Threatened species & ecological communities

Cumquat Eremophila (Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata ms) interim recovery plan 2004-2009

Interim recovery plan no.184
Mike Fitzgerald, Ryan Butler and Andrew Brown
Department of Conservation and Land Management
Western Australian Threatened Species and Communities Unit WA, March 2005

About the plan

Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata ms was declared as Rare Flora in 1980 and downgraded to Priority 4 in 1999. It was believed at that time that the taxon no longer met IUCN criteria due to further populations being found. However, during recent taxonomic studies it was discovered that most listed populations are a related, undescribed taxon and that just three extant populations are true Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata. The subspecies currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN, 2000) Red List Category 'CR' under criteria A3; B1b(v)c(iii,iv)+2b(v)c(iii,iv) due to a decline of 80% over the last three generations, a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and extreme fluctuations in the number of mature individuals and populations. The subspecies is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The subspecies will be re-nominated for Declared Rare Flora (DRF) under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 in 2005. The main threats are lack of disturbance, roadworks, clearing and inappropriate fire regimes.

Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata ms is an erect shrub to1-2.5 metres with resinous, shiny branches and alternate, dark green, shiny, resinous leaves with entire or, very rarely, obscurely denticulate margins. Buds are generally orange while mature flowers, which grow between 15-30 mm long, are carmine in colour. The fruit is usually ovoid to subglobular in shape, with the apex depressed and with three furrows deeply trisecting it. These lead to the scientific name trisulcata.

Three extant populations of Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata ms are known from five localities over a range of 46 km north and north-west of Mt Ragged where it grows on powdery grey loams over limestone in tall Eucalyptus ovularis and Eucalyptus fraseri subsp. fraseri woodland with Melaleuca quadrifaria and Melaleuca sheathiana.

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