#ThreatenedThursday: Dungowan Starbush

SPECIES: Asterolasia beckersii — Dungowan Starbush

CLASSIFICATION: Critically endangered

This one’s an Aussie battler. Drought and frost tolerant, the Dungowan Starbush is a rare plant endemic to an area near Tamworth. It grows to no more than 3m high and has small, white solitary flowers. Known from 12 populations in total, only a small handful of these are located out in the wild. The remaining wild plants left have been found to grow in rocky soil along creekbanks.

Now with so few plants left, the small population size and restricted distribution are against the survival of this native species. It’s also under threat from weed invasion.

Photo: W & G Sheathe