Prasophyllum sp. ‘Moama’ - profile

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered
National conservation status: Endangered

Description

Prasophyllum sp. ‘Moama’ is a terrestrial herb of the Leek Orchid genus. It has a single erect tubular tapering leek-like leaf, up to 30 cm tall and about 2-3 mm in diameter, through which the inflorescence spike breaks, leaving a free segment of leaf above.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 Prasophyllum sp. ‘Moama’ is known in NSW from only one locality, discovered in 2005, near Moama. The site is in the Murray Local Government Area. Several previous surveys of Riverina grassland and regional Travelling Stock Reserves in New South Wales did not detect the species. The species is not endemic to New South Wales, occurring also in Victoria in small to moderate-sized populations within 50 km of Echuca. The Moama site is currently managed, under short-term funding, as a high conservation value area on a Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR), but remains subject to discretionary grazing.

• Occurs in forb-rich natural grasslands on flat alluvial plains.
• Occurs on reddish calcareous clay-loam soils.
• Average annual rainfall between 405-465 mm

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.

Threats

• It is probable that over grazing, particularly after rain, would have negative effects on both the orchid and its habitat.
• Annual exotic grasses and Romulea spp. are encroaching on the orchid habitat, mainly from disturbed soil in or adjacent to a road table drain and from an easement on the site.
• The highest risk of the sudden spread of these weed species within the site probably lies in a coincidence of a rain event with heavy grazing and trampling by cattle, leading to intensive soil disturbance over a wider area.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Prasophyllum sp. ‘Moama’ at the Moama site appears to be strongly dependent for maintenance of its numbers and habitat on the continuation of suitable site management practices.
• It is likely that some grazing may be beneficial for the native vegetation of the site.
• Estimation of numbers can be difficult as Prasophyllum species die back annually to a tuber, and may exhibit great variation in vegetative sprouting and especially in flowering from year to year, probably in response to rains in the previous winter and/or fires in the previous summer.

References

• Backhouse GN, Jeanes JA (1995) ‘The orchids of Victoria.’ (The Meigunyah Press, Melbourne).
• Bishop A (2000) ‘Field guide to the orchids of New South Wales and Victoria’. (University of New South Wales Press, Sydney).
• Jones DL (2006) ‘A complete guide to native orchids of Australia, including the island territories.’ (Reed New Holland, Frenchs Forest NSW).