Significant Flora List

To date, the significant flora of Helena and Aurora Range includes:

• four rare flora, referred to as Threatened Flora
  • with a conservation status category of Vulnerable (VU)
• two Priority 1 Flora (P1)
• (no Priority 2 Flora)
• seven Priority 3 Flora (P3)
• three Prority 4 Flora (P4)

In total, 16 plant species on Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin have been given a conservation status.

A further 9 plant specied have a Priority status in the surrounding sandplains and a further 2 plant species in the surrounding woodlands.

The Threatened and Priority plant species on Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin, was determined from a search on the Dandjoo biodiversity data platform¹ on 4 August 2024 and the taxonomy (of plant species names) were also updated at this time, as was the status of Threatened² and Priority³ plants. The significnat plant species found on Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin, are listed below with some notes. Any comments on distribution are based on small scale maps presented in the Western Australian Herbarium website and data base, FloraBase. 

 

List of Significant Flora on Helena and Aurora Range (Bungalbin)

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Legend

** BIF dependent species, some occurring on several BIF ranges.

♦ Plant species endemic to Helena and Aurora Range

Conservation Status

Determined under the Western Australian State legislation Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act) section 19(1)(c)² (which replaced the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950) for Threatened species and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' (DBCA's) Priority Flora list.**

T = Threatened species²

Threatened species are placed in one of three conservation status categories:

CE = Critically Endangered,

EN = Endangered, or

VU = Vulnerable.

These three status categories are based on the IUCN Red List⁴ categories and criteria and reflect the level of threat.

Priority Species³ (often includes species that have been inadequately surveyed)

P1 = Poorly-known species - species known from less than five locations

P2 = Poorly-known species - species known from less than five locations, some of which are managed for conservation. 

P3 = Poorly-known species - species known from several locations, not under immenent threat.

P4 = Rare, Near Threatened and other species in need of monitoring

- a Rare species where distribution is well known, not currently under threat, though could be if circumstances changed; or a Near Threatened species that is adequately surveyed, close to Vulnerable though not 'Conservation Dependent'; or a species no longer considered Threatened for reasons other than taxonomy.

 

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¹ Dandjoo biodiversity data platform replaces NatureMap. Dandjoo is a Noongar word meaning "Together". Dandjoo includes records that were in NatureMap (now updated) as well as data from the private sector (industry, researchers and regulatory agencies).  The Biodiversity Information Office (BIO) developed the Dandjoo platform. The intention by BIO is to also add the Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessment (IBSA) data from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, and the community (e.g. citizen science projects). Both BIO and Dandjoo are hosted by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and work in partnership with the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

² Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 section 19(1)(c) = updates as of 30 April 2024. The Threatened Flora list was obtained from the Biodiversity Conservation (Listing of Native Species) (Flora) Order 2024 (Governement Gazzett No. 49, 30 April 2024). 

³ Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Parks and Wildlife Service) maintains an interactive List of threatened and priority flora, which was visited on their website, 4 August 2024. The Threatened species comes under the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016), while the Priority species is maintained by the DBCA.

⁴ IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List 

Note: There is also a Federal government list of Threatened Flora under the EPBC Act (Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). Tetratheca aphylla is currently on this list with a vulnerable status. 

 

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Threatened and Priority Flora on Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin

 

tetratheca (Family: Elaeocarpaceae)

♦Tetratheca aphylla subsp. aphylla** (VU) Bungalbin Tetratheca

bearded heath (Family: Ericaceae)

♦Leucopogon spectabilis** (VU)

• recently described, previously known as Leucopogon sp. Helena & Aurora Range (B.J. Lepschi 2077).
• Plant species was described in Nuytsia (2007) volume 17 page 178 by M Hislop and AR Chapman.

hibbertia (Family: Dilleniaceae)

Hibbertia lepidocalyx subsp. tuberculata** (P3)

sedges (Family: Cyperaceae)

  Lepidosperma ferricola** (P3)

♦Lepidosperma bungalbin** (VU) Bungalbin Swordsedge

• both Lepidosperma species have been described and published in Nuytsia (2007) volume 17, pages 43-45 by RL Barrett
• In the Yilgarn, within the Coolgardie Bioregion, sword sedges (Lepidosperma) are relatively uncommon, only one to three species occurring in any particular area and often only one species on a BIF range. The Coolgardie Bioregion, particularly north of Southern Cross, is at the edge of the distribution of sedges in Western Australia.

grass (Family: Poaceae)

Neurachne annularis (P3)

• This native grass grows like a spinifex, in a large bunch or ring with flower heads and seed heads on long stems extending well above the leaves. Neurachne annularis is often the dominant species under the Eucalyptus capillosa (Whitegum) and Eucalyptus ebbanoensis (Jackson Mallee) woodlands on the hill slopes of Helena and Aurora Range and appears to be strongly associated with BIF debri slopes. Neurachne annularis has a restricted distribution in the Yilgarn.
• Neurachne annularis was first collected by Ken Newbey in 1979 and RJ Cranfield in the 1980s also known to occur on Mt Manning Range (collected by Keighery and Alford in 1988) and to date not known from any other ranges.
• Neurachne annularis was described in 2007, previously known as Neurachne sp. Helena & Aurora (KR Newbey 8972). Ref: TD Macfarlane (2007) Nuytsia volume 17 page 217.

stenanthemum (Family: Rhamnaceae)

Stenanthemum newbeyi** (P3)

spartothamnella (Family: Lamiaceae)

Spartothamnella sp. Helena & Aurora Range (PG Armstrong 155-109) NO LONGER CONSIDERED THREATENED (was a P3 from 2004 to 2014)

          = Spartothamnella canescens

• Spartothamnella sp Helena & Aurora Range has now been described and been given the name Spartothamnella canescens. Spartothamenlla canescens occurs as three distinct, well separated populations, two in Western Australia (Pilbara and Yilgarn Craton) and one in Central Australia (Northern Teritory) - now separated from Spartothamnella puberula, which has been determined to be restriced to Eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales).
• Spartothamnella canescens was described and published on line (21 August 2014) in the journal of the Western Australian Herbarium Nuytsia vol. 24, pages 177-185 (notes on status of Spartothamnella sp. Helena & Aurora Range (PG Armstrong 155-109) on pages 178-180) by KR Thiele and KA Shepherd.
• On Helena and Aurora Range, Spartothamnella canescens tends to occur in low numbers growing on the upper slopes of the banded ironstone foramtion range and can be difficult to see unless carrying its red fruits.

acacia (Family: Fabaceae)

♦Acacia adinophylla** (P1)

♦Acacia shapelleae** (VU)

• was first given the phrase name Acacia sp. Bungalbin Hill (JJ Alford 1119)
• Acacia shapelleae was described and published on line (3 July 2014) in the journal of the Western Australian Herbarium Nuytsia vol. 24, pages 135-138 (whole paper pgs 131-138, where two new Acacia species are described) by Bruce Maslin.
• possibly BIF dependent, more information is needed for this species to determine its distribution.

pea (Family: Fabaceae)

Mirbelia ferricola** (P3)

• previously known as Mirbelia sp. Helena & Aurora (BJ Lepschi 2003)
• Mirbelia ferricola was described and published on line (28 May 2012) in the journal of the Western Australian Herbarium Nuytsia vol. 22(2), pages 84-87 (whole paper pgs 75-92, where three new Mirbelia species are described) by Ryonen Butcher.

eremophila (Family: Scrophulariaceae)

Eremophila hamulata (P1) (previously known as Eremophila sp. McDermid Rock (AP Brown 3615))

dryandra (Family: Proteaceae)

Dryandra arborea** (P4) Yilgarn Dryandra or Tree Dryandra

• referred to as Banksia arborea in Florabase (a nomenclature synonym)

grevillea (Family: Proteaceae)

Grevillea georgeana** (P3)

Grevillea erectiloba (P4)

eucalypt (Family: Myrtaceae)

Eucalyptus formanii subsp. circulata (P4)

• In 2021 Eucalyptus formanii was split into two subspecies. Eucalyptus formanii subsp. formanii (P4) Die Hardy Mallee (on Die Hardy Range and surrounds), was seen as distinct from the Eucalyptus formanii on Helena and Aurora Range, now Eucalyptus formanii subsp. circulata (P4), which has a much wider distribution in the Yilgarn (D Nicolle & ME French 2021, Swainsona 35:82-82)

mustard or vegetable family (Family: Brassicaceae)

Phlegnatospermum eremaeum (P3)

• one record on mid BIF slope with Eucalyptus ebbanoensis and Eucalyptus corrugata
• one record on flats under Salmon Gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia) woodlands on south side of Helena and Aurora Range

 

Priority species on sandplain within surrounds of Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin

 

acacia (Family: Fabaceae)

Acacia cylindrica (P3) 

eucalypts, teatree, bottlebrush ... (Family: Myrtaceae)

 Cyathostemon verrucosus (P3) (Formerly, Astartea sp. Bungalbin Hill (KR Newbey 8989) (P3)

Baeckea sp. Helena and Aurora Range (GJ Keighery 4424) (P1)

Calytrix creswellii (P3)

Chamelaucium sp. Koolyanobbing (V Clarke 644) (P1)

Homalocalyx grandiflorus (P3)

Verticordia mitodes (P3)

banksia, dryandra, persoonia ... (Family: Proteaceae)

Persoonia leucopogon (P1)

heaths (Family Ericaceae)

   Melichrus sp. Bungalbin Hill (FH & MP Mollemans 3069) (P3)

trigger plant (Family: Stylidiaceae)

Stylidium choreanthum - Dancing Triggerplant (P3)

 

Priority species in woodlands on flats within surrounds of Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin

 

daisy (Family: Asteraceae)

Notisia intonsa (P1) (Formerly, Gnephosis intonsa - Shaggy Gnephosis)

goodenia (Family: Goodeniaceae)

Goodenia jaurdiensis (P2)

• On 'seasonal' swamp on flats