Bursaria spinosa

Native Blackthorn, Sweet Bursaria at Majura, ACT

Request use of media

Identification history

	Bursaria spinosa	13 Jan 2021	RWPurdie
	Bursaria spinosa	12 Jan 2021	MAX

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Bursaria shrubs in full bloom, alongside fenceline of Horse trail. A number of these shrubs all flowering +/- Synchronously, spread over an area of several hundred sq. metres. Mature plants, no evidence of seedlings, probably due to herbivore grazing pressure. Overhead broken canopy of Gum trees. A lot of Herbaceous weeds present below and between Bursaria plants. Important Habitat shrub for Small Bird Nesting sites (protective thorns).

7 comments

waltraud wrote:

13 Jan 2021

Thanks Max. The species is also a prime food plant for native insects since there is not much nectar flow about this time of the year. Reg impact of herbivore grazing: similar situation at those sites (drainage lines) where I monitor for natural recruitment of Bursaria spinosa (and other shrubs): no recruitment observed in 15 years, most likely the result of herbivore grazing.

waltraud wrote:

25 Jul 2023

hi there; I had a second thought:
the Bursaria are most likely not planted so I suggest they are most likely the local Bursaria spinosa subsp lasiophyllan which we often find growing in the vicinity of drainage lines; if difficult to confirm I suggest Bursaria sp.

Tapirlord wrote:

25 Jul 2023

See Bursaria spinosa (Native Blackthorn, Sweet Bursaria)

MAX wrote:

25 Jul 2023

May I respectfully Suggest that we Stop "Splitting Hairs" here about whatever Subspecies of Bursaria, and then subsequently using this as a Justification for ripping out Mature, Established specimens of Bursaria already planted and established at " The Fair" Revegetation site, as Waltraud is currently seems to be advocating for ?? Aren't we losing track of the Bigger picture here of Habitat Restoration and getting bogged down in the minutiae. with all due Respect, I feel we have more important priorities , I would have thought. All these Bursarias are Endemic / Native to the ACT after all.
I do Not feel comfortable at all with ripping out these socalled "non local " Mature Bursarias which are already providing important Nesting Habitat for Small Bird species which are already struggling on Mt Majura. By all means, for future plantings of Bursaria try to use the local sub-species cultivar. Please don't carry Taxonomic pedantics too far in this situation.

Tapirlord wrote:

26 Jul 2023

Max, I don't think that anybody is advocating for the removal of mature Bursaria. That is illegal anyways, given it is a local species. Part of my responsiblilty as a moderator is to adderss taxonomic disputes which is what I've done here, I am not here to provide advice to whether or not to remove a particular plant, unless that is what is asked me.

I would just reiterate, that this is the local form (Bursaria spinosa lasiophylla) and hence is endemic. If these plants were Bursaria spinosa spinosa (the other subspecies), then the would be considered non-local. To that point, it is better for the long-term health of local populations if we plant the local subspecies. But, I do agree that this does not mean that we should remove plantings if we find they are the non-local form, particularly if plants are established.

waltraud wrote:

26 Jul 2023

The frequency & diversity of little woodland birds crashed within 10 years of the Fair development because of the Noisy Miners and Common Mynas moving in in large numbers. This is a development observed where ever urban encroachment happened according to Fenner School scientist and various studies. I organised the mass plantings and other restorative work over the past 10 years in the reserve east of the Fair with the top priority management objective to maintain and improve woodland bird habitat however this has not stopped the invasion of Noisy Miners and subsequently loss of woodland birds.
I do feel responsible for the species planted; I applied and received permission from CPR and PCS. I'm very unhappy with planting of non local species which GA provided by mistake. GA acknowledged the mistake and gave us replacements at no cost which we have planted instead of non locals.
Max I do not wish to continue this conversation on CNM and suggest to you to get in contact with our local botanist and plant ecologist if you have concerns about removing non local species planted by mistake.

waltraud wrote:

26 Jul 2023

...BTW I suggested that these particular specimens that you recorded and that were not planted, to be the local form subspecies or species that we find on Mt Majura.

Please Login or Register to comment.