Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p216
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 216/276)
Character Range: 794020–797271

(Sykes & Atkinson 1988). Continue protection of the Mission Road rainforest remnants. Exclude or manage cattle grazing.

Recovery target
The recovery target is shown in Table 108.
Table 108 Recovery target for Melicytus latifolius
EPBC Act status        Estimated population (2023)  Where known populations occur  2034 target
Critically Endangered  148                          >95% within the national park  500

Relevant literature
Christian NE & Mills K (2021) Vegetation Mapping of Norfolk Island 2021. Unpublished data.
Director of National Parks (2010) Norfolk Island Region Threatened Species Recovery Plan. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra.
Gilmour PM & Helman CE (1989b) The Vegetation of Norfolk Island National Park. Report to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Norfolk Island.
Invasive Species Council & TierraMar (2021) The Native Plant Communities of Norfolk Island. Invasive Species Council, Katoomba, NSW.
Mills K (2012b) The Flora of Norfolk Island. Report 14. The Endangered Plants in the national park: Field Survey and Review. Kevin Mills & Associates, Jamberoo, NSW.
Sykes W & Atkinson I (1988) Rare and Endangered Plants of Norfolk Island. Unpublished report to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Norfolk Island.
TSSC (Threatened Species Scientific Committee) (2003a) Commonwealth Listing Advice for Norfolk Island Flora – 11 Critically Endangered Species.

Melicytus ramiflorus subsp. oblongifolius—whiteywood
Family VIOLACEAE

Conservation significance
Endemic to Norfolk Island.
EPBC Act Listing Status: Vulnerable.

Description
A slender shrub or tree to 5m tall.

Distribution and abundance
This subspecies has been recorded on the saddle between Mt Pitt and Mt Bates in the Norfolk Island National Park, and north-east of the Kingston Cemetery (Orchard 1994). There were 436 mature individuals recorded in 2003 (TSSC 2003b).
It is relatively widespread in the national park, occurring in viny hardwood forest on the south‑western flanks of the mountains (Invasive Species Council & TierraMar 2021). There are also a few individuals within Ball Bay and Hundred Acres Reserves (Mills 2017b).
The population estimate in 2021 was 570.
The distribution is shown in Map 46.

Ecology
Little known.

Habitat
Forest.

Threats
Major threats to the species are cattle grazing, weed invasion and competition, and drought/dry conditions due to climate change. Phytophthora cinnamomi is potentially a major risk.

Impact on other species
None known.
Map 46 Distribution of Melicytus ramiflorus subsp. oblongifolius
Green outlines indicate reserves within which the species occurs. Green shading shows plant communities within which the species may occur (Christian & Mills 2021). Points show recorded locations (Mills 2017b).

Risk assessment
Risk assessment undertaken for Vulnerable trees/shrubs as a grouping. The risk assessment is shown in Table 109.
Table 109 Risk assessment for Vulnerable trees/shrubs as a grouping
Risk                                                                                                               Likelihood of exposure    Consequence  Threat rating
1. Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation through past land clearing