Cyathodes glauca

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms  > Eudicots > Asterids > Ericales >  Ericaceae > Cyathodes

Other links:     

Plant  information

Common name:                Purple cheeseberry

Conservation status:  unknown

Etymology:   

• The word 'Cyathodes' is in reference to the flower, describing it as 'cup-shaped'

• "Glauca' is derived from 'glaucous' which means blueish-grey or green, referring to the distinguishable, lighter colour on the underside of the leaves

Flowers:                  

• Flowers: numerous, mostly terminal flowers, solitary in axils of final whorl

• Slightly scented, they are small (1 cm), white and tubular with recurved lobes and protruding anthers

• They flower in spring and early summer

Fruit:                         

• Fruit: a distinctively pink/purple drupe, 1 cm in diameter

• Shape is that of a partially flattened tennis ball

Leaves:         

• Leaves: Dark green, linear and pointed 2–4 cm long

• They have parallel venation and form false whorls, particularly towards the end of the stem

• Undersides are distinctively glaucous

Stem & branches: 

• x

Roots:         

• x

Habit:        

• A woody shrub or small tree

Habitat:   

• Widespread and locally common understorey plant in open forest below 1100m (subalpine)

• It inhabits mostly subalpine, sclerophyll woodland or wet sclerophyll forest

Distribution:                  

• It is found almost only in Tasmania, Australia, with outlying occurrences in central-east NSW and far southwest South Australia

Additional notes:     

• Belongs to the 'heath' family, Ericaceae. 'Heath' refers to open, shrub-like communities which survive on well-drained and poor quality soils

• Ecology

  • Common dominant species that Cyathodes glauca occurs with are Leptospermum scoparium, Pultenaea daphnoides

  • Monotoca glauca and Acacia species

  • Cyathodes glauca prefers moist, well-drained/poor quality soil

  • As a result, it is often found on rocky slopes and boulder fields where clay soils overlay dolerite

  • Slopes are typically of a southeast aspect with gentle to moderate gradient and good drainage

• Affinities

  • There are three other known species within the genus Cyathodes

  • Cyathodes platystoma (a threatened species), has the largest leaves and is only found in wet sclerophyll forests of the Tasman Peninsula

  • Cyathodes straminea looks very similar to C. glauca although has smaller leaves, dark red drupes and is only found above 1100m

  • Other recognisable members of the family Ericaceae include blueberries, cranberries and rhododendrons