Even so, the mint has been reclassified as "vulnerable" on account of its limited range.
(Related: "Nursing an "Extinct" Tree Back to Health" [March 5, 2003].)
Little Known
Scientists know little about the ecology of the herb R. cavernarum, said Gordon Guymer, director of the QEPA's Queensland Herbarium.
"We only know it from a few scattered locations, so we don't have a precise idea of what its range or habitat requirements are."
R. cavernarum faces competition from exotic weeds, cattle grazing, and bushfires.
But cultivating specimens in greenhouses would be a last resort, especially since breeding can be difficult, Guymer added.
"The first thing to do is to monitor these populations, identify any threats, and see whether we can manage or control those threats.
"Our preference is for in situ management."
Both species may also benefit from an Australian national park expansion program announced recently.
Under the new plan, an extra 50 percent of Queensland's wilderness will be protected by 2020—creating a total of 46,332 square miles (12 million hectares).
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