Friends of Minnamurra Rainforest volunteers recently discovered a strand of the endangered Illawarra Socketwood tree struggling for survival within a thicket of weeds in Budderoo National Park. 

Friends of Minnamurra Rainforest, a group of bush regenerators, were weeding lantana and cape ivy by Minnamurra Creek in July when they uncovered the small stand of plants. 

Juliet Dingle, NPWS South Coast Volunteer Supervisor, said the find was a delightful surprise that rewarded the volunteers for their years of hard work. 

“Many of the volunteers are keen to learn the names of rainforest plants, so I encourage them to call me over to identify native trees and seedlings that they find amongst the weeds,” Ms Dingle said. 

“On this particular day they called me over and I realised that they had discovered a previously unrecorded stand of Daphnandra johnsonii, otherwise known as Illawarra Socketwood. 

“This species only occurs in a handful of places in the world, all of them here in the Illawarra region, and at first glance it’s easy to confuse it with the very common Sassafras. 

“But this stand is most definitely one of our rarest rainforest plants that thankfully are no longer hidden under thick, strangling lantana. 

“These stunted saplings will now make a break for the canopy and eventually grow to around 20 metres tall. 

“Once established they’ll provide shelter, fruit and flowers for rainforest birds such as native pigeons, parrots and honeyeaters.’’ 

Dr Kevin Mills, Illawarra Rainforest ecology expert and Friends of Minnamurra Rainforest member said this is the largest specimen of Illawarra Socketwood he has come across in the Minnamurra Rainforest. 

“Daphnandra johnsonii is only found in our region, so its conservation depends entirely on appropriately managing these few remnants of the original rainforest,” Dr Mills said. 

“Friends will continue to nurture this previously unknown site, keep it clear from weeds and make sure these saplings thrive.” 

Education around the conservation of this species and other threatened rainforest trees will continue at Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, one of the largest outdoor environmental education locations in NSW with some 15,000 school children visiting each year.