Cunninghamia 1 (1): 125-128, (1981) 
125 
THE DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF A 
RARE CONIFER, MICROSTROBOS F1TZGERALDII 
(PODOCARPACEAE) 
Jim Smith 
(Accepted for publication 9.12.1980) 
ABSTRACT 
Smith, Jim (School of Biological Sciences, Sydney Technical College, Ultimo, New 
South Wales, Australia 2007) 1981. The distribution and conservation status of a rare 
conifer, Microstrobos fitzgeraldii ( Podocarpaceae). Cunninghamia 1 (1): 125-128. 
Eighteen localities in the Blue Mountains were surveyed to provide information on the 
distribution and present status of Microstrobos fitzgeraldii. A total of 203 plants were 
found confined to 6 localities. The observed habitat requirements of the species are 
described. 
INTRODUCTION 
With the exception of Callitris and Actinostrobus most of the eleven Austra¬ 
lian conifer genera are today restricted to small, wet refuge areas along the east 
coast. One of these, the genus Microstrobos, is endemic to Australia and contains 
only two species, one (M. niphophilus Garden & Johnson), restricted to alpine areas 
of Tasmania, and the other, M. fitzgeraldii (F. Muell.) Garden & Johnson, a small 
shrub with weak straggling branches up to 2 m long, to waterfalls in the Blue 
Mountains of New South Wales. This latter habitat is being gradually altered by 
increasing urban development in the catchments of the waterfalls. 
Mueller (1880) made the first record of the distribution of Microstrobos fitz¬ 
geraldii: “In silvis densissimis madidis tractus altioris “Blue Mountains” dicti 
rarissimum ad cataractam Katoomba”. (In very thick and wet forests of the elevated 
tract called the Blue Mountains, very rare at Katoomba Falls). Baker & Smith 
(1910) noted “In New South Wales this species is found at the base of most of the 
chief falls on the Blue Mountains. The material upon which this investigation was 
based was obtained at Lower Falls at Leura . . .”. Moore & Betche (1893) and 
Dallimore & Jackson (1966) merely repeated the distribution information from the 
earlier publications. Thompson (1961) gives the collection localities of all National 
Herbarium of New South Wales specimens. All were from Wentworth Falls with 
a single specimen being recorded as found at “bottom of Leura Falls and Wentworth 
Falls”. All collections since 1961 and prior to the present survey have been made 
at Wentworth Falls. 
Following the discovery of this plant at Bonnie Doon Falls (Grid ref. 281346, 
Katoomba 1:31 680 sheet) a survey was undertaken of all likely waterfall localities 
in the upper Blue Mountains. Counts were made of the number of plants present 
at the various localities (Figure 1) which could be readily visited, and inaccessible 
ledges were surveyed with binoculars. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Results of survey 
Table 1 details the numbers of plants found at 6 of the 18 localities studied. 
No plants were found at the other localities on the south facing side of the main 
Blue Mountains ridge, namely Den Fenella (Grid ref. 358326, Katoomba 1:31680), 
waterfalls of The Valley of Waters’ as far as Vera Falls (351333 to 355322), Gordon 
Falls (325326), Linda Falls (311330), waterfalls near the Devils Hole (280328), 
Mermaids Cave (266425), Porters Pass (261446) and Rienits Pass (Mt Wilson 
1:31 680 sheet, grid ref. 242482) nor associated with localities on the north facing 
side: Minne-Ha-Ha Falls (Katoomba sheet, grid ref. 318386), Govetts Leap Falls 
