Declared Rare and Priority Flora List facts for kids

The Declared Rare and Priority Flora List is a special system used in Western Australia to help protect its unique plants. It helps experts decide which plants are rare or in danger. This list was created by a government department called the Department of Environment and Conservation.

This list is very important for people who study plants, like those at the Western Australian Herbarium. The herbarium even has a science journal called Nuytsia. When scientists publish new plant discoveries from Western Australia in Nuytsia, they must say if the plant is rare or endangered. This helps everyone know which plants need protection.

Protecting Western Australia's Rare Plants

Western Australia is home to many amazing and unique plants. Some of these plants are very rare, meaning there aren't many of them left. To make sure these special plants don't disappear, the government created the Declared Rare and Priority Flora List.

Why Do We Need This List?

This list helps scientists and conservationists keep track of plants that are at risk. It guides efforts to protect them. By knowing which plants are rare or threatened, they can make plans to save them. This might involve protecting their habitats or growing new plants from seeds.

How Plants Get on the List

The list has different levels, like a ranking system, to show how much protection a plant needs. Plants are placed into categories based on how rare they are and how much danger they face. Here are the main categories:

Extinct or Vanished Plants (Category X)

• X: Threatened (Declared Rare Flora) – Presumed Extinct Taxa

* These are plants that scientists believe are no longer alive. * They haven't been seen for over 50 years, even after careful searching. * Or, all known groups of these plants in the wild have been destroyed. * These plants are officially declared extinct under a law called the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. This law helps protect them, even if they are only found again later.

Very Rare Plants (Category T)

• T: Threatened (Declared Rare Flora) – Extant Taxa

* These plants are very rare and are in danger of disappearing. * Scientists have studied them carefully and know they need special protection. * They are also officially declared rare under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. This gives them legal protection. * This category used to be called 'R'.

Plants We Need to Learn More About (Categories P1, P2, P3)

These categories are for plants that might be rare, but scientists need to do more research. They are called "Poorly Known Taxa."

• P1: Priority One – Poorly Known Taxa

* These plants are known from only a few places (usually less than five). * All of these known plant groups are in immediate danger. * They might become "Declared Rare Flora" soon, but more surveys are needed.

• P2: Priority Two – Poorly Known Taxa

* These plants are also known from only a few places (usually less than five). * However, some of these plant groups are not in immediate danger. * They are also candidates for being declared rare, but need more study.

• P3: Priority Three – Poorly Known Taxa

* These plants are known from several different places. * Some of these plant groups are not in immediate danger. * They are also being considered for the "Declared Rare Flora" list, but need more surveys.

Rare But Safe Plants (Category P4)

• P4: Priority Four – Rare Taxa

* These plants have been well-studied by scientists. * They are rare, meaning there aren't many of them. * But, they are not currently known to be in danger of disappearing.