Rare native shrub discovered in Victoria

A rare native shrub has been discovered in the Wombat State Forest, south of Daylesford in Victoria.

Three new stands of Wombat Leafless Bossiaea (Bossiaea vombata), a member of the pea family, were recently discovered by members of Wombat Forestcare, working with staff from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

"This is a very exciting find as only one infertile plant of Wombat Leafless Bossiaea, previously located in 1995, was known to exist," says Grant Hull, DSE biodiversity manager for southwest Victoria.

"One of the new stands shows potential to develop seed and Wombat Forestcare is closely monitoring the seed development. If seed could be collected and grown, the likelihood of long-term survival of the species would be greatly increased."

Hull says a specimen from one of the new stands is enabling them to expand their knowledge of the species.

"We hope to secure seed of the species, some to be committed to long-term storage in the Victorian Conservation Seedbank at the Gardens, and some to produce new plants to be used to reinforce the wild population."

The Wombat Leafless Bossiaea is one of four leafless Bossiaeas native to Victoria. The native shrub grows to about 1.2m high and has yellow and red pea flowers.