Drabastrum alpestre

Mountain Cress at Bolaro, NSW

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Identification history

	Drabastrum alpestre	21 May 2017	MichaelMulvaney
	Drabastrum alpestre	15 May 2017	DavidMcKay

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

21 May 2017

This is a rare species, rarely recorded in our region.

User's notes

There were four small plants over an area of a square meter. Due to the size they appeared to have grown from seed that season.

4 comments

BettyDonWood wrote:

16 May 2017

Possibly. I do not recognise this species on sight, and a dependent on a plant identification key to check the ID. Both keys on the internet depend on detailed charactistics of mature seed cases at several steps. Helpful characteristics that you could have photographed such as the whole plant and leaf shape, or field notes about habitat, are not provided.
Vicflora sums up: This species is rare throughout Australia and considered vulnerable in Victoria. It is characterized by its habitat; the stalked, branched hairs on the stems; and the more or less terete, obovoid to ellipsoid fruits.

DavidMcKay wrote:

17 May 2017

I had previously been in contact with Dave Albrecht at CSIRO about some specimens I had left with ANBG. As there were only four small plants of this specimen I was reluctant to take a sample but Dave agreed to have a look at these photographs and thought that they were D alpestre. I have a fair idea of the location within 10 metres or so but could not find them again in the summer. I will look again in spring when I would expect flowers. Had I realised that they might be so unusual I would have clearly marked the site. The spot is a bit dry and wallabies do browse the area. I hope that they have survived and I can locate then so I can be a bit more methodical with observations.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

22 May 2017

I sought advice from John Briggs of NSW Office of Environment and Heritage who has much experience with this species and he was happy to confirm it as Mountain Cress.

DavidMcKay wrote:

22 May 2017

Thanks Michael for your efforts and also to Betty who has provided much guidance on what I should look for when taking photographs for possible identifications. It is hard to believe how lucky I have been. I set of for a walk with a different object in mind and saw these four small flowers after only 100 metres or so. I did not recognise them so took a few snaps and continued on. A metre or two either side and I would have passed by. I consider it a privilege and hope I can relocate them next spring and possibly share the experience.

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