Dracophyllum minimum

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms  > Eudicots > Asterids > Ericales > Ericaceae  > Drachophyllum  minimum

Other links:

Plant  information

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:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracophyllum_minimum (2023)