6 November 2025
When we talk about wildlife, most people think of animals. However, wildlife also includes plants. They are the quiet achievers of nature, forming the foundation upon which every ecosystem relies.
Plants stabilise soil, capture carbon, produce oxygen and provide food and shelter for countless animals. Without them, ecosystems unravel. But while Queensland’s fauna often grabs the spotlight, many native plants are quietly slipping towards extinction—some are now found in only a single location, with populations small enough to count by hand.
Under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992, several species are listed as Critically Endangered. Among them, three stand out as powerful symbols of fragility and resilience: the Ormeau bottle tree, the Bulburin nut and the black grevillea.
Ormeau bottle tree (Brachychiton sp. “Ormeau”)
In the Gold Coast hinterland, tucked away in a small patch of dry rainforest near Wongawallan, grows the rarest of bottle trees. Fewer than 170 Ormeau bottle trees are left in the wild, with their entire population confined to less than one square kilometre. The tree is listed as Critically Endangered under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and Endangered under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA).
These ancient trees once formed part of extensive lowland rainforests, but decades of clearing have left only fragments behind. With such a limited range, the species is highly vulnerable to wildfire, weed invasion, insect attack and livestock damage.
Thanks to local conservation efforts, the main population now lies within the Wongawallan Conservation Area. The City of Gold Coast, researchers, and community partners are working together to propagate seedlings, bank seeds and restore habitat, all vital steps to securing this species’ future.
The Bulburin nut (Macadamia jansenii) is confined to just a single location.
Bulburin nut tree (Macadamia jansenii)
Further north, in Bulburin National Park near Miriam Vale, stands another Queensland native, the Bulburin nut, one of the world’s rarest trees. Discovered only in 1992, fewer than 120 mature trees remain, all within a single patch of rainforest less than half the size of Suncorp Stadium’s playing surface. The tree is listed as Endangered under the federal EPBC Act and Critically Endangered under Queensland’s NCA.
This wild macadamia is a close relative of the macadamia nuts we eat, but its genetic makeup is unique. Protecting it is vital for biodiversity and for the resilience of future macadamia crops.
A 2019 wildfire destroyed nearly one-third of the known trees, highlighting the dangers of all individuals living in one location. Since then, the Macadamia Conservation Trust, the Queensland Government and the botanic gardens have collaborated to grow “insurance” populations elsewhere and protect the wild site from weeds and fire. The Bulburin nut’s survival now rests on our collective care.
Black grevillea (Grevillea scortechinii subsp. scortechinii)
On the Granite Belt near Stanthorpe, the black grevillea clings to survival along road reserves and on private land. Its dark, purplish
flowers add colour to the dry landscapes of southern Queensland, but fewer than 1,500 of this species remain. The prostrate shrub is listed as Critically Endangered under both the federal EPBC Act and the Queensland NCA.
Illegal clearing in 2020 destroyed around 20 per cent of the population in a single incident. Weed invasion, drought, road verge incursions and unplanned fires continue to threaten the rest.
The Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium—supported by the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation—is developing a recovery plan to monitor populations, remove weeds and protect vital habitat. Their work shows that local community action can have a real impact.
Every plant counts
These species may be small in number, but their importance is immense. Conserving them means safeguarding the web of life they support, from pollinators and soil microbes to birds and mammals that depend on them for food and shelter.
You can also play a part. Wildlife Queensland proudly supports efforts to protect Queensland’s native flora through collaboration with the Queensland Threatened Plant Network, a community of botanists, land managers, and citizen scientists working to ensure these plant species endure. Join our Discover and Protect project on iNaturalist and record any threatened or unusual plant species you come across. Each photo and observation provides valuable data that helps scientists and conservationists monitor species, plan recovery efforts, and protect habitats before it is too late.
Every record matters. Every plant matters. Together, we can help these silent survivors of Queensland’s forests stand tall for generations to come.
What you can do
- Check out Wildlife Queensland’s Discover and Protect Program
- Download the iNaturalist app and join our project.
- Subscribe to our eBulletin Talking Wildlife to learn more about your local wildlife, plus Wildlife Queensland’s latest news and offers.