Earth’s 250 Years of Civilization from1850AD to 2100AD

The Article and facts below in italics is from the Government web site – http.www.environment.gov.au – on the Environment. The top section strongly reflects the author’s personal feelings on the matter. For this I make no apology. I pondered for weeks whether to print this section in this Chapter because of the strong emotional feelings associated with it. This is the only section in the 12,500 pages of written work to date where I have broken away from the normal course of writing to express those emotions while still adhering to the facts and reality of the situation that confronts everyone of us at this very moment in time. In the end I succumbed to the reality that the facts need to be expressed or I would also be yielding to the pressures of minority vested interest groups. The tables are directly taken without change from the government web site – http.www.environment.gov.au – The web is a powerful tool for information dissemination.

Nature serves man’s investment for survival yet we attempt to destroy every living organism which crosses our path to prosperity.

Before I commence my emotive plea written from the heart and not protocol lets look at the one area man has done well in. Even here I have pilfered many of the statements from Lance Richardson’s article from the Age Newspaper April 24 2015. Thanks for the inspiration in the following article.

Of all the remarkable ideas to have evolved from man’s thinking; a surveyor’s, from the United States of America has out performed all other ideas.

When President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law creating the “Yellowstone National Park” in 1872 little did he realize that this one piece of legislation would have the greatest impact on the future of the environment and would create the most controversial decisions and divisions with every country in the 21st century pitting GREENS, Environmentalists, governments and entrepreneurs against each other. His intention at the time was simply to stop the area’s “decorations” from being exploited by developers. The surveyors had noted the geysers, hot springs and waterfalls and acted accordingly to prevent predatory developers destroying the unique beauty which is now protected within the National Park. In sense these surveyors were the original environmentalists with foresight, integrity and awareness.

It was only later that our modern conception of National Parks and their importance to the environment came into focus. As the American frontier began to vanish, conquered all the way to the Californian coast, “thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people” began to realize, in the words of John Muir, that “going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life”.

National Parks might be taken for granted in Australia and it is easy to forget they might never have existed and very well have folded into Sydney’s sprawling suburban sprawl were it not for the foresight of Sir John Robertson. The Royal National Park was established in 1879 and is the world’s second oldest National Park. The idea of national Parks may not be Australian but we were quick to pilfer the idea and certainly established it as an Australian traditional icon.

Since the establishment of The Royal National Park, near Cronulla; originally stolen from the Dharawal Aborigine people, National Parks have been established across the breadth of Australia from the coast to mountains, to the deserts, the off shore Islands including the Great Barrier Reef and caves beneath its surface.

I conduct small educational tours of Chinese students introducing the magnificence of our Parks and have them imagine what life was really like before man’s confrontational footprint. Now imagine Australia without the National Parks. Sitting in just 100 square meters of National Park now imagine the 28 million hectares of National Park that is part of Australia. Imagine what the country was like 300 years ago. You against the wilderness, survival is in your hands. What will you eat tomorrow, what will collect what will you hunt and where will you drink? Amazingly each group came up with very similar answers, similar not only to the previous group but similar to what Australian students thought and told me.

Returning to reality can we resist consuming just one more cove, one more valley in the mountains to satisfy our greed to conquer to overpopulate? Our desire to live surrounded by nature’s beauty, or to use every available resource she has to offer for human enrichment, would ensure catastrophic development upon this beauty until absolutely nothing is left.

What do we stand lose? The most important loss of course is biodiversity but selfishly, we would lose tranquil walks, quiet weekend picnics with the family, places to fish, areas to ride bicycles or horses, places to practice camping skills, places to be alone and places to spend time with family to relax and enjoy the simplicities of family bonding and relaxation in natural surroundings. While there is an immediate advantage to a few in developing wilderness areas or National Parks the community and its people in general lose all the benefits a reserve offers. The natural resources, biodiversity and environmental stabilities are lost to future generations to encompass and understand the intricacies of complex societies that are held within each park.

National Parks remind me of the compulsive greed of short sighted entrepreneurs. They highlight the bad habits of society and our fragility in the over all scheme of life and what is really important. Yellowstone is a good example here: despite the hotels and highways, people are regularly killed by bears and other natural calamities. It has happened so often that the park historian, Lee H. Whittlesey, has written an entire book called Death in Yellowstone. “The Park is the untamed and unfenced wildlife and the amoral energy of thermal wonders,” he says. “It cannot be treated lightly; when it is it erupts in death.” In one memorable incident, a father puts his infant on the back of the bison, hoping to snap a family photo, only to be gored to death by its horns. You would think this kind of incident is enough to dissuade visitors from coming to Yellowstone, but the book is actually a bestseller. Perhaps this is because people love to amble up to the abyss and peer over, frightening them. National Parks allow us to feel the real wildness. to touch its exquisite beauty, endure its ruggedness but relinquish to its tamed, wild extremities is to feel life to its fullest.

The U.S.A. is also responsible for conceiving the concept of some National Parks being ranked higher as Wilderness Areas. In 1924 with the persistence of Aldo Leopold a state forester, conversationalist and latter a professor, the US Forest Service designated the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico as a National Park. An avid outdoorsman, Leopold saw value in “Continuous stretches of virgin country side being preserved in its natural state, free from lawful hunting and fishing, devoid of roads, artificial trails, cottages, or other works of man yet large enough to absorb a two week back pack hiking trek.”

Where as a National Park could have hotels and caravan access Leopold argued that areas should be set aside strictly as wilderness areas and remain free of man made developments of any kind meaning they should remain untouched (excepting, of course, indigenous cultural uses). In 1964, the American congress passed the Wilderness Act, and now America has these areas all over the map.

Australia has wilderness areas too for the truly intrepid explorer but unfortunately some state governments are not protecting or upholding the true principals of Wilderness. The South West Wilderness of Tasmania is under threat of being devolved for tourism and the inexplicable thought of logging. The revised management plan states that, “The changes would enable greater private tourism investment in the World Heritage Area and allow for logging of specialty timbers. The thin edge of the wedge being squeezed between the greedy insatiable and the learned majority”

http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/kt-wilderness-and-why-it-matters/#sthash.OTwCZMLG.dpuf

Declared wilderness areas in New South Wales are being derogated and put at risk by incompetent Governments by allowing horse riding trail trials to commence. These have resulted in the removal/killing of endangered plants. One such ride includes 32 kilometres of trails in the Kosciusko wilderness area which is already suffering from global warming and has bought a wrath of criticism from conversationalists.

Unlike National Parks, the rationale for wilderness has always been deliberately anti economic. We have become very accustomed to perceiving land in terms of financial economic worth as a resource to be exploited or cut up as real estate. We often forget that life’s fulfillments are also catered by abstract values and not material values. Wilderness places these values as a priority which include biological, scientific and restoration worth. Wilderness areas protect biotic communities and genetic material to which we are only starting on the road to comprehend. They are crucial in the fight against climate change, water purification and carbon sequestration. Unfortunately wilderness is often regarded as a “control” and is the only control to measure in controlling civilization’s ultimate conclusion.

The more interesting rationale for adopting and protecting wilderness areas from exploitation are what makes them controversial. The very concept of wilderness as a place for freedom, solitude and appropriate self recreation to vitalize original thought is, as George Orwell’s 1984 claim “wilderness is outlawed by the totalitarian government for this very reason.”

The expressions released in isolation of the shear magnitude of wilderness are truly inspiring.  Leopold expressed “adventure” as one of his six necessities in life, along with work, love, food, air and sunshine. The vast majority of people; even Australians, have never experienced  an adventure, have never wondered more than a few meters from the safety of a designated path in a forest yet feel the exhilaration than comes from wilderness.

Despite describing to my students the magnificence of wilderness, nothing could prepare him for that moment. One of my students Eric from China claimed, “The most beautiful site I have ever seen was above the Eagles Nest (New England National Park Wilderness Area) before sunrise watching the clouds and mist steal the colour, a failure for my eyes but the feeling that overcame me in true isolation in the twilight zone, not knowing where I was allowed the mind to be free for the first time in its life.”

Conformity is impossible in wilderness because there are no guidelines, no rules, no paths to follow except the ones you make with your own two feet and desires. By embracing the moment as Eric 谢易霖 had, you embrace your full potential. “There are no conformities in thinking nor are there restraints upon your mind, it’s yours to hold, yours to exploit like no other has done before.

Nick 唐海峰 told me that morning “I have seen more animals and more flowers in the wild, in three weeks than most Chinese will see in a lifetime. But what unfolded before my eyes from the darkness through the sunrise will lighten my life for a lifetime.”

Barney 万生豪 said “The rigors of the past hour have left my body as though I am flying…..You know like that scene from Titanic. Freedom like this cannot be explained. It’s absolutely magical”

Roy’s  熬嘉祯  claims were simple, “I have no words to explain what I feel, the grandeur the beauty, the exquisiteness and the naturalism are all mere words.”

The very concept of wilderness as a place for freedom, solitude and appropriate self recreation to vitalize original thought was fully realized by 4, 12 year old foreign students. In a breathtaking hour despite it being cold, drizzly and misty the warmth released in this spiritual situation gave expressions that could not have been made in the classroom. How many Australian students can claim they have felt true wilderness and have had their thoughts freed in such a manner?

Of all the tours I have conducted, of all the people I have asked the question, what do feel? Not one has mentioned anger, not one has mentioned hatred, racism disgust, evil or anguish they all feel well different, uplifted with love and freedom that comes from Wilderness.

The hysterical romanticism at that time made me very aware that “Wilderness is a part of our national identity but more importantly it is a part of me and a huge part of my life. While the bush and the outback, the landscapes that so typify Australian wilderness is inspiring to everyone who can experience it, I must never again, take them for granted as all are different beautifully different.”

So when I try to imagine Australia without its natural reserves, I inevitably conjure up images of endless high rise buildings, litter, a place without love, emotion or a heart. Without Wilderness areas and National Parks we are rootless, destined to become a different and less distinctive kind of people over time. We will become loveless, emotionless and heartless. We need National Parks and Wilderness areas they don’t need us. We need them because they are a stark reminder of who we once were and how we once lived.

Once the good news surrounding National Parks and Wilderness areas has been concluded my attention finally draws to the end and the not so pessimistic side of the planet but the reality of what is happening to our wildlife areas and wildlife. The picture is a dismal record of our poor skills to manage what was once a balanced truly functional ecosystem functioning sustainably at all levels, on all continents in all environments.

Extinction is a natural process or is it? Parts are rewritten from Euan Ritchie’s lecture. Lecturer in Ecology at Deakon University

My message, no the promulgation of nature’s critical survival needs to be delivered far and wide to have any great impact so here it is.

Extinctions recorded in Australia in the past 200 years now stand at 185. Australia has the worst mammal extinction rates in the world, with 22 mammals becoming extinct over the past 200 years. “Even with this evidence some mammal species have already disappeared from more than 90mm of their past range in Northern Australia. Such is the seriousness of the situation……..” Professor Iain Gordon from CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems. 

In the grand scheme of life we think Australia is pretty impressive.

Since I began writing this book I realized that Australia’s contribution to the biological world is not all that spectacular in the actual number of genre or specie that occupies our country. Not including Prokaryota specie which Australia counts for just 0.5mm of the known species our numbers range from 3.4mm to 43mm of the world’s wildlife in the different Classes.

In the fascinating world of plants we don’t fair much better with just 7.1mm of the world’s plants being found within our boundaries and just 7.8mm in total of all species counting both Flora and Fauna.

Over 4mm of our wildlife is now considered vulnerable to being seriously endanger of Extinction. At the present rate of extinction the world will see over 10mm of its species disappear by 2050 and with Global warming a figureof 25mm of all species are facing EXTINCTION by 2050. Australia presently has the highest rate of extinctions in the world either directly or indirectly caused from human activities in the past 200 years. This is truly a horrific figure when we consider the ratio of our population to land and ocean area. We cannot save the wildlife that has met that fete but we can do something to help save those that are facing the same demise. Good town planning and good conservation planning is required with nature corridors preserved, the cessation of logging in virgin and naturally occurring old growth regenerated forests, the re establishment of epiphyte communities, preservation and consolidation of coastal ecosystems and riverine communities and the better utilization of urban communities with people and nature in mind before it is too late.

Australians are lucky. 24 million people have the responsibility to ensure the survival of 7.8mm of the world’s wildlife including those that live in the Oceans and Airways that surround our great nation. Participating in environmental activities like ours will help ensure the health and well being of our unique environment for future generations.

This to me places more significance on the problem and urgent need for protection of every specie within our hostile boundaries at every stage of development. We are more fortunate than most countries that most of our wildlife is endemic to Australia, is not threatened by border disputes or over population yet. We still have an excellent opportunity to render the mistakes of other nations and the past to save our environment from mass extinction leaving what is left as mere images in the minds of those who may survive.

I do not intend to mince words on the environment, to do so would be an injustice to the environment and flatter those who consider themselves above the creatures who have shared this planet with us for the past 5 million years. Our Planet is in dire trouble and Australia’s wildlife is critically ill trailing other nations by 10 or maybe 20 years at the most. What took 4.5 billion years to create and evolve has taken us just 200 years to lay the foundations for its annihilation. We Human Beings think and act as though we are the only living things on the planet that need attention and all living things were created or evolved merely for our short term satisfaction. In our arrogance we, see ourselves as the kings, dictatorial leaders over all living things not just the serfs in small despotic nations hidden away in some isolated part of the world.

It has been said that terror is the principle of despotic governments. To Australia’s wildlife our government resembles, if not acts like a vicious despotic marauding tyrant who is desperately searching for the next tree to plunder the next animal to massacre. The same voice that espouses greatness, fairness and wealth for all silently and stealthily unleashes pain, agony, death and even extinction on those that have no voice of their own. Those that have no weapons of mass destruction and no strength in their dwindling numbers fall on their knees awaiting their inevitable turn to be exiled from their once beautiful green Planet.

They cede their land meter by meter without a murmur against those who indulge for their royalties placed upon their scalps or timber extracted from the forests. You hear the perpetrators of these crimes screaming, cry for mercy and beg our Governments for leniency so that these selfless villains can be treated to even more and more of the dwindling reserves that belong to everyone of us. Yet there is no mercy for the innocent, no mercy for the evicted, no mercy for the unfortunate who stand in the way of the axe men’s progress, no mercy for humanitarians on the planet who witness or oppose the shameful and scandalous actions of those who self justify their fortunes gained, while those around them suffer death, sickness and starvation.

Society owes protection not just to its peaceful citizens who epitomize love and affection of all living things and endeavour to save the planet from the ravages of so called progress. Society’s protection needs to be further extended to include love and cohabitation to its peaceful fauna and flora who wish to live in harmony with us.

The conspirators don’t offer peace or dialogue but are offered the world to annihilate, but soon, very soon there will be no world to offer at least no natural world only the memories. This terrible war that is waged by greedy multinationalists and oligopolies; on our soil, in pursuit of their billions is a divisive war cloaked by a thin green belt which hides from view the real destruction being foisted upon every living thing in every corner of the world on a daily basis. The enemies of our environment are within our ranks. They have by enlarge infiltrated our Governments and every organization that opposes their “legal rights” to destroy our environment. They stalk the hallways of office secretly pampering to the elected members disguised as lobbyists pretending to offer impartial advice. The assassins of the environment rip our country apart dividing our citizens who care on one hand and pit them against powerful corrupt lobbyists and their masters on the other. Lobbyists interfere with government procedures and officials; who are paid by the people to present people friendly sustainable economic facts, in favour of their multi national masters who often live thousands of kilometers from their destructive non sustainable ventures into murder. The thieves who hold the people’s mandate like their business peers have no consciences, have no ethics and have no loyalties to the environment just to dollars. The mercenary pamphleteers and bloggers are hired to censor, to dishonor the people’s cause, to obliterate public virtue, to stir up the fire of hell and to cause civil discord among otherwise peaceful citizens. Their hatred and vitriolic statements are seen in every newspaper, every day across this fair land we call Australia while their lies spread like wildfires and their propaganda dismembers the truth, all, in the interests of their master’s dollars.

Their hatred of the people, who their masters purport to represent and care for, is unmistakingly blatant to every man, women and child who have a big heart that feels for our wonderful Australian environment and future generations both human and otherwise. These are the people who understand the facts and are able to view the facts like scientists without bribes and coercion from these marauding felons of the environment.

“At best, in 40 years, a host of wildlife will be committed to extinction because of human induced climate change and our ravaging of their environment. At worst, the outcome does not bear thinking about. It is crucial that we take drastic action now, to cut dangerous, poisonous emissions. It is clear that everyone, especially the USA, India and China” needs to participate. China’s renewable energy will pass Americas total use of energy by 2015 but their emissions is still expected to increase until 2030.

This brings me to my last post in this book “Terror and fear is the tool of the Anarchist.” I stand not afraid of their terror but am strengthened by their terror. My thoughts are pure and green with love and enthusiasm for a humane world where people love, care and want to coexist with nature. I hope that some day the wildlife that still abounds around me can have the same freedom, free from terror and fear of extinction and the greed of a few whose only love is money are banished forever.

Increased individual numbers is due to the refinement of DNA testing, research into mostly smaller plants and animals and the incursion into areas that were inaccessible only a few decades earlier. This in no way reflects a real increase of the numbers on the planet’s diversity. It only reflects the better observational powers of zoologists, botanists with better equipment and scientific methods and the large increase in amateur biologists.

The numbers of Living Species in Australia and the World was first published in 2006. It was a collation of information from taxonomic literature, online resources and previous compilations, augmented by discussions with systematists. It is updated and revised in this new edition, taking into account newly published species, and refined estimates and corrections, again with considerable input from the taxonomic community. Insects are subdivided further than before, with separate figures being given for the component orders, and the algae and fungi are rearranged in line with more recent classifications.

The total number of accepted described species in the world is estimated to be close to 1 900 000, well above the 1 786 000 given in 2006. Worldwide, about 18 000 new species are being described each year and for the year 2007, 75mm of these were invertebrates, 11mm vascular plants and nearly 7mm vertebrates.

For Australia a figure of 147 579 accepted described species is now determined, below the 2006 figure of 172 200, and the estimate of the number of species overall is 566 398. The reduction in numbers is due in large part to refinement of the estimates of numbers of insects, and feedback on the earlier edition of this report which led to more extensive collaboration to develop revised estimates. In a coarse breakdown of these figures, the estimates for Australia are 8 128 accepted described chordate species, 98 703 invertebrates, 24 716 plants (including plant algae and bryophytes), 11 846 fungi and around 4 186 in other groups. These figures include new records and newly described species for Australia for the past three years, among them approximately 1 184 vascular plants, 48 reptiles, 8 frogs and 8 mammals, 904 arachnids, 148 myriapods and 60 sponges. Endemism is high in some groups. For example, 41.3mm of the chordates are endemic (including 87mm of mammals, 45mm of birds, 93mm of reptiles, 94mm of frogs) and some 92mm of the vascular plants.

Nationally, the number of Australian species under threat are 246 chordates (3mm of chordate species, including 20mm of mammals and 14mm of amphibians), 1 260 vascular plants (6.5mm), 32 invertebrates, two algae and one bryophyte.

Chordates:

Brusca and Brusca (2003) estimated that there are 49 693 published and accepted vertebrate species for the world, whereas Groombridge and Jenkins (2002) gave an estimate of 52 000 accepted vertebrate species and an estimate of about 55 000 chordate species in total. Adding up the individual estimates documented in the previous report provided a much higher figure of 60 979 published chordate species (Chapman 2006). This report has again increased that figure, to 64 791—an increase of about 6.2mm. The group with the greatest increase was the fishes, but all groups have had new species published since the previous report. The number of published species in Australia has increased from 7 561 to ~8 128 (an increase of 7.5mm) again with most of the increase in the number of fish species. It is estimated that just over 40mm of Australian chordate species are endemic.

Invertebrates:

The number of published, accepted invertebrate species in the world has increased since the previous report to 1 359 367—largely due to an increase in the number of insects. In this report I have been able to report on the numbers of insects by Order and this has allowed for a more accurate estimate for the total number of species. By contrast, the estimate for the total number of published insect species in Australia has decreased from approximately 80 000 to 62 000. The estimates for the total numbers of species, however, has altered very little. Estimates for endemism have now been supplied for many more groups, but an overall estimate is still not possible due to the unknowns in most of the larger groups, including the spiders, nematodes and platyhelminths.

Note: Where a range is given in number of species for a group the higher figure of the range is used in this table.

Plants:

In this report, I have included plant algae, including the green algae, red algae and glaucophytes, making a direct comparison with the previous report impossible, however I have added a comparison for plants excluding the algae. Estimates for published species of the Magnoliophyta for the world have increased by about 10 000 since the previous edition, but the estimate for the total number of species has dropped considerably from ~422 000 to ~352 000 in line with recent research.

Plants

Plant algae, including the green and red algae and glaucophytes, making a direct comparison with the previous report was impossible, however I have added a comparison for plants excluding the various algae. Estimates for published species of the Magnoliophyta for the world have increased by about 10,000 since the previous edition, but the estimate for the total number of species has dropped considerably from around 422,000 to around 352,000 in line with recent research.

Fungi:

In the previous report, lichens were included as a separate group to the fungi. In this edition the lichens (or more correctly lichen-forming fungi) have been included under the fungi, although the numbers for lichens are included in the table in brackets. A number of groups previously regarded as fungi but which are now regarded as belonging to either Chromista or Protoctista have been excluded from the fungi and included under those groups respectively—in the previous report they were included in the fungi.

Others:

This group includes mainly single-celled, heterotrophic, eukaryotic organisms. It includes many species that were previously thought to be fungi or algae, but which are now regarded as belonging to Chromista or Protoctista. In the previous report, fungi and lichens were included within this category, but have now been transferred to a separate section. Algae were also included here, but have now been included under plants except for those species more correctly regarded as belonging to the Chromista, Protoctista or Cyanophyta, which are included here under those groups respectively.

Extinction is a natural process or is it? Rewritten from Euan Ritchie’s lecture. Lecturer in Ecology at Deakon University

It is important to note that extinction, or the permanent loss of species, is a natural process that works in conjunction with speciation – the creation of new species through evolution.

“Normal” rates of extinction vary through time but are typically in the order of one to two species per year world wide. Current rates of extinction, however, are estimated to have reached up to 45,000 times this rate in particular areas or particular classes. The Amphibians are retiring at the upper end of all past based predictions. The annual species body count is no longer a mere handful; it’s out of control spiraling upwards.

There have been at least five episodes of mass extinctions in the past which relates to one about every 50 million years, during which anywhere from 60mm to 96mm of existing species became extinct. In fact, 99mm of all existing species that have ever existed are now extinct.

The causes range from volcanic eruptions and asteroid impacts are among the prime suspects as the cause of previous mass extinctions including the  demise of the dinosaurs . The difference this time is that human beings are at the centre of the sixth mass extinction event. Through human induced impacts such as habitat clearing and modification, the spread of introduced vermin and weed species, the poor use of water, chemicals and climate change.

It is important to note that extinction, or the permanent loss of species, is a natural process that works in conjunction with speciation, – The creation of new species through evolution to fill the void.

Some 875 species “have been recorded” as declining to extinction between 1500 and 2009 which is entirely consistent with an extinction rate of 1 to 2 species per year. The actual current rate of extinction exceeds this value by a huge margin.

The key phrase is “have been recorded.” The majority of species have not been identified or described. It is reasonable to make the supposition that unclassified species are lost at a rate comparable with those that are known.

More recently species such as the Baiji Dolphin, the Alaotra Grebe and the Japanese River Otter have disappeared. The large scale hunt for a mate for  “Lonesome George” ended in tragedy with him; the last individual Pinta Island Tortoise succumbing to the inevitable. Closer to home, our most recent casualty was a small bat, the Christmas Island Pipistrelle.

An exclusive focus on extinction is inappropriate, given that  many surviving species  are hanging on to their existence in isolated pockets of National Parks or private land. (In Nana Glen the only tree of Niemeyera whitei known on private property was ignorantly and deliberately removed placing the species in further endanger of extinction. The neighbours cleared land for horses removing one of two naturally occurring populations of Boronia umbellata on private property and further destabilizing the adjacent population which had also reduced in numbers since the last count. This ignorance of the plight of Boronia umbellata to sending the species into oblivion was unnecessary as the council; when it sold the land, knew that the population along with other rare and endangered plants existed on the property.) Most private timber getters, land holders and farmers are not aware of rare and endangered species in their area and clear indiscriminately. This undoubtedly proves that an urgent need for a national registry for plants listed as rare, endangered and critically endangered on both public and private land for the protection of these specie is required.

The dire situation of Australia’s marsupials is stark evidence. Even the iconic and once abundant  Tasmanian Devil  is now on the brink of extinction like its predecessor the Tasmanian Tiger.

The big problem now is coextinctions of species. This is when one species disappears, the other animals, plants or parasites that relied on the original organism quickly succumb to the same fete.

As an individual I do not have the power to change the future but as one of a mass I do have the power to make a difference. I hope that this book will start the revolution needed to improve the quality of life all for all who survive on this once extremely beautiful planet, magnificent Country, exquisite state and exceedingly diverse potent district I call home.

Plants and animals are listed as extinct at the federal level under the auspices of the  Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . The Act lists all plants considered to have become extinct since the commencement of European settlement of Australia in 1788. There are 52 plants currently listed as extinct under the Act.

The list does not include species that have become extinct in a single state. A good example is Banksia integrifolia which is now extinct in Tasmania but is still common along the east coast of Australia.

Pimelea spinescens subsp. pubiflora  was presumed extinct after 1901, but a population was rediscovered in 2005. The orchid  Diuris bracteata  was also considered extinct after its first collection in 1899, but it was also rediscovered in 1998. Neither have been removed from the EPBC list of extinct plants but are not included on the following list. The  Spiny Everlasting  (Acanthocladium dockeri) was reclassified as critically endangered in 2006 after it was rediscovered in 1999. These are all single populations in the wild.

Extinct

NameCommon nameLocation(s)
Acacia kingiana  WA
Acacia prismifolia Diel’s WattleWA
Acianthus ledwardii  QLD
Amperea xiphoclada  var. pedicellata NSW
Amphibromus whitei  QLD
Argyreia soutteri  QLD
Caladenia brachyscapa Short Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia pumila Dwarf Spider-orchidVIC
Calothamnus accedens  WA
Coleanthera virgata Hidden ColeantheraWA
Deyeuxia lawrencei  TAS
Didymoglossum exiguum  QLD
Diplocaulobium masonii  QLD
Euphrasia ruptura  NSW
Frankenia conferta Silky FrankeniaWA
Frankenia decurrens Decurrent-leaved FrankeniaWA
Hemigenia clotteniana  QLD
Huperzia squarrosa Water Tassel-fernQLD
Hutchinsia tasmanica  TAS
Hymenophyllum lobbii  QLD
Hymenophyllum whitei  QLD
Hypsela sessiliflora  NSW
Lemmaphyllum accedens  QLD
Lepidium drummondii Drummond’s LepidiumWA
Leucopogon cryptanthus Small-flowered LeucopogonWA
Lycopodium volubile  QLD
Marsdenia araujacea  QLD
Monogramma dareicarpa Grass FernQLD
Musa fitzalanii  QLD
Oberonia attenuata  QLD
Olearia oliganthema  NSW
Opercularia acolytantha  WA
Ozothamnus selaginoides Clubmoss Everlasting, Table Mountain Daisy BushTAS
Paspalum batianoffii  QLD
Persoonia laxa  NSW
Persoonia prostrata  QLD
Philotheca falcata Sickle-leaved WaxflowerWA
Pimelea spinescens subsp. pubiflora Spiny Rice-flowerVIC
Prostanthera albo-hirta QLD
Prostanthera marifolia  NSW
Pterostylis valida Robust GreenhoodVIC
Ptilotus pyramidatus Pyramid Mulla-mullaWA
Pultenaea maidenii Maiden’s Bush-peaVIC
Senecio georgianus Grey GroundselNSW, SA, VIC
Tetratheca fasciculata Cronin’s TetrathecaWA
Thomasia gardneri Mount Holland ThomasiaWA
Tmesipteris lanceolata  QLD
Trianthema cypseleoides  NSW
Vanvoorstia bennettiana Bennett’s SeaweedNSW

The following list of threatened flora of Australia includes all  plant  species listed as critically endangered or endangered in  Australia  under the  EPBC Act .

Critically endangered

SpeciesCommon NameLocation(s)
Abutilon julianaeNorfolk Island AbutilonNorfolk Island
Acacia  sp. Graveside Gorge (V.J.Levitzke 806) NT Herbariuma shrubNT
Achyranthes arborescensChaff Tree, Soft-woodNorfolk Island
Achyranthes margaretarum Norfolk Island
Arachnorchis actensisCanberra Spider-orchidACT
Argentipallium spiceriSpicer’s EverlastingTAS
Arthrochilus huntianus  subsp. nothofagicolaMyrtle Elbow OrchidTAS
Asplenium listeriChristmas Island SpleenwortChristmas Island
Barbarea australisNative WintercressTAS
Boehmeria australis  var. australisTree Nettle, NettletreeNorfolk Island
Caladenia anthracinaBlack-tipped Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia campbelliiThick-stem CaladeniaTAS
Caladenia dienemaWindswept Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia lindleyanaLindley’s Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia pallidaRosy Spider-orchid, Pale Spider-orchid, Summer Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia saggicolaSagg Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia sp. aff. venustaKilsyth South Spider-orchid  [1]VIC
Caladenia sylvicolaForest FingersTAS
Caladenia tonelliiRobust FingersTAS
Calystegia affinisa creeperNSW
Clematis dubiaa creeper, ClematisNorfolk Island
Corunastylis ectopaBrindabella Midge-orchid, Ectopic Midge-orchidACT
Eidothea hardenianaNightcap OakNSW
Elatostema montanumMountain ProcrisNorfolk Island
Elymus multiflorus  var. kingianusPhillip Island Wheat-grassAET, NSW
Epacris barbataBearded Heath, Freycinet HeathTAS
Epacris limbataBorder HeathTAS
Epacris stuartiiStuart’s HeathTAS
Euphorbia norfolkianaa shrub, Norfolk Island EuphorbiaNorfolk Island
Euphrasia fragosaShy Eyebright, Southport EyebrightTAS
Euphrasia gibbsiae  subsp. psilanthereaa herbTAS
Genoplesium firthiiFirth’s Midge-orchidTAS
Gyrostemon reticulatusNet-veined GyrostemonWA
Haloragis platycarpaBroad-fruited HaloragisWA
Hibiscus insularisPhillip Island HibiscusNorfolk Island
Hydatella leptogyneFew-flowered HydatellaWA
Lomatia tasmanicaKing’s LomatiaTAS
Melicytus latifoliusNorfolk Island MahoeNorfolk Island
Meryta latifoliaShade Tree, Broad-leaved MerytaNorfolk Island
Muehlenbeckia horrida subsp. abditaRemote Thorny LignumWA
Myoporum obscurumPopwood, Sandalwood, Bastard IronwoodNorfolk Island
Persoonia paucifloraNorth Rothbury PersooniaNSW
Phebalium daviesiiDavies’ Waxflower, St Helens WaxflowerTAS
Philotheca freycianaFreycinet WaxflowerTAS
Phreatia limenophylaxNorfolk Island PhreatiaNorfolk Island
Pimelea spinescens  subsp. spinescensPlains Rice-flower, Spiny Rice-flower, Prickly PimeleaVIC
Pneumatopteris truncatafernChristmas Island
Prasophyllum castaneumChestnut Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum favoniumWestern Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum milfordenseMilford Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum olidumPungent Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum perangustumKnocklofty Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum pulchellumPretty Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum robustumRobust Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum stellatumBen Lomond Leek-orchidTAS
Pterostylis commutataMidland GreenhoodTAS
Pterostylis wapstrarumFleshy GreenhoodTAS
Pultenaea sp. Genowlan PointGenowlan Point PultenaeaNSW
Sagina diemensisPearlwortTAS
Tetratheca gunniiShy SusanTAS
Thelymitra jonesiiSky-blue Sun-orchidTAS
Wikstroemia australisKurrajongNorfolk Island

                                                           Endangered

Prostanthera albo-hirta QLD
Prostanthera marifolia  NSW
Pterostylis valida Robust GreenhoodVIC
Ptilotus pyramidatus Pyramid Mulla-mullaWA
Pultenaea maidenii Maiden’s Bush-peaVIC
Senecio georgianus Grey GroundselNSW, SA, VIC
Tetratheca fasciculata Cronin’s TetrathecaWA
Thomasia gardneri Mount Holland ThomasiaWA
Tmesipteris lanceolata  QLD
Trianthema cypseleoides  NSW
Vanvoorstia bennettiana Bennett’s SeaweedNSW

The following list of threatened flora of Australia includes all  plant  species listed as critically endangered or endangered in  Australia  under the  EPBC Act .

Critically endangered

SpeciesCommon NameLocation(s)
Abutilon julianaeNorfolk Island AbutilonNorfolk Island
Acacia  sp. Graveside Gorge (V.J.Levitzke 806) NT Herbariuma shrubNT
Achyranthes arborescensChaff Tree, Soft-woodNorfolk Island
Achyranthes margaretarum Norfolk Island
Arachnorchis actensisCanberra Spider-orchidACT
Argentipallium spiceriSpicer’s EverlastingTAS
Arthrochilus huntianus  subsp. nothofagicolaMyrtle Elbow OrchidTAS
Asplenium listeriChristmas Island SpleenwortChristmas Island
Barbarea australisNative WintercressTAS
Boehmeria australis  var. australisTree Nettle, NettletreeNorfolk Island
Caladenia anthracinaBlack-tipped Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia campbelliiThick-stem CaladeniaTAS
Caladenia dienemaWindswept Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia lindleyanaLindley’s Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia pallidaRosy Spider-orchid, Pale Spider-orchid, Summer Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia saggicolaSagg Spider-orchidTAS
Caladenia sp. aff. venustaKilsyth South Spider-orchid  [1]VIC
Caladenia sylvicolaForest FingersTAS
Caladenia tonelliiRobust FingersTAS
Calystegia affinisa creeperNSW
Clematis dubiaa creeper, ClematisNorfolk Island
Corunastylis ectopaBrindabella Midge-orchid, Ectopic Midge-orchidACT
Eidothea hardenianaNightcap OakNSW
Elatostema montanumMountain ProcrisNorfolk Island
Elymus multiflorus  var. kingianusPhillip Island Wheat-grassAET, NSW
Epacris barbataBearded Heath, Freycinet HeathTAS
Epacris limbataBorder HeathTAS
Epacris stuartiiStuart’s HeathTAS
Euphorbia norfolkianaa shrub, Norfolk Island EuphorbiaNorfolk Island
Euphrasia fragosaShy Eyebright, Southport EyebrightTAS
Euphrasia gibbsiae  subsp. psilanthereaa herbTAS
Genoplesium firthiiFirth’s Midge-orchidTAS
Gyrostemon reticulatusNet-veined GyrostemonWA
Haloragis platycarpaBroad-fruited HaloragisWA
Hibiscus insularisPhillip Island HibiscusNorfolk Island
Hydatella leptogyneFew-flowered HydatellaWA
Lomatia tasmanicaKing’s LomatiaTAS
Melicytus latifoliusNorfolk Island MahoeNorfolk Island
Meryta latifoliaShade Tree, Broad-leaved MerytaNorfolk Island
Muehlenbeckia horrida subsp. abditaRemote Thorny LignumWA
Myoporum obscurumPopwood, Sandalwood, Bastard IronwoodNorfolk Island
Persoonia paucifloraNorth Rothbury PersooniaNSW
Phebalium daviesiiDavies’ Waxflower, St Helens WaxflowerTAS
Philotheca freycianaFreycinet WaxflowerTAS
Phreatia limenophylaxNorfolk Island PhreatiaNorfolk Island
Pimelea spinescens  subsp. spinescensPlains Rice-flower, Spiny Rice-flower, Prickly PimeleaVIC
Pneumatopteris truncatafernChristmas Island
Prasophyllum castaneumChestnut Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum favoniumWestern Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum milfordenseMilford Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum olidumPungent Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum perangustumKnocklofty Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum pulchellumPretty Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum robustumRobust Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum stellatumBen Lomond Leek-orchidTAS
Pterostylis commutataMidland GreenhoodTAS
Pterostylis wapstrarumFleshy GreenhoodTAS
Pultenaea sp. Genowlan PointGenowlan Point PultenaeaNSW
Sagina diemensisPearlwortTAS
Tetratheca gunniiShy SusanTAS
Thelymitra jonesiiSky-blue Sun-orchidTAS
Wikstroemia australisKurrajongNorfolk Island

                                                           Endangered

SpeciesCommon NameLocation(s)
Acacia apricaBlunt WattleWA
Acacia aristulataWatheroo WattleWA
Acacia ataxiphylla  subsp. magnaLarge-fruited Tammin WattleWA
Acacia auratiflora [1]Orange-flowered WattleWA
Acacia brachypodaWestern Wheatbelt WattleWA
Acacia cochlocarpa  subsp. cochlocarpaSpiral-fruited WattleWA
Acacia cretaceaChalky WattleSA
Acacia enterocarpaJumping-jack WattleSA, VIC
Acacia gordonii NSW
Acacia insolita  subsp. recurvaYornaning WattleWA
Acacia lanuginophyllaWoolly WattleWA
Acacia leptaleaChinocup WattleWA
Acacia lobulataChiddarcooping WattleWA
Acacia pharangitesWongan Gully WattleWA
Acacia pinguifoliaFat-leaved WattleSA
Acacia porcata QLD
Acacia pygmaeaDwarf Rock WattleWA
Acacia recurvataRecurved WattleWA
Acacia rhamphophyllaKundip WattleWA
Acacia ruppiiRupp’s WattleNSW
Acacia sciophanesWundowlin Wattle, Ghost WattleWA
Acacia  sp. Dandaragan (S.van Leeuwen 269)Dandaragan WattleWA
Acacia subflexuosa  subsp. capillatashrubWA
Acacia terminalis  subsp. terminalisSunshine WattleNSW
Acacia vassaliiVassal’s WattleWA
Acacia volubilisTangled Wattle, Tangle WattleWA
Acacia whibleyanaWhibley WattleSA
Acronychia littoralisScented AcronychiaNSW, QLD
Adenanthos dobagiiFitzgerald WoollybushWA
Adenanthos eyreiToolinna AdenanthosWA
Adenanthos pungens  subsp. effususSprawling Spiky AdenanthosWA
Adenanthos velutinusVelvet WoollybushWA
Agrostis adamsoniiAdamson’s Blown-grassVIC
Alectryon ramiflorus [1] QLD
Allocasuarina defungens NSW
Allocasuarina emuinaEmu Mountain SheoakQLD
Allocasuarina glareicola NSW
Allocasuarina portuensis NSW
Allocasuarina thalassoscopica QLD
Amyema scandens NSW
Andersonia axillifloraGiant AndersoniaWA
Andersonia gracilisSlender AndersoniaWA
Anigozanthos bicolor  subsp. minorSmall Two-colour Kangaroo PawWA
Apatophyllum constablei NSW
Aponogeton bullosus QLD
Aponogeton proliferusaquatic herbQLD
Archontophoenix myolensisThe Myola ArchontophoenixQLD
Aristida granitica QLD
Asterolasia elegans NSW
Astrotricha roddii NSW, QLD
Atalaya collina QLD
Austromyrtus fragrantissimaScale Myrtle, Sweet MyrtleNSW, QLD
Austromyrtus gonocladaAngle-stemmed MyrtleQLD
Baeckea kandosa shrubNSW
Ballantinia antipodaSouthern Shepherd’s PurseVIC
Banksia browniiBrown’s Banksia, Feather-leaved BanksiaWA
Banksia cuneataMatchstick Banksia, Quairading BanksiaWA
Banksia oliganthaWagin BanksiaWA
Bertya ingramiia shrubNSW
Bertya  sp. Beeron Holding (P.I.Forster 5753)]] QLD
Bertya tasmanica  subsp. tasmanicaTasmanian BertyaTAS
Beyeria lepidopetalaShort-petalled Beyeria, Small-petalled BeyeriaWA
Billardiera mollisHairy-fruited BillardieraWA
Blechnum norfolkianumNorfolk Island Water-fernACT
Boronia capitata  subsp. capitata WA
Boronia exilisScott River BoroniaWA
Boronia graniticaGranite BoroniaNSW, QLD
Boronia repandaRepand Boronia, Border BoroniaNSW, QLD
Boronia revolutaIroncap BoroniaWA
Borya mirabilisGrampians Pincushion-lilyVIC
Brachyscome muelleri SA
Brachysema papilioButterfly-leaved brachysemaWA
Burmannia  sp. Melville Island (R.Fensham 1021)]] NT
Cajanus mareebensis QLD
Caladenia amoenaCharming Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia arenaria NSW
Caladenia argocallaWhite-beauty Spider-orchidSA
Caladenia atroclavia QLD
Caladenia audasiiMcIvor Spider-orchid, Audas Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia behriiPink-lipped Spider-orchidSA
Caladenia bryceana  subsp. bryceanaDwarf Spider-orchidWA
Caladenia busselliana  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Caladenia caesarea subsp. maritimaCape Spider-orchidWA
Caladenia carnea  var. subulataStriped Pink FingersVIC
Caladenia colorataSmall Western Spider-orchid, Coloured Spider-orchidSA, VIC
Caladenia dorrieniiCossack Spider-orchidWA
Caladenia elegans  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Caladenia excelsa  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Caladenia fragrantissima  subsp. orientalisCream Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia fulvaTawny Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia gladiolataBayonet Spider-orchid, Clubbed Spider-orchidSA
Caladenia hastataMelblom’s Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia hoffmanii  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Caladenia huegelii  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms.Grand Spider-orchid, King Spider-orchidWA
Caladenia lowanensisWimmera Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia macroclaviaLarge-club Spider-orchidSA
Caladenia richardsiorumLittle Dip Spider-orchidSA
Caladenia rigidaWhite Spider-orchidSA
Caladenia robinsoniiFrankston Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia rosellaRosella Spider-orchid, Little Pink Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia tensaGreencomb Spider-orchid, Rigid Spider-orchidNSW, SA, VIC
Caladenia thysanochilaFringed Spider-orchidVIC
Caladenia viridescens  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Caladenia winfieldii  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Caladenia xanthochilaYellow-lip Spider-orchidNSW, SA, VIC
Caladenia xantholeucaWhite Rabbits, Flinders Ranges White CaladeniaSA
Callitris oblonga  subsp. oblonga TAS
Calochilus psednusBearded OrchidQLD
Calochilus richiaeBald-tip Beard-orchidVIC
Calotis moorei NSW
Calytrix breviseta  subsp. brevisetaSwamp StarflowerWA
Carronia pedicellata QLD
Centrolepis caespitosa WA
Chamelaucium  sp. Gingin (N.G.Marchant s.n. 4/11/1988)Gingin WaxWA
Chingia australis QLD
Chordifex abortivusManypeaks RushWA
Chorizema humileProstrate Flame PeaWA
Chorizema variumLimestone PeaWA
Conospermum densiflorum  subsp. unicephalatumOne-headed SmokebushWA
Conospermum toddiiVictoria Desert SmokebushWA
Conostylis dielsii  subsp. teresIrwin ConostylisWA
Conostylis drummondiiDrummond’s ConostylisWA
Conostylis lepidospermoidesSedge ConostylisWA
Conostylis micranthaSmall-flowered ConostylisWA
Conostylis miseraGrass ConostylisWA
Conostylis seorsiflora  subsp. trichophyllaHairy Mat ConostylisWA
Conostylis setigera  subsp. dasysBoscabel ConostylisWA
Conostylis wonganensisWongan ConostylisWA
Coopernookia georgeiMauve CoopernookiaWA
Coprosma baueriCoastal CoprosmaAET
Coprosma pilosaMountain CoprosmaAET
Corchorus cunninghamiiNative JuteNSW, QLD
Correa lawrenceana  var. genoensisMountain CorreaNSW, VIC
Corybas  sp. Finniss (R.Bates 28794)Finniss Helmet-orchidSA
Cossinia australianaCossiniaQLD
Craspedia preminghanaPreminghana BillybuttonTAS
Crepidium lawleri QLD
Crepidomanes endlicherianumMiddle Filmy FernAET
Cyathea exilis QLD
Cycas megacarpa QLD
Cycas ophiolitica QLD
Cynanchum elegansWhite-flowered Wax PlantNSW
Cyperus cephalotes QLD
Cyphanthera odgersii  subsp. occidentalisWestern Woolly Cyphanthera, Western CyphantheraWA
Danthonia popinensis TAS
Daphnandra johnsonii NSW
Darwinia acerosaFine-leaved DarwiniaWA
Darwinia apiculataScarp DarwiniaWA
Darwinia carneaMogumber BellWA
Darwinia chapmaniana  Marchant & Keighery ms WA
Darwinia collinaYellow Mountain BellWA
Darwinia ferricola  N.G.Marchant & Keighery ms. WA
Darwinia oxylepisGillham’s BellWA
Darwinia  sp. Carnamah (J.Coleby-Williams 148)Harlequin BellWA
Darwinia  sp. Williamson (G.J.Keighery 12717)Abba BellWA
Darwinia wittwerorumWittwer’s Mountain BellWA
Davidsonia jerseyanaDavidson’s PlumNSW
Davidsonia  sp. Mullumbimby-Currumbin Ck (A.G.Floyd 1595) NSW, QLD
Daviesia bursarioidesThree Springs DaviesiaWA
Daviesia cunderdinCunderdin DaviesiaWA
Daviesia euphorbioidesWongan CactusWA
Daviesia megacalyxLong-sepalled DaviesiaWA
Daviesia microcarpaNorseman PeaWA
Daviesia pseudaphyllaStirling Range DaviesiaWA
Daviesia speciosaBeautiful DaviesiaWA
Decaspermum  sp. Mt Morgan (D.Hoy 71) QLD
Dendrobium antennatumAntelope OrchidQLD
Dendrobium brachypusNorfolk Island OrchidAET
Dendrobium lithocola QLD
Dendrobium mirbelianumdendrobium orchidQLD
Dendrobium nindii QLD
Deyeuxia appressa NSW
Deyeuxia drummondiiDrummond’s Grass, Drummond GrassWA
Dianella amoenaMatted Flax-lilyVIC
Digitaria porrectaFinger Panic GrassNSW, QLD
Diospyros mabaceaRed-fruited Ebony, Silky Persimmon, EbonyNSW
Diplazium pallidum QLD
Diploglottis campbelliiSmall-leaved TamarindNSW, QLD
Dipodium pictum QLD
Diuris basaltica  D.L. Jones ined. VIC
Diuris bracteata [2] NSW
Diuris fragrantissimaSunshine Diuris, Fragrant Doubletail, White DiurisVIC
Diuris lanceolataSnake OrchidTAS
Diuris pedunculataSmall Snake Orchid, Two-leaved Golden Moths, Golden Moths, Cowslip Orchid, Snake OrchidACT, NSW, QLD
Diuris purdieiPurdie’s Donkey-orchidWA
Dodonaea subglandulifera SA
Drakaea confluens  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Drakaea elasticaGlossy-leaved Hammer-orchid, Praying VirginWA
Drakaea isolata Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Drakonorchis drakeoides  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Drummondita ericoidesMorseby Range DrummonditaWA
Dryandra anatonaCactus DryandraWA
Dryandra aurantiaOrange DryandraWA
Dryandra ionthocarpaKamballup DryandraWA
Dryandra mimicaSummer HoneypotWA
Dryandra montanaStirling Range DryandraWA
Dryandra nivea subsp. uliginosa WA
Elaeocarpus sp. Rocky Creek  (G.Read AQ 562114) also known as  Elaeocarpus sedentariusMinyon QuandongNSW
Elaeocarpus williamsianusHairy QuandongNSW
Endiandra cooperana QLD
Endiandra floydiiFloyd’s WalnutNSW, QLD
Epacris apsleyensisApsley HeathTAS
Epacris exsertaSouth Esk HeathTAS
Epacris glabellaFunnel HeathTAS
Epacris grandisGrand HeathTAS
Epacris hamiltonii NSW
Epacris  sp. aff. virgata graniticolaMt Cameron HeathTAS
Epacris virgata  sensu stricto BeaconsfieldPretty Heath, Dan Hill HeathTAS
Epiblema grandiflorum  var. cyanea K.Dixon ms. WA
Eremochloa muricata QLD
Eremophila denticulata  subsp. trisulcata Chinnock ms. WA
Eremophila lacteaMilky Emu BushWA
Eremophila niveaSilky EremophilaWA
Eremophila pinnatifida  Chinnock ms. WA
Eremophila resinosaResinous EremophilaWA
Eremophila scaberulaRough Emu BushWA
Eremophila subteretifolia  Chinnock ms. WA
Eremophila ternifoliaWongan EremophilaWA
Eremophila veneta  Chinnock ms. WA
Eremophila verticillataWhorled EremophilaWA
Eremophila virensCampion Eremophila, Green-flowered Emu bushWA
Eremophila viscidaVarnish BushWA
Eriocaulon australasicumSouthern PipewortSA, VIC
Eriocaulon carsoniiSalt Pipewort, Button GrassNSW, QLD, SA
Eryngium fontanumBlue DevilQLD
Eucalyptus absitaBadgingarra BoxWA
Eucalyptus balanitesCadda Road Mallee, Cadda MalleeWA
Eucalyptus beardianaBeard’s MalleeWA
Eucalyptus brevipesMukinbudin MalleeWA
Eucalyptus burdettianaBurdett GumWA
Eucalyptus conglomerataSwamp StringybarkQLD
Eucalyptus copulans NSW
Eucalyptus crenulataSilver Gum, Buxton GumVIC
Eucalyptus crucis  subsp. praecipuaPaynes Find MalleeWA
Eucalyptus cupreaMallee BoxWA
Eucalyptus dolorosaDandaragan MalleeWA
Eucalyptus gunnii  subsp. divaricataMiena Cider GumTAS
Eucalyptus imlayensis NSW
Eucalyptus impensaEneabba MalleeWA
Eucalyptus insularisTwin Peak Island MalleeWA
Eucalyptus leprophloiaScaly Butt Mallee, Scaly-butt MalleeWA
Eucalyptus morrisbyiMorrisbys GumTAS
Eucalyptus pachycalyx  subsp. banyabba NSW
Eucalyptus phylacisMeelup MalleeWA
Eucalyptus pruiniramisMidlands Gum, Jingymia GumWA
Eucalyptus recurvaMongarlowe MalleeNSW
Eucalyptus  sp. Howes Swamp Creek (M.Doherty 19/7/1985 NSW 207054) NSW
Euphrasia collina  subsp. muelleriPurple Eyebright, Mueller’s EyebrightVIC
Euphrasia collina  subsp. osborniiOsborn’s EyebrightSA
Euphrasia semipictaPeninsula EyebrightTAS
Euphrasia sp. fabula TAS
Fimbristylis adjuncta QLD
Fontainea orariaCoastal FontaineaNSW
Frankenia parvulaShort-leaved FrankeniaWA
Frankenia plicata SA
Gardenia actinocarpa QLD
Gastrolobium glaucumSpike Poison, Wongan PoisonWA
Gastrolobium graniticumGranite PoisonWA
Gastrolobium hamulosumHook-point PoisonWA
Genoplesium brachystachyumShort-spiked Midge-orchidTAS
Genoplesium plumosumPlumed Midge-orchidNSW
Genoplesium rhyoliticumPambula Midge-orchidNSW
Genoplesium tectum QLD
Gentiana baeuerlenii ACT, NSW
Gentiana wingecarribiensisWingecarribee GentianNSW
Gingidia montana NSW
Glyceria drummondiiNangetty GrassWA
Graptophyllum reticulatumVeiny GraptophyllumQLD
Grevillea acanthifolia  subsp. paludosa NSW
Grevillea althoferorum WA
Grevillea batrachioidesMt Lesueur GrevilleaWA
Grevillea beadleanaBeadle’s GrevilleaNSW
Grevillea caleyiCaley’s GrevilleaNSW
Grevillea callianthaFoote’s Grevillea, Cataby Grevillea, Black Magic GrevilleaWA
Grevillea christineaeChristine’s GrevilleaWA
Grevillea curviloba  subsp. curvilobaCurved-leaf GrevilleaWA
Grevillea curviloba  subsp. incurvaNarrow curved-leaf GrevilleaWA
Grevillea dryandroides  subsp. dryandroidesPhalanx GrevilleaWA
Grevillea dryandroides  subsp. hirsutaHairy Phalanx GrevilleaWA
Grevillea guthrieana NSW
Grevillea humifusaSpreading GrevilleaWA
Grevillea iaspiculaWee Jasper GrevilleaNSW
Grevillea infundibularisFan-leaf GrevilleaWA
Grevillea involucrataLake Varley GrevilleaWA
Grevillea maccutcheoniishrubWA
Grevillea masonii NSW
Grevillea maxwelliiMaxwell’s GrevilleaWA
Grevillea mollis NSW
Grevillea molyneuxii NSW
Grevillea murex WA
Grevillea obtusifloraGrey GrevilleaNSW
Grevillea pytharaPythara GrevilleaWA
Grevillea raraRare GrevilleaWA
Grevillea rivularisCarrington Falls GrevilleaNSW
Grevillea scapigeraCorrigin GrevilleaWA
Grevillea wilkinsoniiTumut GrevilleaNSW
Habenaria macraithii QLD
Hakea dohertyia shrubNSW
Hakea pulvinifera NSW
Haloragis eyreanaPrickly RaspwortSA
Haloragodendron lucasiiHalNSW
Helicteres  sp. Glenluckie Creek (N.Byrnes 1280) Cowie NT
Hemiandra gardneriRed SnakebushWA
Hemiandra rutilansSargents SnakebushWA
Huperzia carinataKeeled Tassel-fernQLD
Huperzia dalhousieanaBlue Tassel-fernQLD
Huperzia filiformisRat’s Tail Tassel-fernQLD
Huperzia squarrosaRock Tassel-fern, Water Tassel-fernQLD
Hydatella dioicaOne-sexed HydatellaWA
Hypocalymma longifolium WA
Hypolepis distansScrambling Ground-fernTAS
Indigofera efoliata NSW
Irenepharsus trypherusDelicate Cress, Illawarra IreneNSW
Isoglossa eranthemoides NSW
Isopogon uncinatusHook-leaf IsopogonWA
Jacksonia pungens  J.Chappill ms. WA
Jacksonia quairading  J.Chappill ms. WA
Jacksonia  sp. Collie (C.J.Koch 177)Collie JacksoniaWA
Kennedia macrophyllaAugusta KennediaWA
Lachangrostis limitanea [1]Spalding Blown GrassSA
Lambertia echinata  subsp. echinataPrickly HoneysuckleWA
Lambertia echinata  subsp. occidentalisWestern Prickly HoneysuckleWA
Lambertia fairalliiFairalls HoneysuckleWA
Lambertia orbifoliaRoundleaf HoneysuckleWA
Lasiopetalum pterocarpum  E.M.Benn. & K.Shepherd ms. WA
Lasiopetalum rotundifoliumRound-leaf LasiopetalumWA
Lastreopsis calanthaShield-fernAET
Lechenaultia laricinaScarlet LeschenaultiaWA
Leionema equestre SA
Leionema lachnaeoides NSW
Lepidium hyssopifoliumBasalt Pepper-cressNSW, QLD, TAS, VIC
Lepidium monoplocoidesWinged Pepper-cressNSW, VIC
Lepidium peregrinuma herbNSW, QLD
Lepidosperma rostratumBeaked LepidospermaWA
Leucochrysum albicans  var. tricolorHoary SunrayTAS, VIC
Leucopogon confertus NSW
Leucopogon gnaphalioidesStirling Range Beard HeathWA
Leucopogon marginatusThick-margined LeucopogonWA
Leucopogon obtectusHidden Beard-heathWA
Leucopogon  sp. Coolmunda (D.Halford Q 1635) QLD
Lychnothamnus barbatus QLD
Macadamia janseniiBulberin NutQLD
Macarthuria keigheryiKeighery’s MacarthuriaWA
Macrozamia cranei QLD
Macrozamia lomandroides QLD
Macrozamia pauli-guilielmiPineapple ZamiaQLD
Macrozamia platyrhachis QLD
Marattia salicinaKing Fern, Para, Potato FernAET
Melaleuca sciotostylaWongan MelaleucaWA
Melichrus hirsutus  J.B.Williams ms. NSW, SA
Melichrus  sp.Gibberagee (A.S.Benwelll& J.B.Williams 97239) NSW
Microcarpaea agonis QLD
Micromyrtus grandis NSW
Microstrobos fitzgeraldiiDwarf Mountain Pine, Blue Mountains Dwarf PineNSW
Microtis angusii NSW
Muehlenbeckia australisShrubby Creeper, PohuehueAET
Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong [1]Tuggeranong LignumACT
Mukia  sp. Longreach (D.Davidson AQ279935) QLD
Myoporum turbinatumSalt MyoporumWA
Myriophyllum lapidicolaChiddarcooping mMriophyllumWA
Ochrosia mooreiSouthern OchrosiaNSW, QLD
Olearia flocktoniaeDorrigo Daisy-bushNSW
Olearia hygrophilaSwamp Daisy, Water DaisyQLD
Olearia microdiscaSmall-flowered Daisy-bushSA
Orthrosanthus muelleriSouth Stirling Morning IrisWA
Pandanus spiralis  var. flammeusEdgar Range PandanusWA
Paracaleana dixonii  Hopper & A.P.Brown ms. WA
Parsonsia dorrigoensisMilky SilkpodNSW
Patersonia spirafoliaSpiral-leaved PatersoniaWA
Pennantia endlicheriPennantiaAET
Persoonia hirsuta NSW
Persoonia micrantheraSmall-flowered SnottygobbleWA
Persoonia mollis  subsp. maxima NSW
Persoonia nutans NSW
Petrophile latericola  Keighery ms. WA
Phaius australisLesser Swamp-orchidNSW, QLD
Phaius bernaysii QLD
Phaius tancarvilleaeSwamp Lily, Greater Swamp-orchidQLD
Phalaenopsis rosenstromii QLD
Philotheca basistylaWhite-flowered PhilothecaWA
Philotheca wonganensisWongan EriostemonWA
Phreatia paleataan orchidAET
Pimelea spicata NSW
Pimelea venosa NSW
Pityrodia scabraWyalkatchem FoxgloveWA
Plectranthus habrophyllus QLD
Plectranthus nitidus NSW, QLD
Plectranthus omissus QLD
Plectranthus torrenticola QLD
Plesioneuron tuberculatum QLD
Pomaderris cotoneasterCotoneaster PomaderrisNSW, VIC
Pouteria costataBastard IronwoodAET
Pouteria eerwahShiny-leaved Condoo, Black Plum, Wild AppleQLD
Prasophyllum affineCulburra Leek-orchid, Kinghorn Point Leek-orchid, Jervis Bay Leek OrchidNSW
Prasophyllum amoenum TAS
Prasophyllum apoxychilumTapered Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum correctumGaping Leek-orchidTAS, VIC
Prasophyllum diversiflorumGorae Leek-orchidVIC
Prasophyllum frenchiiMaroon Leek-orchid, Slaty Leek-orchid, Stout Leek-orchid, French’s Leek-orchidSA, VIC
Prasophyllum petilum ACT, NSW
Prasophyllum secutum TAS
Prasophyllum suaveolensFragrant Leek-orchidVIC
Prasophyllum subbisectumPomonal Leek-orchidVIC
Prasophyllum tunbridgenseTunbridge Leek-orchidTAS
Prasophyllum uroglossumWingecarribee Leek-orchid, Dark Leek-orchidNSW
Prostanthera askaniaTranquility MintbushNSW
Prostanthera eurybioidesMonarto MintbushSA
Prostanthera junonisSomersby MintbushNSW
Pteris kingianaKing’s BrakefernAET
Pteris zahlbrucknerianaNetted BrakefernAET
Pterostylis aenigmaEnigmatic GreenhoodVIC
Pterostylis atriola TAS
Pterostylis basalticaBasalt GreenhoodVIC
Pterostylis despectansLowly GreenhoodSA, VIC
Pterostylis gibbosaIllawarra Greenhood, Rufa Greenhood, Pouched GreenhoodNSW
Pterostylis rubenachii TAS
Pterostylis saxicolaSydney Plains GreenhoodNSW
Pterostylis  sp. Botany Bay (A.Bishop J221/1-13)Botany Bay Bearded GreenhoodNSW
Pterostylis  sp. Halbury (R.Bates 8425)Halbury GreenhoodSA
Pterostylis  sp. Hale (R.Bates 21725)Hale Dwarf GreenhoodSA
Pterostylis  sp. Northampton (S.D.Hopper 3349)Northampton Midget GreenhoodWA
Pterostylis ziegeleri TAS
Ptilotus fasciculatusFitzgerald’s Mulla-mullaWA
Ptychosperma bleeseri NT
Pultenaea parrisiae  subsp. elusaElusive Bush-peaNSW
Pultenaea selaginoidesClubmoss Bush-peaTAS
Quassia  sp. Mooney Creek (J.King s.n. 1949) NSW
Randia mooreiSpiny GardeniaNSW, QLD
Ranunculus prasinus TAS
Rapanea  sp. Richmond River (J.H.Maiden & J.L.Boorman NSW 26751)Purple-leaf Muttonwood, Lismore MuttonwoodNSW
Rhizanthella gardneriUnderground Orchid, Western Australian Underground OrchidWA
Ricinocarpos trichophorusBarrens Wedding BushWA
Roycea pycnophylloidesSaltmatWA
Rulingia prostrataDwarf KerrawangNSW, VIC
Rulingia  sp. Trigwell Bridge (R.Smith s.n. 20/6/1989)Trigwell’s RulingiaWA
Rutidosis leptorrhynchoidesButton WrinklewortACT, NSW, VIC
Sankowskya stipularis QLD
Sclerolaena napiformisTurnip CopperburNSW, VIC
Senecio behrianusStiff GroundselVIC
Senecio evansianusa daisyAET
Sphenotoma drummondii WA
Spirogardnera rubescensSpiral BushWA
Spyridium microphyllum TAS
Spyridium  sp. (Little Desert)Forked SpyridiumVIC
Stemodia haegii  W.R.Barker ms. SA
Stenanthemum pimeleoidesSpreading StenanthemumTAS
Stipa wakoolica NSW, VIC
Streblus pendulinusSiah’s Backbone, Sia’s Backbone, Isaac WoodAET
Stylidium coroniformeWongan Hills Triggerplant, Wongan TriggerplantWA
Swainsona rectaSmall Purple-pea, Mountain Swainson-peaACT, NSW, VIC
Symonanthus bancroftiiBancrofts SymonanthusWA
Synaphea quartziticaQuartz-loving SynapheaWA
Tectaria devexa AET, QLD
Tetratheca deltoideaGranite TetrathecaWA
Tetratheca paynteraePaynter’s TetrathecaWA
Thelymitra epipactoidesMetallic Sun-orchidSA, VIC
Thelymitra manginii  K.Dixon & Batty ms. WA
Thelymitra stellataStar Sun-orchidWA
Thomasia  sp. Green Hill (S.Paust 1322)Green Hill ThomasiaWA
Toechima pterocarpum QLD
Toechima  sp. East Alligator (J.Russell-Smith 8418) NT Herbariuma treeNT
Trachymene saniculifolia NSW
Triplarina imbricata NSW
Triplarina nowraensisNowra Heath-myrtleNSW
Triunia robusta QLD
Tylophora linearis NSW, QLD
Tylophora rupicola QLD
Tylophora woollsii NSW, QLD
Typhonium jonesiia herbNT
Typhonium mirabilea herbNT
Typhonium tayloria herbNT
Uromyrtus australisPeach MyrtleNSW
Verticordia albidaWhite FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculataLong-stalked FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia fimbrilepis var. fimbrilepisShy FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia hughaniiHughan’s FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia pityrhops WA
Verticordia plumosa var. ananeotesTufted Plumed FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia plumosa var. pleiobotryaNarrow-petalled FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia plumosa var. vassensisVasse FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia spicata subsp. squamosaScaley-leaved Featherflower, Scaly-leaved FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia staminosa subsp. cylindraceaGranite FeatherflowerWA
Verticordia staminosa subsp. cylindracea WA
Villarsia calthifoliaMountain VillarsiaWA
Vrydagzynea paludosa QLD
Westringia crassifoliaWhipstick WestringiaVIC
Westringia kydrensis NSW
Wollemia nobilisWollemi PineNSW
Wurmbea calcicolaNaturaliste NancyWA
Wurmbea tubulosaLong-flowered NancyWA
Xanthorrhoea bracteata TAS
Xanthostemon formosus QLD
Xerothamnella herbacea QLD
Xylopia  sp. Melville Island (J.Russell-Smith 2148) NT Herbariuma shrubNT
Zehneria bauerianaNative Cucumber, Giant CucumberAET
Zieria adenophoraAraluen ZieriaNSW
Zieria baeuerlenii  J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria buxijugum  J.Briggs & J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria covenyi  J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria floydii  J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria formosa J.Briggs & J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria granulataHill Zieria, Hilly Zieria, Illawarra ZieriaNSW
Zieria ingramii  J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria lasiocaulis  J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria obcordata NSW
Zieria parrisiae  J.Briggs & J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria prostrata  J.A.Armstrong ms. NSW
Zieria  sp. Brolga Park (A.R.Bean 1002) QLD

If the above were cute furry little animals there would be a human outcry at the numbers with millions world wide given to help their plight but because they are plants not a whimper can be heard.

It is the 67mm of middle class who owns less than 8mm of the wealth who commands the attention of the elite and powerful for without their agreement through the polls they would lose their grip on the destruction of the natural world. It is their fear of losing what they have now and not what they are losing around them in nature in the future, that drives their survival instincts despite their ability to think and reason more clearly.

It is the 25mm lower class who owns just 2mm of the wealth, who can think clearly without the coerciveness of short term profits but are usually frightened into submission out of fear that they will be killed, tortured, starved or lose their family, without thinking that they have nothing to fear but fear itself from the governments and multinationalists that deride pleasure from their misery.

If I could speak for the plant kingdom and animal kingdom in mass I am sure they would ask me to tell the leadersfor just one thing and that is “A fair go Australia and Lets Advance Australia fair for all its inhabitants.”

Take care and be happy,

andi Mellis (andi 安地 is my adopted name from the Yizu minority in China who bestowed the name upon me. “An as in anquan to care for and Di as in Diqui the earth. To take care of the land.”)

Further Comments from Readers:

information is included in good faith and has been thoroughly researched prior to printing. The website or the author does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of any information on these pages, nor does the website or the author accept any responsibility for any loss arising from the use of the information found within. The views and opinions are strictly those of the author or those members who chose to actively participate in the contents herein.

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In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl and all aboriginal nations throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and future for the pleasures we have gained.