National recovery plan for the fifteen threatened orchids in South-eastern Australia
Prepared by Michael Duncan, Andrew Pritchard and Fiona Coates, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria, 2009
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Summary
This Recovery Plan covers 15 species of small, deciduous terrestrial orchids endemic to mainland south-eastern Australia (Table 1). Eleven species are endemic to Victoria, while four species (Caladenia ornata, Corybas sp. aff. diemenicus, Paracaleana disjuncta and Pterostylis lustra) occur in both Victoria and South Australia.
All 15 species are considered threatened (Table 2). Four species are known to have declined, eight species are known from few, scattered, generally small populations, while seven species are known from just a single population, with five of these comprising just 10 or fewer plants. All species have almost certainly suffered a decline in range and abundance through loss of habitat. Major threats to remaining populations include disturbance to or destruction of plants and habitat, weed invasion, and grazing by pest animals.
This national Recovery Plan for the 15 threatened orchids is the first recovery plan for these species, and details their distribution, habitat, threats and recovery objectives and actions necessary to ensure their long-term survival.
| Scientific name | Common name | Authority/Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Caladenia cretacea | Stuart Mill Spider-orchid | Jones (2006a) |
| Caladenia insularis | French Island Spider-orchid | Carr (1991); Backhouse & Jeanes (1995) |
| Caladenia ornata | Ornate Pink Fingers | Nicholls (1945, 1969); Backhouse & Jeanes (1995); Jones (2000) |
| Caladenia sp. aff. fragrantissima (Central Victoria)* | Bendigo Spider Orchid | Undescribed; see Bishop (1996); Jeanes & Backhouse (2006); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
| Caladenia sp. aff. rosella (Violet Town)* |
Violet Town Spider-orchid | Undescribed; see Jeanes & Backhouse (2006) (as Caladenia sp. aff. concolor 2); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
| Corunastylis sp. aff. nudiscapa (Otway Ranges)* | Otways Midge-orchid | Undescribed; see Jeanes & Backhouse (2006); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
| Corybas sp. aff. diemenicus (Coastal)* | Late Helmet-orchid | Undescribed; see Backhouse & Jeanes (1995); Bishop (1996); Jeanes & Backhouse (2006); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
| Paracaleana disjuncta | Grampians Duck-orchid | Jones (2003) |
| Pterostylis cheraphila | Floodplain Rustyhood | Jones & Clements (1993); Backhouse & Jeanes (1995) |
| Pterostylis chlorogramma | Green-striped Greenhood | Jones & Clements (1993); Backhouse & Jeanes (1995) |
| Pterostylis lustra | Small Sickle Greenhood | Jones (2006a) |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. bicolor (Woorndoo)* | Dense Greenhood | Undescribed; see Jeanes & Backhouse (2006); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. cycnocephala (Woorndoo)* | Cygnet Greenhood | Undescribed; see Jeanes & Backhouse (2006); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. dolichochila (Portland)* | Portland Long-tongue Shell Orchid | Undescribed; see Bishop (1996); Jeanes & Backhouse (2006); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. mutica (Basalt Plains)* |
Leprechaun Greenhood | Undescribed, see Bishop (1996); Jeanes & Backhouse (2006); Ross & Walsh (2003) |
* for the undescribed species, nomenclature follows A Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria (Ross & Walsh 2003), published by the National Herbarium of Victoria (Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne).
Conservation Status
Four species (Caladenia insularis, Caladenia ornata, Pterostylis cheraphila and Pterostylis chlorogramma) are listed as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act; Table 2). All 15 species are listed as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act), while two species (C. ornata and P. disjuncta) are listed as Endangered under the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act). For each threatened orchid not listed under the EPBC Act, a nomination form for listing has been submitted to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
| Species | National* | Victoria# | South Australia@ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caladenia cretacea | - | TH | - |
| Caladenia insularis | VU | TH | - |
| Caladenia ornata (note: this species is listed under the EPBC Act under its former name: Caladenia carnea var. ornata) |
VU | TH | EN |
| Caladenia sp. aff. fragrantissima (Central Victoria) | - | TH | - |
| Caladenia sp. aff. rosella (Violet Town) | - | TH | - |
| Corunastylis sp. aff. nudiscapa (Otway Ranges) | - | TH | - |
| Corybas sp. aff. diemenicus (coastal) | - | TH | - |
| Paracaleana disjuncta | - | TH | EN |
| Pterostylis cheraphila | VU | TH | - |
| Pterostylis chlorogramma | VU | TH | - |
| Pterostylis lustra | - | TH | - |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. bicolor (Woorndoo) | - | TH | - |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. cycnocephala (Woorndoo) | - | TH | - |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. dolichochila (Portland) | - | TH | - |
| Pterostylis sp. aff. mutica (Basalt Plains) | - | TH | - |
Abbreviations: EN = Endangered; VU = Vulnerable; TH = Threatened
* EPBC Act 1999; # FFG Act 1988; @ NPW Act 1972
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