A CENTRAL Victorian man has discovered a plant never seen before in Victoria.
Jim Irving uncovered the Sticky Daisy Bush while walking in a state forest near Inglewood.
A member of the Friends of Kooyoora, Mr Irving said he never would have noticed the plant if it hadn’t been in flower.
It has previously only been found in South Australia. Department of Sustainability and Environment biodiversity officer Julie Whitfield said people such as Mr Irving and the Friends of Kooyoora were essential in identifying and protecting new and threatened species.
“Local people and conservation groups are our eyes out in the field because they are working, living and playing in areas that may have interesting and endangered plants and animals,” Ms Whitfield said.
“We work together whenever we can to protect and enhance our local environment and there is a vital relationship between DSE and community groups to aid the conservation of rare and threatened species.”
A sample of the plant has been sent to the Melbourne Herbarium for identification.
There are now plans to expand the three colonies found locally and have a population maintained at the herbarium.
“Discovering this particular species is really interesting because it has never been found in Victoria before,” Ms Whitfield said.
“We don’t know how it got here, or whether it was here all along and just never seen before.”
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