Leafy anchor plant. Photo: Jeff Jeanes © 2019 Royal Botanic Gardens Board | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Leafy anchor plant

Discaria nitida
Vulnerable: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016

Leafy anchor plant grows at altitudes above 900m, and lives close to stream banks and on rocky areas near small waterfalls. They cannot survive or recruit following fire.

In NSW they grow mostly within Kosciuszko National Park, south of Blue Water Holes – Yarrangobilly Caves area to the south-west of Jindabyne.

In Victoria the species is extremely rare – there are just 31 plants known from two populations.

Threats

• Feral horses have recently been observed browsing and trampling this species. Breakage of major stems of plants has been observed.
• Browsing by deer.
• Populations on private land are impacted by the grazing of domestic stock.
• Clearing of habitat.
• Fire.