Springtime in Tasmania Pt. 5

SPRINGTIME IN TASMANIA - PART 5

TETRATHECA Tremandraceae

There are five species of Tetratheca in Tasmania; all have similar attractive flowers:

T. labillardierei (pictured left)
Lilac Bells/Black Eyed Susan

T. pilosa

T. procumbens

T. gunnii Shy Susan

T. cillata

T. labillardierei (Lilac Bells) is a common component of woodlands and heathlands especially on sandy soils. Leaves narrowly ovate, slightly narrowed into very short stalk, glandular, margins slightly revolute or toothed and is a much-branched undershrub to 60 cm; leaves, stems, flower stalks and calyces glandular hairy. Flowers mauve, stalked, like those of T.pilosa but larger and with persistent sepals. Flowering spring-summer and widespread from sea level to mountain foothills. Tas. Vic.

T. pilosa (Black-eyed Susan) is also a shrubby plant to 60 cm. and widespread in heaths and dry forests. Mauve or purple flowers, 4 petals, black stamens, often crowded along the upper part of the stem forming showy heads. Sepals lost as flower opens. Leaves narrow-linear, about 10 mm long. glabrous or hairy, soft with recurved margins. Tas. Vic. NSW. SA

T. procumbens is like T. pilosa but all parts very small, to 10 cm high. Some botanists view it as a small form of T. pilosa. Found in wet forests and montane. Tas. endemic.

T. cillata is a rare species which may be found at Green’s Beach near the Asbestos Range National Park, northern Tasmania. Tas. endemic.

TETRATHICA GUNNII
Tremandraceae
Shy Susan

This rare endemic closely resembles the related T.pilosa, but is smaller in its parts and importantly has virtually no anther tube. In other Tetrathecas the anther ends in an extended tube. T. gunnii, like others in this species, has a much higher success rate in seed-setting if cross pollinated, a role taken on in nature by native bees, but Tetrathecas have stamens whose anthers do not have the usual longitudinal slits from which pollen is released - they have terminal spores through which bees release the pollen by vibrating the downward pointing anther, a process known as buzz pollination.

Tetrathecas do not produce nectar either and
the only reward to pollinators is a small load of pollen. To attract the pollinators the plants
rely on nearby nectar-producing species which flower at the same time.

Since its discovery near Beaconsfield, which is an area of active mining leases, serious work has been done by the Threatened Species unit and the Royal Hobart Botanical Gardens, who propagated plants for reintroduction to the wild. Fenced enclosures to protect from rabbits and other browsing herbivores, plus artificial pollination - a tedious, laborious and physically demanding procedure - has shown excellent results. But it is still under threat due to habitat loss, increased traffic and the likely introduction of Phytophthera cinnamomi, a notorious fungal disease. The work of the Threatened Species unit will be very important in monitoring this beautiful species so that its survival chances
are maximised. (from a report by R. Skabo)
Tas. endemic

BRACHYSCOME SPATHULATA ssp. glabra Asteraceae
Blue Daisy

A perennial herb which may easily be overlooked when not in flower. Pale purple daisy flowers appear alone on a stem arising from a rosette of leaves which are thick and dark green with a number of serrations. The plants have numerous fleshy roots. Flowering
period is spring at lower altitudes and summer in alpine areas. This is a very tolerant species and grows on the dry sandstone soils near sea level, and in the alpine areas, but absent from the shady forest floors of the mid-altitudes.
Cultivation: easily propagated from seed which is readily collected. Not invasive in the garden but will self-seed.

OLEARIA STELLULATA                        Asteraceae (pictured)

A variable woody shrub, closely related to O. phlogopappa, 1.5 m tall with slender upright branches. Young growth, branches and underside of leaves densely covered with felty stellate hairs. Leaves oblong to lanceolate 5-9 cm long. 7.5-20 mm wide, margins usually coarsely and evenly toothed, upper surface reticulate, rough to the touch, dark green, under surface fawn with dense covering of stellate hairs. Flower heads numerous on long stalks, 1 or 2 together terminating short lateral branches, florets white, occasionally blue.
Fruit with pappus, achenese (one-seeded dry fruit, thin walled, formed from one carpel), hairy. Flowering September-February. Widespread, in margins of wet forests especially in the south.
Tas. Vic. NSW. Qld.
Information courtesy of Launceston Field Naturalists Club.

OLEARIA PHLOGOPAPPA                        Asteraceae
Daisy Bush

A very widespread daisy bush; several distinct varieties are recognised. Leaves and young branches greyish with dense covering of stellate hairs. Upper surface of older leaves usually green (one variety retains the greyish-yellow hairs). Leaves narrow-elliptical, margins crenate or irregularly toothed or occasionally entire. Flower heads white, 2 cm across, numerous in branched inflorescences or solitary, on terminal and lateral shoots.
Blue or pink forms exist. Fruit with pappus. Flowering spring. Common in many places from sea level to mountains, frequent on wet hillsides. Tas. Vic. NSW
Information courtesy of Launceston Field Naturalists Club.

BORONIA GUNNII Rutaceae

Is unusual in the genus in that it grows in rocky high-energy flood prone areas along rivers in Tasmania. The stems are very flexible and can almost be tied in a loose knot without breaking.
Tas. Endemic.
Information Tasmanian Herbarium

LUZULA Spp . Juncaceae
Wood-rush
(Luzula flaccida pictured)

Luzula sp. A small rush-like plant with flat more or less hairy leaves. Flower heads terminal, stalked either solitary or several in a loose umbel according to species. Heads
globose or ovoid in shades of brown and cream. Each flower head consists of many flowers each surrounded by papery bracts, each flower with a perianth of 6 papery
segments, 3 or 6 stamens and 1-celled ovary. Fruit a small nut. Luzula differs from rushes (Juncus spp.) in having hairy leaves and one chambered 3-seeded fruits. The genus is under revision and the number of species in Tasmania is greater than previously thought.
Various common species exist throughout the State. Most species flowering in spring-summer.
Common throughout Australia
Information courtesy of Launceston Field Naturalists Club.

PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6