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THREATENED SPECIES - AUSTRALIAN FLORA
COLOURED COINS

The Threatened Species-Australian Flora Silver Coin Series,
is comprised of five coloured coins created by the Perth Mint,
under the authority of the Cook Islands government. Made from
99.9% silver, the designs on the coins emphasize Australia's
incredibly diverse plant life, which can be traced back to the
ancient super continent Gondwanaland. 135 million years ago
Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Madagascar, South America
and Antarctica were all bound together and there are strong
botanical links between the plants of these continents.
Plants have appeared and disappeared over time in response
to changing climatic conditions and evolutionary processes.
Plants may be rare because they are remains of past ecosystems,
they are adapted to highly specific environmental niches, or
they are newly evolved and not yet widespread. Whatever the
reason, the biggest threat to Australian Flora is unmanaged
human activity. The five threatened plant species that the
Perth Mint has chosen to showcase the nature and extent
of Australia's plant life, and stress the need for its preservation.
This five coin set has been limited to 4000 sets. Below is a brief
description of those five plants.

Milligania Johnstonii
Found only in Tasmania, this slow growing, tiny and beautiful
plant has long, wide leaves, broadly sheathed at the base and
tapering to a point. Flowers are white, with greenish centers
and spreading petals, and occur in clusters of three to six.
Flowering occurs from December to January.

Eucalyptus Recurva
Australia's rarest eucalypt is known in only two locations near
the village of Mongarlowe, 20km east of Braidewood on the Southern
Tablelands of New South Wales.

Ptychosperma Bleeseri
This palm is known in only seven populations within a small area
near Darwin, in the Northern Territory. A slender palm that can
grow up to 12 metres high, it has a green trunk which is only
3-6cm wide, but it uses other plants for support and grows in clumps.

Idiospermum Australiense
This unique and ancient plant survives only near Cape Tribulation
in north-eastern Queensland. Also known as a Ribbonwood, this primitive
small to medium rainforest tree species dates back to Gondwanaland and
requires a highly specific habitat in which to survive.

Caladenia dilatata
This orchid belongs to a very large family of orchids that vary
considerably in size and shape. This example was found at one known
location at Mt Canobolas, near Orange in New South Wales. There are
only 50 known plants in the wild.

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ONLY $256.00AU

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