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With the natural environment invaded by weeds, the plant started growing in delicate moss mats on granite outcrops.<\/p>\n
Dr Grinter said the moss is at risk at being invaded by weeds as well, and wild animals and people can easily destroy ballantinia\u2019s growing environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe moss mats are really delicate, but we have seen hikers and mountain bike riders going over these moss mats and destroying them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce it\u2019s lost in a particular location it\u2019s likely it\u2019s not going to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next week a volunteer survey will be held, and Dr Grinter said he encourages people, Landcare groups and not-for-profit conservation organisations to band together and help locate the plant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to cover all bases and figure out where it still is, so we have a complete picture of its condition at the moment and then we can work from there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Volunteers are being asked to meet at BP Harcourt at 9am on Tuesday, 27 September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ENVIRONMENTAL experts are encouraging the community to get involved in efforts to save a plant found only Mount Alexander. Ballantinia antipoda is a small plant which grows to about five centimetres tall with stalked white flowers, and once widespread through parts of Victoria and Tasmania. In the 1800s it started disappearing and in the 20th […]<\/p>\n