Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Southern Ochrosia (Ochrosia moorei FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)
Introduction. Southern Ochrosia is a small ornamental rainforest tree with milky sap. No Recovery Plan has been
prepared. A detailed species outline has been prepared (Quinn et al. 1995 (NSW) and Barry and Thomas (1994) (Queensland)).
Conservation status. Southern Ochrosia is listed on Schedule 1 (Endangered) of the TSC Act, 1995 and has a ROTAP
code of 2ECi (Briggs and Leigh 1996).
Habit. A small tree with milky juice. Sometimes crooked with several stems. Up to about 11 m tall (Floyd 1989).
Flowers. White, in short cymes at the ends of the branchlets. Flowering December to February.
Fruit. Drupe, red with mealy white flesh, 4 - 8 cm diameter. Seeds embedded in cavities in a hard endocarp. Ripe
December to February (Floyd 1989).
Habitat. Floyd (1989) describes the species as occurring in riverine and lowland subtropical rainforest. Most of the
known sites involve alluvial situations where the plants are subject to periodic flooding, but at least one site is an upland
ridge on metamorphics (Barry and Thomas 1994). Quinn et al. (1995) report most occurrences on basalt derived soils.
Distribution. From the Richmond River, NSW, to Springbrook and Currumbin Creek, southern Queensland. Recorded
in NSW from Big Scrub FR; Upper Coopers Creek; Snows Gully NR, Wilson Park; Rotary Park; Boatharbour; Johnstons
Scrub; Booyong; Emerys Scrub; Alstonville; Davis Scrub NR; Dalwood; Marshalls Falls; Victoria Park NR; Tintenbar; Mt
Warning NP; Limpinwood NR; Wollumbin Wildlife Refuge; Murwillumbah; Cudgera Creek (Floyd 1989). Additional
sites reported by Quinn et al. (1995) are at Amaroo FR, Wollumbin SF; Burringbar; Pottsville/Mooball and Currie Park.
Details of seven records of Southern Ochrosia in the study area were compiled.
Regeneration and horticulture. Seeds should be excised from the hard endocarp and sown immediately (Floyd 1989).
Southern Ochrosia is a mature phase rainforest species that is best planted in the shade, sheltered from wind (Big Scrub
Rainforest Landcare Group 1998a).
Economic and cultural significance. No particular use or significance is known apart from the aesthetic and ecological
values of all native rainforest species.
Abundance and reservation. Southern Ochrosia is considered inadequately reserved (Briggs and Leigh 1996) and is
present in small numbers only where it is present. The conservation of the small numbers of plants present in the study
area will be important for the continuing existence of the species.
Threats and amelioration. The Queensland populations are threatened by habitat clearing, road widening and weed
invasion (Barry and Thomas 1994). Small population sizes and weed invasion also threaten NSW plants (Quinn et al.
1995). To improve the conservation status of Southern Ochrosia, the health of the population and its regeneration
potential should be enhanced by weed management, grazing exclusion, fire protection and replanting of surrounding
habitat.
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