Monotoca scoparia

Last updated

Monotoca scoparia
Monotoca scoparia (8677891732).jpg
Monotoca scoparia flowers (8709404638).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Monotoca
Species:
M. scoparia
Binomial name
Monotoca scoparia
Synonyms
  • Styphelia scopariaSm.

Monotoca scoparia, commonly known as prickly broom heath, is a widespread native species across south-eastern Australia. Monotoca scoparia was formerly in the family Epacridaceae but now belongs to the family Ericaceae. [1] Monotoca is an endemic Australian genus with 17 described species occurring in all states. [2]

Contents

Description

Monotoca scoparia is a lignotuberous shrub that grows usually between 30–120 cm high. [1] The alternating leaves are erect and prickly, and narrowly oblong to elliptic in shape. Leaves are 0.6-2.2 cm long and 1–4 mm wide. The adaxial (upper) surface of the leaf is dark green in colour and the abaxial (lower) surface in a pale green to whitish colour, with 3-5 prominent veins. [1] [3] Leaf tips are sharp and branchlets are rough to hairless. [4]

The male and female flowers occur on different plants. [4] Flowers are tubular and white to cream in colour. Flowers in 2-9 clusters occur in axillary spikes or the lowermost occurs solitary. The corolla of female flowers is 1.3-2.8 mm long and the male corolla is slightly longer, 2–4 mm. [5] Flowering occurs most of the year, from December to August. The fleshy, oblong fruit is yellow to orange. A distinguishing feature of the Monotoca scoparia flower is the corolla tube is longer than the sepals.

Distribution and habitat

Monotoca scoparia is widespread across Australia with sightings recorded across the country in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and few in Northern Territory and South Australia. [6] Monotoca scoparia is a common understorey shrub in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and heathland. [3] Monotoca scoparia occurs on well-drained sandy and rocky soils from sea-level to montane elevations in full sun to semi-shade. [5]

Tasmania has six native species of Monotoca . These species are all quite similar and can be difficult to distinguish. [7] The most similar species to Monotoca scoparia is the Tasmanian endemic species Monotoca submutica, which can be described as Monotoca scoparia var. submutica. Monotoca scoparia and Monotoca submutica closely resemble each other, except the flowers of Monotoca scoparia are longer and flowering times are different. [8] These two species also differ in habitat, where Monotoca submutica is widespread across southern and western Tasmania growing in subalpine forest and wet sclerophyll rainforest. [9]

Ecological importance

Monotoca scoparia and other heath species such as Epacris impressa , Leptospermum trinerivium, xanthorrhoea sp. and a variety of legumes make up the preferred diet on the Smoky mouse (Pseudomys fumeus) in New South Wales. Pseudomys fumeus is an endangered rodent. Studies found that Monotoca scoparia was a major food source for this species and therefore its presence is important for the survival of this endangered species as well as the other species that feed on it. [10]

Cultivation

Monotoca scoparia is commonly used in gardens. Best results for the prickly shrub occur when established in gardens, located in well drained positions with full sun to semi-shade. Establishment will occur under existing trees. Monotoca scoparia is often used in gardens for hedging and regulating traffic. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ozothamnus ferrugineus</i>

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.

<i>Geranium potentilloides</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Isopogon ceratophyllus</i> Species of plant of the family Proteaceae that is endemic to Australia

Isopogon ceratophyllus, commonly known as the horny cone-bush or wild Irishman, is a plant of the family Proteaceae that is endemic to the coast in Victoria, South Australia and on the Furneaux Group of islands in Tasmania. It is a small woody shrub that grows to 100 cm high with prickly foliage. It is extremely sensitive to dieback from the pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi

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

Richea scoparia is a species of plant endemic to Tasmania. The genus Richea, forms part of the Ericaceae family, which are commonly heath-like shrubs. The name refers to the erect bushy growth habit, described as a broom-like shrub, most commonly referred to as the honey bush or simply scoparia to many bushwalkers.

<i>Amperea xiphoclada</i> Species of plant

Ampera xiphloclada, commonly known as ‘broom spurge’, is a grass-like erect shrub in the Euphorbiaceae family.

<i>Coprosma nitida</i> Species of plant

Coprosma nitida, the mountain currant or shining currant, is a shrub species endemic to south-east Australia. It is a shrub with small, glossy leaves, occasional spines on the end of its branchlets, and small bright red-orange fruits.

<i>Acacia gunnii</i> Species of plant

Acacia gunnii, commonly known as ploughshare wattle or dog's tooth wattle, is a woody shrub which is endemic to south-eastern Australia found in dry heaths and woodlands. It ranges from Queensland, then New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, down to Tasmania. Acacia gunnii grows to up to 1 metre high and has prickly phyllodes which are 4 to 15 mm long. The cream to pale yellow globular flowerheads appear singly in the axils of the phyllodes in June to October, followed by curved or coiled seed pods which are 40 mm long and 4 to 5 mm wide. Acacia gunnii grows up to 1 meter tall and has prickly phyllodes which are 4 to 15mm in length with cream to pale-yellow globular flower heads appearing in phyllode axils in June through to October, followed by curved or coiled seed pods which are 40mm long and 4 to 5 mm wide. The species was first formally described by English botanist George Bentham in the London Journal of Botany in 1842. It occurs in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, and Queensland.

<i>Cyathodes glauca</i> Species of tree

Cyathodes glauca, the purple cheeseberry, is a woody shrub or small tree common in Tasmania, Australia. It belongs to the 'heath' family, Ericaceae. 'Heath' refers to open, shrub-like communities which survive on well-drained and poor quality soils.

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

Prionotes is a genus of flowering plants endemic to Tasmania, with a single species, Prionotes cerinthoides. Commonly known as climbing heath, it is a temperate rainforest climber or a small scrambling shrub in the mountains. It usually lives in very wet, undisturbed places.

<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>Trochocarpa gunnii</i>

Trochocarpa gunnii, commonly known as sweet-scented trochocarpa or fragrant purpleberry, is a common rainforest understorey shrub from the plant family Ericaceae endemic to Tasmania.

<i>Gonocarpus teucrioides</i> Species of plant

Gonocarpus teucrioides, or forest raspwort is a common flowering herb or subshrub in the Haloragaceae, or watermilfoil family. It is native to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and is widespread and abundant in the understorey of wet forests. The name raspwort refers to the rough, scabrous surface of many of the Gonocarpus species.

Monotoca glauca, known as goldy wood, is a heath family shrub endemic to Tasmania, Australia and is one of 17 described Monotoca species. It is a widespread and abundant understory species found on the margins of wet eucalypt forests and logged areas.

<i>Coprosma moorei</i> Species of plant

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. 

<i>Leptecophylla parvifolia</i> Tasmanian endemic plant

Leptecophylla parvifolia, commonly known as the mountain pinkberry, is a small to medium sized species of shrub in the family Ericaceae that is endemic to the highlands of Tasmania. This species was first collected and documented in 1804 by Robert Brown and was formerly included in the Cythodes genus. It was then as noted as subspecies of Leptecophylla junipernia but in 2018, was classified as its own species

<i>Monotoca submutica</i> An endemic Tasmanian flowering plant species in the family Epacridaceae

Monotoca submutica, commonly known as mountain broomheath, is an endemic heath family shrub in the Epacridaceae family and is one of 17 species in the genus Monotoca. It is a widespread and locally common small to tall woody dense shrub found in the alpine/subalpine woodlands of southern and western mountains of Tasmania, Australia.

<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.

Gonocarpus humilis, commonly known as shade raspwort, is a small herb in the genus Gonocarpus of the family Haloragaceae. Shade raspwort is common along the eastern coast of Australia, and grows in moist and shaded locations. The leaves have a rough and scabrous surface, giving the plant the common name raspwort.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Monotoca scoparia". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  2. "Flora of Victoria". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 ".: Monotoca scoparia :". fe.yarraranges.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Monotoca scoparia". keys.lucidcentral.org. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Flora of Victoria". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  6. Australia, Atlas of Living. "Monotoca scoparia". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  7. "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  8. "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  9. Jarman, S.J.; Crowden, R.K. (1978). "New species in the family epacridaceae" (PDF). Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania. 112: 1–3. doi:10.26749/rstpp.112.1.
  10. Ford, Fred; Cockburn, Andrew; Broome, Linda (2003). "Habitat preference, diet and demography of the smoky mouse, Pseudomys fumeus (Rodentia : Muridae), in south-eastern New South Wales". Wildlife Research. 30 (1): 89–101. doi:10.1071/wr01092. ISSN   1448-5494.