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\u201cWe\u2019re focusing our conservation efforts on protecting the remaining populations,\u201d Mr Broadbent said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo conserve a species like the Spiny Rice-flower, we manage threatening processes that are impacting the plant by fencing and signing native grassland sites where populations exist, undertaking weed control and managing weedy biomass through brush cutting.\u201d<\/p>\n
The species flowers from May to July and provides a food source for pollinator insects.<\/p>\n
The shrub is listed as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Government\u2019s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.<\/p>\n It is also at significant threat due to factors including habitat loss from development, changing agricultural practices, weed invasion and unfavourable changes in fire frequency.<\/p>\n \u201cNative grasslands on the basalt plains extending from the west of Melbourne to Greater Geelong have been depleted significantly since European settlement,\u201d Mr Broadbent said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s estimated as little as one per cent of the original extent of native grassland remains today, and these are primarily on small unused parcels of land such as rural roadsides and rail reserves.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2023\/07\/638234738577228438_5_33795.jpg\")
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