Brachychiton sp. Ormeau (L.H. Bird AQ435851), commonly known as the Ormeau bottle tree, is listed as Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Undescribed and extremely rare, it is known only from several sites within a very small geographic range near Ormeau in south-east Queensland. Using microsatellite markers developed for this study, we found Brachychiton sp. Ormeau to be genetically distinct from several closely related species, confirming unique specific status. We also assessed levels of genetic variation found within B. sp. Ormeau subpopulations to provide recommendations for recovery projects. The species exhibited low levels of variation (H_e = 0.065); however, no evidence of inbreeding (F = –0.290). We infer that the species’ current restricted range and low genetic diversity is due to a combination of the effects of well documented climate shifts across the Plio-Pleistocene, exacerbated by extensive rates of relatively recent and ongoing human-mediated habitat loss. Our results suggest that, to enhance the long-term viability of B. sp. Ormeau, the most effective recovery strategies include the protection and restoration of the existing remnant habitat, as well as enhancement of local subpopulations and existing isolated plants, with additional plants to increase the genetic diversity.

Brachychiton sp. Ormeau (LH Bird AQ435851)，通常被称为 Ormeau 瓶树，根据1999 年《环境保护和生物多样性保护法案》被列为极度濒危物种。 未描述且极为罕见，仅在 Ormeau 附近一个非常小的地理范围内的几个地点已知在昆士兰东南部。使用为本研究开发的微卫星标记，我们发现了Brachychiton sp。Ormeau 与几个密切相关的物种在基因上不同，证实了独特的特定状态。我们还评估了在B. sp. 中发现的遗传变异水平。Ormeau 亚群为恢复项目提供建议。种表现出变异的低水平（ħ _Ë= 0.065); 然而，没有近亲繁殖的证据 ( F = –0.290)。我们推断，该物种目前的有限范围和低遗传多样性是由于上新世 - 更新世有据可查的气候变化的综合影响，而相对近期和持续的人类介导的栖息地丧失的广泛速率加剧了这一影响。我们的结果表明，为了提高B. sp.的长期生存能力。Ormeau，最有效的恢复策略包括保护和恢复现有的残余栖息地，以及增强当地亚群和现有的孤立植物，增加植物以增加遗传多样性。