Baeuerlen's Gentian (Gentiana baeuerlenii)
Description
- Baeuerlen’s Gentian is a native subalpine herb that grows 2-4 cm high.
- Its flowers are bell-shaped, with 5 green and blue-white petals.
- It usually flowers between March and June.
Where are they
- The only known ACT population of 20 plants was found in 1991 in the Orroral Valley in Namadgi National Park.
- The species was discovered in the open spaces between tussock grasses in damp grassland near water, possibly fed by springs. It sits on the lower slopes of a broad valley, above a river.
- The site was impacted by bushfire in both 2003 and 2020. The species is not yet believed to be extinct in the ACT as other populations may exist.
- There are possibly populations of this species in NSW and Vic.
Conservation threats
It’s likely Baeuerlen’s Gentian was once widespread but was impacted through land clearing and grazing. Other threats to this species include:
- drought
- grazing and root disturbance by animals
- bushfires.
Conservation status
- National – Endangered (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
- Australian Capital Territory – Endangered (Nature Conservation Act 2014), Special Protection Status Species (Nature Conservation Act 2014).
Conservation actions
Conservation of the species aims to maintain the existing site's conditions. This includes:
- ensuring nearby activities don't affect the site
- not allowing walking or vehicle track development on the site
- managing nearby grassland to encourage any existing plants to establish new populations
- removal of weeds or grass thatch during annual site assessments.
Other conservation information
You can find out other information about Baeuerlen's Gentian including distribution and upcoming research.