Giant Ironwood - profile

Scientific name: Choricarpia subargentea 
 Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Description

Giant Ironwood grows up to 30 m tall but, in NSW, the tallest specimens are only 8 m tall. They consist of clumps of crooked trunks growing in dense patches. The attractive bark is smooth, with blotches of pink-mauve, orange-green and copper-colour. The leaves are paired, 4 – 8 cm long and tapering to a point at the tips. They are shiny dark green above and silvery below, and when crushed have a strong eucalyptus-like scent. Flowers are white, in dense round heads, and are followed by small dry capsules.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 Known in NSW only from Mount Chincogan near Mullumbimby and one recent record at Jiggi north-west of Lismore, and in Queensland from Boonah to Imbil.

• At the NSW site, Giant Ironwood is found in dry rainforest regrowth consisting of thickets growing in steeply sloping paddocks on basalt-derived soil.

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Northern Rivers

Threats

• Risk of local extinction because populations are small.
• Loss of habitat through clearing for agriculture and development.
• Habitat degradation through invasionof weeds and disturbance.
• Grazing and trampling by domestic stock.
• Fire

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 13 priority actions to help recover the Giant Ironwood in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Support local Landcare groups.
• Control fire and maintain fire-breaks outside habitat areas.
• Control weeds in habitat areas.
• Protect remaining habitat from clearing, development and grazing.
• Expand and connect remaining areas of habitat.
• Report new occurrences of Giant Ironwood to the DEC.

References

• Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2002) Flora of New South Wales Volume 2 Revised Edition. UNSW, Sydney.
• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Flora. NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
• Williams, J.B., Harden, G.J. and McDonald, W. (1984) Trees and Shrubs in Rainforests of NSW and Southern Queensland. University of New England, Armidale.