Crimson Berry (Leptecophylla oxycedrus) is rare in Victoria By Lisa Gilbert
A TEAM of ecological crusaders last month embarked on a mission to salvage critically endangered plants from Wilsons Prom to help regenerate the species on Phillip Island.
Crimson Berry (Leptecophylla oxycedrus) is a prickly shrub that only grows to two metres tall but can be hundreds of years old. The spectacular red berries are edible, making them a good food source for animals and the thorns protect small birds from predators.
While prolific in Tasmania, the plant is now extremely rare in Victoria, only found on Phillip Island (Millowl), Wilsons Promontory and Corner Inlet.
A TEAM of ecological crusaders last month embarked on a mission to salvage critically endangered plants from Wilsons Prom to help regenerate the species on Phillip Island.
Crimson Berry (Leptecophylla oxycedrus) is a prickly shrub that only grows to two metres tall but can be hundreds of years old. The spectacular red berries are edible, making them a good food source for animals and the thorns protect small birds from predators.
While prolific in Tasmania, the plant is now extremely rare in Victoria, only found on Phillip Island (Millowl), Wilsons Promontory and Corner Inlet.
Current populations on the island are largely remnants clinging on to cliffs that had been spared the effects of agricultural practices. However, they are old plants and not showing signs of natural recruitment. Phillip Island Nature Parks’ Threatened Species Plan highlights the plant as one of the five key threatened flora species on the island.
The plants are notoriously difficult to propagate in a nursery, and environmental conditions must be just right for seeds to germinate in the wild.
By happy coincidence, Brooke Love, a restoration ecologist on Parks Victoria’s Prom Sanctuary team, recently found some seedlings growing along a walking track at a remote location on the east coast of Wilsons Prom. The seedlings had grown from plants estimated to be 300-400 years old.
Threatened species recovery is a key focus of Parks Victoria’s Prom Sanctuary initiative, to create Victoria’s largest conservation sanctuary and support a safe haven for species like the Crimson Berry.
As the plants were at risk of being trampled, Parks Victoria reached out to Nature Parks to see if they could support the recovery program.
“Luckily, at the Prom the species is thriving, so we’re really happy to be able to support the recovery on Philip Island,” Brooke says.
Nature Parks ranger Susan Spicer said dedicated experts from Nature Parks and Parks Victoria travelled by sea to North Waterloo Bay to translocate the seedlings.
The plants are notoriously difficult to propagate in a nursery, and environmental conditions must be just right for seeds to germinate in the wild.
By happy coincidence, Brooke Love, a restoration ecologist on Parks Victoria’s Prom Sanctuary team, recently found some seedlings growing along a walking track at a remote location on the east coast of Wilsons Prom. The seedlings had grown from plants estimated to be 300-400 years old.
Threatened species recovery is a key focus of Parks Victoria’s Prom Sanctuary initiative, to create Victoria’s largest conservation sanctuary and support a safe haven for species like the Crimson Berry.
As the plants were at risk of being trampled, Parks Victoria reached out to Nature Parks to see if they could support the recovery program.
“Luckily, at the Prom the species is thriving, so we’re really happy to be able to support the recovery on Philip Island,” Brooke says.
Nature Parks ranger Susan Spicer said dedicated experts from Nature Parks and Parks Victoria travelled by sea to North Waterloo Bay to translocate the seedlings.
 Mission Crimson Berry team comes ashore at North Waterloo Bay. |  Crimson Berry seedlings on the track were in danger of being trampled. |
‘’We see this as an opportunity to translocate the young crimson berry seedlings to a safer location and, in turn, this may help us increase the genetic diversity on the island,”
The conservation efforts had it challenges. The plants have extremely sensitive roots and don’t like disturbance, great care was taken in the translocation process. The seedlings will be cared for in the Barb Martin Bushbank until they are settled and showing active growth.
The conservation efforts had it challenges. The plants have extremely sensitive roots and don’t like disturbance, great care was taken in the translocation process. The seedlings will be cared for in the Barb Martin Bushbank until they are settled and showing active growth.
“We are very aware of the risks of a translocation like this, but if successful these plants could be moved to suitable habitat at Cape Woolamai where they would be cared for and closely monitored.”
All transplanted seedlings are showing great results and Bushbank nursery co-ordinator James Anderson is confident of their survival. “It’s exciting proof of concept and technique that even the most difficult, high risk species can be relocated,” he said.
“We have installed around 100 cuttings, which can take up to six months to strike and collected approximately half a kilogram of seed, which will become part of a comprehensive trial to research seed treatment methods with a view to larger scale production of this species.”
Theresults of the translocation will be shared with a Melbourne University student who is collaborating with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria on a genetic study. The study will help explain how the plants relate to each other and other populations in Victoria and Tasmania, including at Wilsons Promontory.
All transplanted seedlings are showing great results and Bushbank nursery co-ordinator James Anderson is confident of their survival. “It’s exciting proof of concept and technique that even the most difficult, high risk species can be relocated,” he said.
“We have installed around 100 cuttings, which can take up to six months to strike and collected approximately half a kilogram of seed, which will become part of a comprehensive trial to research seed treatment methods with a view to larger scale production of this species.”
Theresults of the translocation will be shared with a Melbourne University student who is collaborating with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria on a genetic study. The study will help explain how the plants relate to each other and other populations in Victoria and Tasmania, including at Wilsons Promontory.