Endemic and enigmatic: distribution, habitat and conservation status of Cassytha pedicellosa J. Z. Weber (Lauraceae) in Tasmania

摘要

Cassytha pedicellosa J. Z .Weber (Lauraceae) is a little-known member of the genus, restricted to Tasmania. It was first described in 1981 from material collected in 1892. The species then went seemingly unnoticed until 1983, before again slipping into shadow until re-discovcred in 2005. From then, the species appears to have become better known, and is now recognised from about 20 widespread and disjunct, mainly near-coastal, locations. The preferred habitat is dry heathland and heathy woodland, usually on sandy soils. The species is very well-reserved, with nearly all locations inside formal reserves, but population extent and abundance varies greatly. A cautious approach to the management of this species is recommended. In the absence of a category on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 such as "data deficient" that may afford some level of legislated management, a cautious listing of this endemic and enigmatic species may be defensible.