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| Triplarina nowraensis another Endangered Species in the Nowra area | Watching Which Whale |
Previously known as Baekea camphorata and part of the Baekea genus of more than 100 species, the Triplarina species has now been revised to accomodate the floral variation observed by botanists.
Triplarina is endemic to Australia and is confined to Queensland and New South Wales.
Triplarina nowraensis is known only from the just to the west and south-west of Nowra. None of these locations is in a conservation reserve.
Its habitat is sandstone heathland close to stream channels or swampy slopes. Commonly associated species include Leptospermum polygalifoliuym, Melaleuca linariifolia, Melaleuca thymifolia, Baeckea virgata and Kunzea ambigua.
This shrub flowers in November-December.
Triplarina nowraensis has been recorded at ''Bundanon' (Illaroo Road area), Nowra Creek (Yalwal Road), Flat Rock Creek (Yalwal Road), adjacent to the Nowra Tip (Yalwal Road area), Wombat Flat Fire road (Boolijong Creek valley).
In the immediate Nowra area, it is threatened by urban expansion between Filter Road and Flat Rock Dam.
May Leatch
Whale watchers have been rewarded the past few weeks with numerous sightings. During June and July, Humpback and Southern Right Whales are moving north from the Great Southern Ocean to warmer waters off Queensland to calve.
Governor's Head, the old Cape St. George Lighthouse and St George's Head provide excellent vantage points in Booderee (Jervis Bay) Nationl Park.
Whales may also be spotted as they return south with their calves in November.
The two whales are easily differentiated. The Southern Right Whale has angular flukes, small flippers and no dorsal fin, whereas the Humpback has conspicuously curved flukes, very long flippers and a small dorsal fin.