The plight of a drought -ravaged plant found "nowhere else in the world but the NSW central tablelands" has prompted a cry for help from the Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment (DPIE) to property owners between Wellington and Bathurst.
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The department is asking them to help find more populations of the native of NSW and endangered species, Zieria obcordata.
It currently knows of "only two small populations" near Wellington and Bathurst.
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The worst drought in living memory has reduced the number of the plants in the wild to about 200.
Zieria obcordata can cope with moderate drought conditions but is "highly susceptible" to extreme summer heatwaves lasting more than five days.
Only above-average rainfall can regenerate the plant.
The department credits community members with saving the species from the drought and hungry animals including deers, goats and wallabies.
The DPIE's threatened species officer Darren Shelly is hoping more populations exist.
"We think there might be more undiscovered populations of this Zieria on private properties between Wellington and Bathurst," he said.
".. we are asking for the local community's help in reporting sightings of this rare plant."
The DPIE is already getting support for its campaign from a government program and the Central Tablelands Local Land Service (LLS).
Volunteers with the state government's Saving our Species program have been protecting the Zieria obcordata.
The LLS has told the department of its interest in joining the Saving our Species team in looking for new populations of the threatened species.
The Zieria obcordata is described as a small shrub.
It is typically 10 to 40 centimetres high and identifiable by its dark green leaves composed of three wedge-shaped leaflets.
Its flowers comprise four very small pale-pink petals which fade rapidly to white.
The plant usually flowers between August and October and grows on rocky hillsides or crevices between granite boulders, often in lines running downslope.
The Zieria obcordata's conservation status in NSW and the Commonwealth is endangered.
Sightings of the plant can be reported to savingou...@environment.nsw.gov.au.
