Dwarf Bush Pea - profile

Scientific name: Pultenaea humilis
Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Description

Pultenaea humilis is an erect to prostrate shrub, 0.2–0.8 m high with branchlets erect or drooping that are sparsely to moderately hairy. The leaves are alternate, 3.9–12.5 by 1–2.5 mm, flat, straight, smooth, leathery and light green. Leaves are sparsely hairy or may be hair free. The inflorescence is subterminal or apparently terminal and is dense to somewhat lax and leafy with bracts absent. Individual flowers are 10–13 mm long.

Location and habitat

Distribution
Pultenaea humilis is rare in New South Wales and Tasmania, but relatively common in Victoria (de Kok and West 2002). In NSW, Pultenaea humilis is currently known from three confirmed localities in the NSW South Western Slopes bioregion. The extent of occurrence of Pultenaea humilis in NSW is estimated to be approximately 6 000 km2. However the total population of Pultenaea humilis in NSW is unknown.

Habitat and ecology

Flowering from October to December; fruiting from November to December.
Pultenaea humilis is found in isolated remnants of native woodland and forest communities that occur in extensively cleared agricultural landscapes.
Occurs on a variety of soils ranging from sandy loams to clays.

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.

Murrumbidgee

Threats

One of the populations occurs adjacent to a fire trail and may be exposed to impacts of fire management operations, such as frequent burning and use of off-road machinery, unless appropriate management plans are implemented.
Habitat fragmentation may adversely affect the viability of plant populations though enhanced risks from environmental stochasticity, disruption to pollination and dispersal of fruits or seeds, and likely reductions in the genetic diversity of isolated populations.

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 5 priority actions to help recover the Dwarf Bush Pea in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

Ensure appropriate land management practices are implemented in areas where Pultenaea humilis occurs.
Conserve existing habitat, reduce habitat fragmentation and ensure ecological connectivity.

References

de Kok RPJ, West JG (2002) A revision of Pultenaea (Fabaceae) – 1. Species with ovaries glabrous and/or with tufted hairs. Australian Systematic Botany 15, 81-113.
Jones, S (1998) ‘Nature at the grave’s edge.’ Report to the Conservation Council of the South-East Region and Canberra http://www.consact.org.au/subsites/grave/firstpage.html [accessed 26/9/2007]
Mackenzie, BDE (2006) ‘Revised distribution and conservation status assessment of Pultenaea humilis Benth. ex Hook. f.’ Report to the NSW Scientific Committee, Sydney.
Young A, Boyle T, Brown A (1996) The population genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation for plants. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 11, 413-418.
Young A, Clarke G (2000) ‘Genetics, demography and the viability of fragmented populations.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge).