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Abrotanella forsteroides

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abrotanella forsteroides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Abrotanella
Species:
A. forsteroides
Binomial name
Abrotanella forsteroides
Synonyms
  • Scleroleima forsteroides Hook.f.
Cushion plant moorland - Mt. Field, Tasmania.
Safe assessment of cushion plant communities (weight distributed evenly) in Mt. Field, Tasmania.

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.  

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]

Description

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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 (18 in) long.[3] Flowering occurs from December–February. The flowers are small, solitary, tubular and white, positioned above the foliage.[3]

Similar species

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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]

Distribution and habitat

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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

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Cushion plants are extremely sensitive to being trampled on by bushwalkers due to their slow growing nature.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gibson, Neil (December 1988). A study on the biology of four Tasmanian cushion species (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Tasmania. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". Key To Tasmanian Vascular Plants. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  3. ^ a b Howells, Christine (2021). Tasmania’s Natural Flora (3rd ed.).
  4. ^ "Abrotanella forsteroides (Asteraceae) 2:371". Key to Tasmanian Vascular Plants. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  5. ^ Wagstaff, Steven J.; Breitwieser, Ilse; Swenson, Ulf (2006). "Origin and Relationships of the Austral Genus Abrotanella (Asteraceae) Inferred from DNA Sequences". Taxon. 55 (1): 95–106. doi:10.2307/25065531. ISSN 0040-0262.
  6. ^ Kitchener, A; Harris, S. "From Forest to Fjaeldmark: Descriptions of Tasmania's Vegetation (Edition 2)". Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  7. ^ "Cushion plants". Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania. Archived from the original on 27 Feb 2020. Retrieved 2023-03-26.