Astelia alpina

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Astelia alpina
Mt wellington pineapple grass.jpg
Astelia alpina at the summit of Mount Wellington
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asteliaceae
Genus: Astelia
Species:
A. alpina
Binomial name
Astelia alpina

Astelia alpina called pineapple grass, silver astelia, or perching lily is a commonly found species in alpine and subalpine areas of Tasmania and the Australian Alps. [1] It is a perennial herb that typically dominates its environment by growing in dense clusters, called mats, in alpine bogs. [2] There are two subspecies: Astelia alpina var. novae hollandiae from New South Wales and Victoria and Astelia alpina var. alpina endemic to Tasmania. [3] Both subspecies appear very similar to each other. [4] The species was originally described by Robert Brown. [5]

Contents

Description

Pineapple grass has green leaves with silvery, hairy undersides, appearing similar to the vegetative leaves of a pineapple plant. The leaves are up to 30 cm long, 2–3 cm wide, tapering to a point at the end. [6] Leaves are stiff and have recurved margins. [5] The lower surface is covered with many fine white hairs, called trichomes, while the upper surface is green with the occasional hair. When viewed under the microscope, each trichome has a base of two glandular cells that stains dark. [3] Flowers are small and white-green. When present at the base of the leaves, fruits are red ovals about 12mm long, fleshy, and edible. [5] [6] The male panicle has 10-60 flowers, while the female panicle has a maximum of 30 flowers. [7]

Taxonomy

The word Astelia comes from Greek, where "a" means without and "stele" means trunk, referring to the very small stem and style. Alpinus comes from Latin, in reference to its preferred habitat. It is normally known as pineapple grass because its vegetative growth looks like pineapple leaves, but has also been called silver astelia, perching lily, and very rarely, artichoke. [8]

Despite its common name, pineapple grass is not a grass, and is more closely related to the lilies. [2] Based on the current taxonomy for Asteliaceae, Astelia alpina's closest relatives include A. subulata , A. solandri , A. grandis , A. nervosa , A. chathamica , and A. fragrans . [3] More recent genetic studies, however, indicate that the current taxonomy is not monophyletic, and reclassification is required. This classification suggests that A. alpina var. alpina is as closely related to A. alpina var. novaehollandiae as it is to A. papuana , A. linearis var. linearis, A. subulata, and A. linearis var. novae-zelandiae. It is also closely related to A. hemichrysa , but a major branch point exists separating it from the other species of Astelia . [9]

Reproduction

Flowers appear on pineapple grass in summer on structures called racemes. [2] This species is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are found in different plants. Like other species of Astelia, which grow in areas that are moist and humid, the ovary is full of mucilage, which is thought to function in pollen transmittance. [10] Humans can facilitate asexual reproduction by breaking apart mature clumps and planting them separately. [2] Males produce more flowers and inflorescences than females. [1]

Distribution and habitat

Astelia alpina at the summit of Mount Wellington, Tasmania. Vegetative fronds of astelia alpina at mt wellington.jpg
Astelia alpina at the summit of Mount Wellington, Tasmania.

Pineapple grass is commonly found in the subalpine and alpine areas of Tasmania and the Australian Alps. [2] In these habitats, plants must be tough to survive the harsh wind exposure, hot sun in summer, and freezing in winter. [4] The Tasmanian species typically dominates alpine sedgeland and is found on all mountains in Tasmania. It prefers moist soils, and often occurs together with the coral fern ( Gleichenia alpina ), and other alpine plants including Empodisma minus , Carpha alpina , and Restio australis . [11]

Ecology

Astelia alpina is often a pioneer species following fires in alpina areas. [12] Alpine herbland and sedgeland is typically dominated by Astelia alpina 10–20 years after a fire, a community that generally replaces deciduous and coniferous heath. [13] Western alpine sedgeland in Tasmania is less dependent on fire to exist than sedgelands in eastern Tasmania. [11] It has a variable form and dominance depending on location and habitat (Table 1).

Table 1: Description of vegetative coverage by Pineapple Grass, Astelia alpina, in different locations. Different locations display different form and dominance patterns.

LocationElevation above sea levelDescription of vegetationDominance of vegetation
Wombat Moor, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania1070mRobust clumps of pineapple grass growing to 60 cm tall.Shares dominance with the coral fern, Gleichenia alpina, with about 40% coverage of pineapple grass.
Hansons Peak, Cradle Mountain National Park, Tasmania1185mSparse clumps of pineapple grass growing to 15 cm tall.Pineapple grass is not dominant here - the coral fern dominates with a number of members of the family Ericaceae interspersed. About 10% coverage of pineapple grass.
Ladies Tarn, Mt Hartz National Park, Tasmania979mThick clumps of pineapple grass growing to 40 cm tall.Pineapple grass has about 30% coverage here, combined with coral fern and other high elevation shrubs.

Conservation

This species is not considered to be at risk in the wild. [2] The community it dominates, alpine sedgeland, is classified as Highland Treeless Vegetation, which is most threatened by fires, and pressures associated with bushwalkers. [14]

Uses and cultivation

Pineapple grass is not widely cultivated, but the berries are edible. It prefers high altitude conditions with wet soil and plenty of light. If it is being grown at low altitudes, it is more suited to colder climates. [2] Seed collection from native plants is possible. [4] The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that "The fruit is sweet, and the bases of the leaves are eaten". [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>Diselma</i> Genus of conifers

Diselma archeri is a species of plant of the family Cupressaceae and the sole species in the genus Diselma. It is endemic to the alpine regions of Tasmania's southwest and Central Highlands, on the western coast ranges and Lake St. Clair. It is a monotypic genus restricted to high altitude rainforest and moist alpine heathland. Its distribution mirrors very closely that of other endemic Tasmanian conifers Microcachrys tetragona and Pherosphaera hookeriana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteliaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Asteliaceae is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.

<i>Athrotaxis cupressoides</i> Species of conifer

Athrotaxis cupressoides, is also known as pencil pine, despite being a species of the family Cupressaceae, and not a member of the pine family. Found either as an erect shrub or as a tree, this species is endemic to Tasmania, Australia. Trees can live for upwards of 1000 years, sustaining a very slow growth rate of approximately 12 mm in diameter per year.

<i>Donatia novae-zelandiae</i> Species of flowering plant

Donatia novae-zelandiae is a species of mat-forming cushion plant, found only in New Zealand and Tasmania. Common names can include New Zealand Cushion or Snow Cushion, however Snow Cushion also refers to Iberis sempervirens. Donatia novae-zelandiae forms dense spirals of thick, leathery leaves, creating a hardy plant that typically exists in alpine and subalpine bioclimatic zones.

<i>Astelia</i> Genus of plants

Astelia is a genus of flowering plants in the recently named family Asteliaceae. They are rhizomatous tufted perennials native to various islands in the Pacific, Indian, and South Atlantic Oceans, as well as to Australia and to the southernmost tip of South America. A significant number of the known species are endemic to New Zealand. The species generally grow in forests, swamps and amongst low alpine vegetation; occasionally they are epiphytic.

<i>Orites revolutus</i> Species of plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to Tasmania

Orites revolutus , also known as narrow-leaf orites, is a Tasmanian endemic plant species in the family Proteaceae. Scottish botanist Robert Brown formally described the species in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London in 1810 from a specimen collected at Lake St Clair. Abundant in alpine and subalpine heath, it is a small to medium shrub 0.5 to 1.5 m tall, with relatively small, blunt leaves with strongly revolute margins. The white flowers grow on terminal spikes during summer. Being proteaceaous, O. revolutus is likely to provide a substantial food source for nectivorous animal species within its range.

<i>Gleichenia alpina</i> Species of fern

Gleichenia alpina, commonly known as alpine coral-fern, is a small fern species that occurs in Tasmania and New Zealand. It grows in alpine and subalpine areas with moist soils and is a part of the Gleichrniaceae family.

Alpine vegetation refers to the zone of vegetation between the altitudinal limit for tree growth and the nival zone. Alpine zones in Tasmania can be difficult to classify owing to Tasmania's maritime climate limiting snow lie to short periods and the presence of a tree line that is not clearly defined.

<i>Eucalyptus pulchella</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus pulchella, commonly known as the white peppermint or narrow-leaved peppermint, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Tasmania. it has smooth bark, sometimes with rough fibrous bark on older trees, linear leaves, flower buds in groups of nine to twenty or more, white flowers and cup-shaped to shortened spherical fruit.

<i>Campynema</i> Genus of flowering plants

Campynema is a genus in the family Campynemataceae first described in 1805. It contains only one known species (monotypic), Campynema lineare, endemic to the island of Tasmania in Australia. Its closest relative is Campynemanthe, endemic to New Caledonia, sole other genus of the family.

<i>Richea gunnii</i> Species of flowering plant

Richea gunnii, the bog candleheath or Gunns richea, is an endemic Tasmanian angiosperm. It is a dicot of the family Ericaceae and is found in Central, Western and North-east Tasmania.

<i>Poa gunnii</i> Species of grass

Poa gunnii is a Tasmanian endemic tussock grass considered one of the most abundant and common in alpine and subalpine environments from about 800 m to above 1400 m. However it can be found to near sea level in the south of the island state where a cooler climate is prevalent. The genus Poa belongs to the family Poaceae. Tasmania has 16 native and 6 introduced species of Poa.

<i>Chordifex hookeri</i> Species of flowering plant

Chordifex hookeri is commonly known as woolly buttonrush or cord-rush. It is a rush species of the genus Chordifex in the family Restionaceae. The species is endemic to Tasmania.

<i>Xyris marginata</i> Species of yelloweyed grass

Xyris marginata, commonly known as alpine yellow eye, was first collected by German-Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1875. Xyris marginata is a monocot in the family Xyridaceae which is endemic to King Island (Tasmania) and Tasmania, commonly growing in button grass moorlands, at altitudes of up to 1070 meters (3,510.5 ft) above sea level.

<i>Chionogentias diemensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Chionogentias diemensis is a flowering herbaceous alpine plant in the family Gentianaceae, endemic to the island of Tasmania in Australia. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian mountain gentian. Chionogentias diemensis has been classified into two sub-species: the Tasmanian snow-gentian and the Ben Lomond snow-gentian.

<i>Carpha alpina</i> Species of grass-like plant

Carpha alpina, commonly known as small flower-rush, is a tufted perennial sedge from the family Cyperaceae. It is found primarily in south-east Australia and both islands of New Zealand, but also in Papua New Guinea.

<i>Abrotanella forsteroides</i> Species of plant

Abrotanella forsteroides, commonly known as the Tasmanian cushion plant, is an endemic angiosperm of Tasmania, Australia. The plant is a dicot species of the daisy family Asteraceae and can be identified by its bright green and compact cushion like appearance. 

<i>Olearia ledifolia</i> Species of shrub

Olearia ledifolia, commonly known as rock daisy bush, is a species of flowering plant of the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to Tasmania and found at higher altitudes where it grows as a low, compact bush with tough, leathery leaves and small white and yellow daisy-like "flowers" in summer.

<i>Dracophyllum minimum</i> Species of plant

Dracophyllum minimum, commonly known as heath cushionplant or claspleaf heath, is a species of bolster cushion plant endemic to Tasmania, Australia. It is a low growing, highly compacted plant with white flowers, commonly found in alpine areas of the south, centre and west of Tasmania.

<i>Leptecophylla oxycedrus</i> Australian shrub

Leptecophylla oxycedrus, commonly referred to as coastal pinkberry or crimson berry, is a medium shrub to large tree native to Tasmania and southern Victoria. It is part of the family Ericaceae and has narrow, pointed leaves, white flowers and pale pink fruits. It was previously classified as a subspecies of Leptecophylla juniperina but has since been raised to the specific level in 2017. The species was originally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière in Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen which was published after his voyage through Oceania.

References

  1. 1 2 Pickering, C.M., Jordan, M., and Hill, W. (2004) "Sexual dimorphism and sex ratios of two Australian dioecious species of alpine pineapple grass, Astelia alpina var. novae-hollandiae and Astelia psychrocharis (Asteliaceae) Nordic Journal of Botany, 23(2): 225-236
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Australian Native Plants Society (2009) "Guide to Australian Plants; Astelia alpina" Retrieved 2016-03-16
  3. 1 2 3 Maciunas, E., Conran, J.G., Bannister, J.M., Paull, R., and Lee, D.E. (2011) "Miocene Astelia (Asparagales: Asteliaceae) macrofossils from southern New Zealand" Australian Systematic Botany 24(1): 19-31
  4. 1 2 3 Collier, P. (1998) “Wildflowers of Mt Wellington” Society for Growing Australian Plants, Tasmanian Region
  5. 1 2 3 Minchin, R.F. (2005) “Wildflowers of Tasmania: A Field Guide by R.F. (Bob) Minchin DCM” Peregrine Pty Ltd, Tasmania
  6. 1 2 Jordan, G. (2011) "Key to Tasmanian Vascular Plants: Astelia alpina" University of Tasmania. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  7. ↑ Curtis, W.M., and Morris, D.I. (1994) “The Student’s Flora of Tasmania Part 4B: Angiospermae: Alismataceae to Burmanniaceae” St David’s Park Publishing, Hobart Tasmania
  8. ↑ Wapstra, M., Wapstra, A., and Wapstra, H. (2010) “Tasmanian plant names unravelled” Fullers Bookshop Pty Ltd. Launceston, Tasmania.
  9. ↑ Birch, J.L., Keeley, S.C., and Morden, C.W. (2012) "Molecular phylogeny and dating of Asteliaceae (Asparagales): Astelia s.l. evolution provides insight into the Oligocene history of New Zealand" Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 65(1): 102-115
  10. ↑ Kocyan, A. and Endress, P.K. (2001) "Floral structure and development and systematic aspects of some 'lower' Asparagales" Plant Systematics and Evolution 229(3-4): 187-216
  11. 1 2 Kirkpatrick, J. (1997) “Alpine Tasmania: An illustrated guide to the flora and vegetation” Oxford University Press, Singapore
  12. ↑ Parks and Wildlife Service (2008) "Alpine and Subalpine Plants of Tasmania Communities: Subalpine and Alpine Shrubby Heaths" Retrieved 2016-03-21
  13. ↑ Kirkpatrick, J.B., and Dickinson, K.J.M. (1984) "The impact of fire on Tasmanian alpine vegetation and soils" Australian Journal of Botany 32(6): 613-629
  14. ↑ Kitchener, A., and Harris, S. (2005) “From forest to fjaeldmark: descriptions of Tasmania’s vegetation” Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. Hobart Tasmania.
  15. ↑ J. H. Maiden (1889). The useful native plants of Australia : Including Tasmania. Turner and Henderson, Sydney.
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