Critically Endangered Plant Found Only on 300m of Roadside in South Australia

In the quiet, unassuming landscape of Woods Well along the South Australian coastline, a botanical marvel clings to existence. The Woods Well spyridium (Spyridium fontis-woodii), a critically endangered shrub, represents a unique and fragile part of Australia's natural heritage. Its entire known wild population is confined to a mere 300-meter section of roadside, a precarious habitat vulnerable to the impacts of land use and clearing. Botanists like Robbie Andrew from the Limestone Coast Landscape Board are working to understand its survival, with theories suggesting that past roadworks might have inadvertently created the conditions for its seeds to germinate. The stark reality is that only one wild plant is thought to remain, a concerning figure that underscores the urgency of conservation efforts. Fortunately, seeds collected in 2006 and more recently have been preserved in seed banks at the Adelaide Botanic Garden and Kew Gardens, offering a glimmer of hope for the species' future. This discovery and ongoing conservation highlight the hidden biodiversity that exists even in seemingly ordinary places and the vital importance of protecting these last remaining wild specimens.

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It's ended up in this one location … over this sort of 200- to 300-metre stretch of roadside is the only place it's ever been found.