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Abrotanella forsteroides
Species of plant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Abrotanella forsteroides, commonly known as the Tasmanian cushion plant, is an angiosperm endemic to Tasmania, Australia. The plant is a dicot species in the daisy family Asteraceae and can be identified by its bright green and compact cushion like appearance.
Cushion plant moorland - Mt. Field, Tasmania.
Safe assessment of cushion plant communities (weight distributed evenly) in Mt. Field, Tasmania.
The term cushion plant refers to a characteristic growth habit adopted by a variety of species and families growing in alpine and subalpine environments. The growth habit is an adaptation to low nutrient areas and typically involves deep tap roots and densely-packed stems, which decay to form a layer of peat under the plants. This dense growth pattern provides insulating properties to the plant, preventing root exposure to sub-zero temperatures, and forms a mat- or cushion-like structure.[1]
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Description
A herbaceous perennial, the plant is low growing, woody, compact and spreads in mat-like manner to 3 metres (10 ft) in diameter.[1] The large mat is commonly interspersed with other cushion plant species such as Dracophyllum minimum and Donatia novae-zelandiae.[2] The leaves are bright green, thick, crowded and sheathing from the base to a pointed tip with a single fine hair, the blades 2 millimetres (1⁄8 in) long.[3] Flowering occurs from December–February. The flowers are small, solitary, tubular and white, positioned above the foliage.[3]
Similar species
Abrotanella forsteroides is commonly mistaken for Dracophyllum minimum and Donatia novae-zelandieae due to their vegetatively similar appearances. However, D. minimum is distinguished by its reddish leaf tips and lack of hair and D. novae-zelandiae is distinguished by the presence of hairy leaf axils.[4]
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Distribution and habitat
Abrotanella forsteroides is commonly found in alpine and sub-alpine regions of Tasmania above 1,200 metres (3,900 ft).[5] The plant is widespread in screes and alpine moors, and forms mosaics with other cushion plants. It typically occupies areas with high rainfall and poorly drained, shallow fibrous peaty soils.[6]
Sensitivity
Cushion plants are extremely sensitive to being trampled on by bushwalkers due to their slow growing nature.[7]
References
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