Plant diversity research
A new species of Hibiscus discovered
in 1997Taxonomy, plant systematic research
Endangered species of plants
Ecological research
Environmental weeds
Botanists (taxonomists) describe, name and classify new species, subspecies and varieties, and improve existing classifications, descriptions and identification tools. New species are described and named according to a set of internationally accepted rules governing the scientific naming of plants. In recent times, more than 30 species new to science for Queensland have been formally described each year. Each new species must be named and described in Latin and this published in an appropriate scientific journal.
The Queensland Herbarium's scientific journal "Austrobaileya" contains the results of much of the plant systematic research carried out by Queensland botanists. Other botanical publications including books on Queensland plants are also available.
The 10 year compilation of New Taxa of and Combinations for Queensland Plants, 1989-1999 is available. The current year's changes are included in Herbarium Achievements.
Interactive keys are currently being developed throughout Australia, using the LucID and DELTA software. The user of these keys will be able to identify a plant by choosing characters and selecting pictures of characters. Species are also illustrated.
The Queensland Herbarium has currently developed AUSGRASS: Grasses of Australia, which is the largest and most comprehensive identification guide to a plant group ever published. Using either interactive or dichotomous keys, AUSGRASS enables quick and accurate identification of any of the 1323 species of grass, native or naturalised, growing wild in Australia. This powerful identification tool is available from CSIRO Publishing.
Endangered species of plants
The Queensland Herbarium has been actively accumulating and disseminating data on the 1104 species, subspecies and varieties currently listed as rare (651), vulnerable (276), endangered (151) or presumed extinct (26) under the 20000 Schedule of the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994). Knowledge of the distribution, population size, genetic diversity, ecology and habitat needs of these plants is essential to enable their effective conservation and the management of remaining populations.
Assessment, survey and recovery planning for these species are part of ongoing research. Publications on endangered species are available. For more information on endangered plants.
R Fensham and landholder examining a natural spring
in
the Eulo district Ecological research
Ecological research provides essential information needed for the conservation and management of Queensland's plant communities and ecosystems. Research at the Queensland Herbarium is currently concentrated in coastal communities, rainforests, serpentine areas, grasslands, artesian springs and wetlands as well as on the possible effects of vegetation structural change over time.
Research results are published in a variety of journals and other publications.
Environmental weeds of Queensland
The Queensland Herbarium approaches the subject of environmental weeds in the context of conservation and concentrates on plant invasion as a threat to natural biodiversity. The Queensland Herbarium maintains up-to-date data on all of Queensland's naturalised species and is involved in developing a prioritised list of environmental weeds for each bioregion in Queensland. A prioritised list of 200 environmental weeds of South-east Queensland has already been completed. Environmental weeds are a major threat to Queensland's remnant plant communities and rare species. Early detection and detailed distribution information are essential data for the management and protection of Queensland biodiversity.
The Queensland Herbarium is the lead agency providing consistent and reliable information about the names and distribution of native and naturalised plant species, including environmental weed species. In our studies an environmental weed is defined as an invasive introduced plant species, which is capable of establishing self-sustaining and expanding populations in natural and semi-natural habitats.
The Queensland Herbarium’s collection includes more than 390 000 specimens of native and naturalised species for Queensland. This is an irreplaceable record of Queensland’s changing flora over the last 230 years. This dataset, along with more recent vegetation site data and regional ecosystem mapping, is of primary importance in the study and management of environmental weeds in Queensland. The Queensland Herbarium, in partnership with other weed scientists use these data to study the ecology and biogeography of environmental weeds, in order to determine key threats to our native vegetation and biodiversity. Most importantly Queensland Herbarium data yield reliable information on the rate of change and the extent of environmental weeds.
The naturalised flora of Queensland has increased in the last 85 years at a rate of 12 new naturalised species per year. The total number of naturalised species in 2002 was 1282, or 14% of the flora of Queensland. Environmental weeds are a significant threat to the conservation of the State’s plant species biodiversity. Of the 7811 species of native plants known for Queensland in 2002, 13% are already rare or threatened. There is an urgent need to understand the process and effects of environmental weed invasion into native vegetation and develop management strategies to halt these exotic plant invasions.
Our current research focuses on prioritising environmental weed species for all major regions of Queensland and understanding the impact and invasion process (see Information sheets: Invasive Naturalised Plants in Southeast Queensland, alphabetical by genus and Invasive Naturalised Plants in Southeast Queensland, ranked list).
A current collaborative effort of on-the-ground survey, carried out by the Queensland Herbarium, EPA, QPWS, NRM, AQIS, DPI, local Governments and regional bodies, is improving our information and data on the State’s naturalised flora.
We also provide key services including:
- Early detection and notification.
- The Queensland Herbarium has a key role in early detection and accurate identification of new weed species. Official recording of new plant naturalisations and active detection of new weed species are essential for early intervention strategies, and alert protocols. This new whole of Government initiative should drastically reduce the potential damage to natural ecosystems.
- Plant identification and information.
- Accurate and reliable plant identification and information are provided for a wide range of clients and researchers. The demand for this service is high: 25% of our plant identification and advisory inquires are about weeds and related issues.
- Assessment and monitoring.
- The Queensland Herbarium’s specimen collection and databases provide critical baseline data for the assessment of threats and the monitoring and management of weed incursions. The maintenance and enhancement of these important data sets is a high priority. The Queensland Herbarium, in partnership with others, carries out environmental weed assessment surveys of at-risk areas throughout the state.
- Community Education.
- Ultimately, community knowledge of environmental weeds is of high importance for early detection and intervention, and provides ongoing vigilance in local areas. Queensland Herbarium promotes awareness of environmental weed issues throughout the state by disseminating information on Queensland’s native and naturalised flora. Awareness, knowledge and education of general public and stakeholders promote responsible ownership of weed management.
Last updated: 11 January 2007
