m with
minute yellow globular flower-heads (Cunningham et
al. 1992; Jessop and Toelken 1986; Leigh et al. 1984;
Orchard and Wilson 2001a).3,4
Distribution and Population
Confined to localised areas of the Murray Mallee
(around Monarto and Murray Bridge), southern MLR
and Flinders Ranges (around Brachina Gorge and
Mount Hack) (Davies 1992; Davies 1995; Jessop and
Toelken 1986; Leigh et al. 1984; Orchard and Wilson
2001a). Best known in the area surrounding Monarto
South in the eastern foothills of the MLR. (Davies
1995a).3,4 The extent of occurrence is approximately
364.2 km2.4
Pre-1983 AMLR filtered records are confined to the
eastern MLR; from Harrogate, Rockleigh, Kanmantoo
and Monarto areas.2
Habitat
Grows in areas of average annual rainfall 350-400 mm
(Whibley and Symon 1992). Occurs as scattered shrubs;
either on roadsides, or in remnant or partly cleared low
open shrubby woodland on more rocky sites (J.D.
Briggs pers. comm. in Leigh et al. 1984).3
In the Murray Mallee and Lofty Ranges regions grows
on the gentle slopes of undulating plains and low
rolling hills. Frequently occurs amongst rock outcrops
such as granite, on all aspects. Soils are various sands
and loams. In the Monarto area occurs in various
vegetation associations: (1) Eucalyptus socialis low
open woodland and very low woodland, (2) E.
dumosa tall sparse shrubland, (3) E. porosa low
woodland, very low woodland and open woodland,
(4) E. odorata low woodland and low open woodland,
(5) Callitris gracilis open woodland and low open
woodland and (6) E. odorata associations with other
Eucalypts (Davies 1992).3
Further information:
Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region
Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/
 Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008
Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014
Within the AMLR preferred broad vegetation groups
are Mallee and Grassy Woodland.2
Within the AMLR the species’ degree of habitat
specialisation is classified as ‘Moderate-Low’.2
Biology and Ecology
Flowers between July and October, but can produce
flowers as late as January (Davies 1992; Jessop and
Toelken 1986).3,4 No information available relating to
the effect of fire and disturbance on life history
processes.4
Aboriginal Significance
Post-1983 records indicate the majority of AMLR
distribution occurs in northern Ngarrindjeri Nation,
adjoining southern Nganguraku and Peramangk
Nations.2
Threats
General threats include grazing, clearance, lack of
recruitment, inappropriate fire regimes, weed
invasion (roadside), road and rail maintenance
activities.1 Threats have previously been assessed as:
fragmentation (high), weeds (high), grazing (high),
road/rail maintenance (high), and vegetation
clearance (low) (Davies 1992).4
References
Note: In some cases original reference sources are not
included in this list, however they can be obtained from the
reference from which the information has been sourced (the
reference cited in superscript).
1 Department for Environment and Heritage. (2007). Adelaide
and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Recovery Pilot Expert Flora
Workshop, Unpublished Notes. Participants: Bickerton, D.,
Croft, T., Jury, T., Lang, P., Prescott, A., Quarmby, J. and Smith,
K., Adelaide.
2 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). Adelaide
and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Recovery Pilot Project
Database. Unpublished data extracted and edited from
BDBSA, SA Herbarium (July 2007) and other sources.
3 Department of the Environment and Water Resources
(2007). Acacia menzelii in Species Profile and Threats
Database. Department of the Environment and Water
Resources, Canberra.
4 Obst, C. (2005). South Australian Murray Darling Basin
Threatened Flora Recovery Plan. Report to the Threatened
Species and Communities Section, Australian Government
Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Additional current direct threats have been identified
and rated for this species. Refer to the main plan
accompanying these profiles.
Regional Distribution
Map based on filtered post-1983 records.2 Note, this map does not
necessarily represent the actual species’ distribution within the AMLR.
Further information:
Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region
Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/
 Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008
Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014