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Useful Temperate Plants

Barbarea australis

Hook.f.

Brassicaceae


This species has been confused with Barbarea grayi, a species growing in Victoria and New South Wales. Until 1982, with the publication of volume 8 of the Flora of Australia, the two species were treated as one[
286
Title
Flora of Australia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource.
].

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

Barbarea australis
Flowering stems
Photograph by: Fagg M.; Australian National Botanic Gardens
Creative Commons License
Barbarea australis Barbarea australis

General Information

Barbarea australis is an erect, annual to biennial or short-lived perennial plant growing 50 - 100cm tall[
1098
Title
Tasmanian Threatened Species Factsheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of Information sheets in PDF format on almost 500 species in Tasmania that are listed as under threat.
].
The plant has edible and medicinal properties but, because of its rarity, should not really be harvested.
Barbarea australis is endemic to Tasmania where it is known to grow only along ten river systems. Total population size is estimated to be about 900 mature individuals, though numbers can fluctuate widely from year to year. It is likely that Barbarea australis has always been relatively locally uncommon. It was presumed extinct until rediscovered in the
1980s, having not been collected since the 1830s. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
1098
Title
Tasmanian Threatened Species Factsheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of Information sheets in PDF format on almost 500 species in Tasmania that are listed as under threat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1098
Title
Tasmanian Threatened Species Factsheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of Information sheets in PDF format on almost 500 species in Tasmania that are listed as under threat.

Range

Australia - Tasmania

Habitat

Found along floodprone rocky river systems, growing in shallow alluvial silt deposited on rock slabs or rocky ledges, or between large cobbles on sites frequently disturbed by fluvial processes[
1098
Title
Tasmanian Threatened Species Factsheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of Information sheets in PDF format on almost 500 species in Tasmania that are listed as under threat.
]. Wettish land in the montane and sub-alpine zones.

Properties

Conservation StatusEndangered
Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height0.45 m
PollinatorsFlies, bees, Beetles, Self
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Barbarea australis is native to montane regions of Tasmania, where it experiences cold winters with frost and snow.
Succeeds in sun or shade in a moist well-drained soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is a prolific seed producer and after disturbance such as flooding, hundreds of seedlings can emerge in resultant gaps in winter and early spring. However, few generally survive to maturity due to browsing (mainly by native species) and disturbance by natural flood events[
1098
Title
Tasmanian Threatened Species Factsheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of Information sheets in PDF format on almost 500 species in Tasmania that are listed as under threat.
].
The plant can sometimes reproduce vegetatively with a new plant growing from the base of an existing plant[
1098
Title
Tasmanian Threatened Species Factsheets
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of Information sheets in PDF format on almost 500 species in Tasmania that are listed as under threat.
].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[
144
Title
Wild Food in Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
Publisher
Fontana
Year
1976
ISBN
0-00-634436-4
Description
A very good pocket guide.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. A pungent, peppery flavour[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

The leaves are antiscorbutic[
144
Title
Wild Food in Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
Publisher
Fontana
Year
1976
ISBN
0-00-634436-4
Description
A very good pocket guide.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in early spring to early summer.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-10-13. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Barbarea+australis>

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