Dracophyllum minimum
Heath Cushionplant
Heath Cushionplant
Wikipedia links: Angiosperms > Eudicots > Asterids > Ericales > Ericaceae > Drachophyllum minimum
Other links:
Common name: Heath Cushionplant
Also, Claspleaf heath
Conservation status: . . .
Etymology:
Flowers:
The flowers are small, solitary, white, and tubular, sitting directly on top of the foliage
Fruit:
Leaves:
The leaves are bright green and sessile, with reddish tips
Has a broad sheathing base as long as the blade, approx 3 to 4 mm
Stem & branches:
Roots:
Habit:
A highly compacted cushion plant that grows close to the ground
It can form a large spreading mat, often interspersed with other cushion plant species such as Oreobolus pumilio, Abrotanella forsteroides, Donatia novae-zelandiae and Mitrasacme archeri
This undulating mat of mixed species is referred to as mosaic cushion heath
Habitat:
Alpine areas
Distribution:
Endemic to Tasmania
Commonly found in alpine areas of the south, centre and west of Tasmania
Additional notes:
The plant can often be mistaken for the vegetatively similar cushion plants Abrotanella forsterioides and Donatia novae-zelandieae, however D. minimum is distinguished by its lack of a hairpoint on the leaf tip or hairy leaf axils
Cuchion plants are extremely slow growing and can occupy sites for a long period of time
Sources of information: