Critically endangered native plants featured in new poster series

24/3/99
Some of Western Australia's critically endangered native plants are featured in a new series of 16 posters produced by the Department of Conservation and Land Management's (CALM) Threatened Species and Communities Unit.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said each of the colourful posters illustrated a species and provided information such as time of flowering, habitat, approximate locations, the threats to the plants and recovery actions CALM had under way.
The posters have been produced with funding from the BankWest LANDSCOPE Conservation Visa Card.
"The posters tie in with CALM's Western Everlasting initiative which aims to create greater community awareness and understanding of our native flora," Mrs Edwardes said.
"The aim is to help people identify critically endangered species which may lead to the discovery of new populations.
"The posters also will help spread the message about the need to conserve these species, especially by reducing the processes that threaten their survival.
"Many of these processes are the result of human interference such as exotic diseases, weeds and animals such as goats, pigs and rabbits.
"Consequently, greater community awareness and understanding also can help educate the community about ways to lessen the impact of human activities on the species."
Mrs Edwardes said some of the species featured in the posters were strikingly beautiful. They included the elegant spider orchard (Caladenia elegans) first recorded in 1985 in the Northampton area and the majestic spider orchid (Caladenia winfieldii), discovered in the 1970s by the late Harry Winfield along winter-wet river margins in the southern forests.
Other species included chiddarcooping myriophyllum, Cunderdin daviesia, dwarf spider orchid, Foote's grevillea; granite tetratheca, hinged dragon orchid, Kamballup dryandra, Maxwell's grevillea, metallic-flowered eremophila, Mogumber bell, Northampton midget greenhood, Pythara grevillea, Sargent's snakebush, scaly-leaved featherflower and South Stirling morning iris.
Copies of the posters are available at CALM District Offices.
Media contacts: Ministerial - Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777
CALM - Andrew Brown 9405 5100