Trochocarpa thymifolia 

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots > Asterids >  Asterids > Basal Asterids > Ericales > Ericaceae > Trochocarpa  thymifolia

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Plant  information

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Flowers

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• Trochocarpa thymifolia is a species of flowering plant from the family Ericacae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a widespread alpine and subalpine shrub with small leaves, pink to red flowers and blue to purple fruit. Originally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1810, it is a widespread Tasmanian endemic that inhabits the state's mountain regions.

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• Description

• Mature plants form erect, bushy shrubs growing to around 1m in height. Leaves are small (2–4 mm long), densely-packed, ovate to elliptic in shape and are alternate in arrangement. The succulent leaves are dark green, with a red tinge around the margins and are slightly lighter green on the underside. Parallel venation is clear on the abaxial surface (underside) of the leaf which is a distinguishing characteristic of the Ericaceae family.[2] The tubular flowers possess 5 lobes, of about 4mm in length and range from pink to red in colour. Inflorescences form a dense cluster of drooping terminal spikes that are 1.5 cm long with the yellow filaments of the stamens being prominent sitting just outside of the floral tube.[3] Fruits are spherical, fleshy and present in a blue to purple/mauve colour at approximately 8 mm in diameter.[4] Fruits and flowers typically occur simultaneously, creating stunning displays of contrasting colours and textures alongside the neat foliage

• Taxonomy

  • This taxon was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown who gave it the name Diaspora thymifolia in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen

  • In 1824, Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel changed the name to Trochocapra thymifolia in Systema Vegetabilium.[8][9] The specific epithet (thymifolia) means "thyme-leaved"

  • Species differentiation

  • Trochocarpa thymifolia is distinguished from the other three rainforest species of Trochocarpa occurring in Tasmania by its leaves that are only 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long

• Habitat and distribution

  • Trochocarpa thymifolia is widespread in Tasmania, often found in alpine heaths, open subalpine forests woodlands and occasionally inhabiting sites that are more exposed amidst dolerite boulders

  • The species favours areas that have acidic soils, are well drained and moist in its environment.

  • The species is widespread around the state clustering in alpine zones above the tree line

  • This range in altitude varies across the state from 750m in the southwest to 1400m in the northeast

  • Populations are largely located at Mount Field, Mount Wellington (Kunanyi), Tasman and Southwest National Parks in the south and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair, Walls of Jerusalem and Ben Lomond National Parks in the north

Sources of information:

• (2023)