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.
A cushion plant is a compact, low-growing, mat-forming plant that is found in alpine, subalpine, arctic, or subarctic environments around the world. The term "cushion" is usually applied to woody plants that grow as spreading mats, are limited in height above the ground, have relatively large and deep tap roots, and have life histories adapted to slow growth in a nutrient-poor environment with delayed reproductivity and reproductive cycle adaptations. The plant form is an example of parallel or convergent evolution with species from many different plant families on different continents converging on the same evolutionary adaptations to endure the harsh environmental conditions.
Ewartia planchonii, commonly known as creeping cushionherb, is an endemic herb to alpine areas of Tasmania. E. planchonii is commonly found in the western highlands of Tasmania. The Ewartia genus is described as cushion plants/herbs due to the characteristic growth habits of low growing, highly compact mats which are made up of highly packed stems. These mats are slow-growing and are often located in soils that contain low nutrients.
Ozothamnus ferrugineus, commonly known as tree everlasting, is a member of the genus Ozothamnus, of the Asteraceae family - one of the largest families of flowering plants in Australia. Native to the Australian states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, it forms an erect shrub or small tree between 2 and 3 metres in height.
Geranium potentilloides, belongs to the family Geraniaceae, and is a small prostrate perennial herb that can grow up to 60cm high. The species is commonly referred to as Soft Cranesbill or Cinquefoil geranium.
Pterygopappus is a genus of flowering plants in the Gnaphalieae tribe within the daisy family. There is only one known species Pterygopappus lawrencii which is endemic to alpine Tasmania. It forms thick, light blue/green mats with densely packed leaves. It is most common in the mountains of the northeastern part of the island. It is a slow grower and prefers cool, moist environments.
Ampera xiphloclada, commonly known as ‘broom spurge’, is a grass-like erect shrub in the Euphorbiaceae family.
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.
Tasmanian cushion plants are low growing, highly compact, woody, spreading mats that can grow up to 3 m in diameter, located mainly on the island of Tasmania. These mats are made up of tightly packed stems that grow at the same rate so that no apical rosettes protrude above the rest. The term cushion plant refers to a characteristic growth habit adopted by various species from a range of families to adapt to alpine and subalpine environments and areas of high latitude. They are adapted to grow in low nutrient areas and typically have deep taproots. Cushion plants are very slow growing and do not grow high above ground; mounds typically remain under 30 cm high. Underneath the living surface of the cushion, the plants either allow dead leaves to persist or produce non-photosynthetic material, resulting in an insulating effect.
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.
Epacris serpyllifolia, also known as alpine heath, is a plant of the family Ericaceae, that is native to southeast Australia: the states of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. Growing in heathland, sup-alpine and/or mountainous areas, it is generally a small shrub around 0.3 metres to 1.2 metres in height, with small stiff leaves. White tube-like flowers appear from spring to early summer. It regenerates after bushfire by seed or by resprouting.
Rubus gunnianus is a species in the genus Rubus of the family Rosaceae. It is a small herb that grows in subalpine and alpine habitats above 900m throughout Tasmania, and bears edible fruit. It is commonly known as the native strawberry or Tasmanian alpine raspberry.
Dicranoloma dicarpum is relatively common moss which is widespread in the Southern Hemisphere. The genus Dicranoloma has 40 species, which share the features of long stems, wispy and twisted leaves, and large, erect capsules. The genus is dominant in wet forest habitats in Australia and New Zealand.
Ptychominon aciculare is a species of moss found predominantly in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa, Juan Fernandez Islands and Chile. It is easily recognised given its similarity, especially when partially dried, to a pipe-cleaner. This name is commonly accepted across Australia and New Zealand. It has been observed growing from between sea level to sub-alpine altitudes (1200m).
Trochocarpa cunninghamii is a flowering plant species of the family Ericaceae. It is commonly referred to as straggling purpleberry due to its round flattened mauve drupe fruits. This woody shrub is usually found in the understorey of rainforests and subalpine forests in the Central Plateau and western Tasmania, and is endemic to Tasmania.
Olearia ledifolia, commonly known as the rock daisy bush, is a flowering shrub 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 bears numerous small white daisy-like flowers in summer. The specific name ledifolia is derived from the Greek 'ledos' and the Latin 'folium' (leaf), referring to the hairy under surface of the leaves. It was initially described as Eurybia ledifolia by J.D. Hooker in 1860 and then as O. ledifolia by George Bentham in the 1867 census 'Flora Australiensis: a description of the plants of the Australian territory'.
Coprosma moorei, commonly known as blue matcurrant or turquoise coprosma, is a small, mat forming, prostrate shrub in the Rubiaceae family. It is native to highland areas of Tasmania and Eastern Victoria.
Euphrasia striata, commonly known as ‘shiny striped eyebright’ is an endemic Tasmanian species, which is a member of the Scrophulariaceae family. The distinctive purple striations on the petals, from which the name was derived, are characteristic of the species.
Podomitrium phyllanthus is a thalloid liverwort in the Pallaviciniaceae family. It is found in wet forests and rainforests of Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.
Anemone crassifolia, commonly known as mountain anemone, is a perennial herb in the family Ranunculaceae and is endemic to Tasmania, Australia. The species is common in high alpine moorlands of western and southern Tasmania at approximately 1000m. It is the only representative of the genus Anemone found in Australia.
