Monotoca submutica

Last updated

Monotoca submutica
Monotoca submutica pic.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Monotoca
Species:
M. submutica
Binomial name
Monotoca submutica
(Benth.) Jarman

Monotoca submutica, commonly known as mountain broomheath, [1] 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. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Description

Monotoca submutica is an erect, dense and compact shrub, usually occurring as a small/medium shrub (1-3m high as a shrub) or when associated with wet sclorphyll forests it can grow as a small woody tree (up to 6m). [3] Leaves are suberect and shaped from elliptical through to oblong/obovate (6-12mm long and 2-3.5mm wide), leaf margins are slightly recurved with a green flat or slightly convex adaxial surface and glaucous abaxial surface. [3] The flowers are white and often solitarily arranged axillary, but can also be arranged in short spikes with 2-4 flowers. [3] In most cases individuals are dioecious, with the main difference between female and male flowers being that the male flowers have their anthers half exserted. Immature fruit is spherical/oval and green, matured drupe turns to red/orange. [1] Flowering occurs from September through to October. [3] A distinguishing feature of Monotoca submutica is that the leaf apex is mucronate and not sharp.

Distribution and habitat

Monotoca submutica is endemic to Tasmania. It is a widespread species in southern and western Tasmania, [4] where it is found in subalpine forests and woodlands as a small to medium shrub. [1] [3] In wet sclerophyll forests that are associated with rainforests, it can occur as a small tree (up to 6m). [3] On the east coast of Tasmania in the Freycinet Peninsula, a more robust form of the typical Monotoca submutica is known to occur. [3]

Cultivation

Monotoca submutica is not a commonly grown and cultivated species, would do best in well drained, moist soil with moderate sunlight. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

Eucalyptus delegatensis, commonly known as alpine ash, gum-topped stringybark, white-top and in Victoria as woollybutt, is a species of tree that is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has a straight trunk with rough, fibrous to stringy bark on the lower half of the trunk, smooth white bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and barrel-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

<i>Anopterus glandulosus</i> Species of tree

Anopterus glandulosus, commonly known as native laurel or Tasmanian laurel, is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Escalloniaceae. Endemic to south and southwestern Tasmania, A. glandulosus is widespread in the moist understoreys of Tasmanian temperate rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests from sea level to mountainous regions below 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) above sea level.

<i>Olearia phlogopappa</i> Species of flowering plant

Olearia phlogopappa commonly known as the dusty daisy-bush or alpine daisy-bush is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is commonly found in eastern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It is a small shrub with greyish-green foliage, daisy-like flowers in white, pink or mauve that can be seen from spring to late summer.

<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>Olearia erubescens</i> Species of plant

Olearia erubescens, commonly known as moth daisy-bush or pink-tip daisy-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a shrub with stiff, prickly leaves and white "daisy" flowers, growing up to 2 metres high.

<i>Olearia floribunda</i> Species of plant

Olearia floribunda, commonly known as heath daisy-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an upright, spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves and white and yellow or mauve, daisy-like inflorescences.

Archeria comberi, also known as the pink mountain heath or comb heath, is a small, rare shrub endemic to Tasmania, Australia. As a member of the heath family, Ericaceae, this species is generally classified as a subalpine/ alpine species and shares many characteristics with other members of the family. It is an evergreen shrub 0.15m-1m in height, with pink flowers during the summer months, hence its common name pink mountain heath. Archeria comberi is often found growing among other species such as Nothofagus gunnii and Persoonia gunnii.

<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>Monotoca scoparia</i> Species of tree

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. Monotoca is an endemic Australian genus with 17 described species occurring in all states.

<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>Melaleuca virens</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca virens, commonly known as lime bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Tasmania in Australia. It is one of only two melaleucas endemic to Tasmania, the other being Melaleuca pustulata although another six also occur there. A small to medium shrub growing mostly in subalpine areas, it has hard, leathery, sharply pointed leaves and spikes of yellow or greenish flowers in early summer,

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

Eucalyptus subcrenulata, commonly known as Tasmanian alpine yellow gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to the highlands of Tasmania. It has smooth bark, glossy green, lance-shaped to egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and hemispherical to bell-shaped fruit. It is similar to E. johnstonii, E. vernicosa and E. urnigera.

<i>Trochocarpa thymifolia</i>

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.

<i>Orites diversifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Orites diversifolia (=diversifolius), commonly known as variable orites, is a member of the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. The common name stems from the variable form of the leaves, which range from entire and linear to serrated and ovate. It is a common shrub in lowland rainforest, subalpine woodland and scrub.

<i>Cyathodes straminea</i> Species of flowering plant

Cyathodes straminea, also known as false-whorled cheeseberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae endemic to Tasmania, where it grows as an alpine to subalpine shrub with a spreading habit. The generic name Cyathodes was derived from Greek "Cyath" = cup and "odes" = like, referring to the ovary encircled by cup-shaped nectary.

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>Trochocarpa cunninghamii</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Bedfordia salicina</i> Species of flowering plant

Bedfordia salicina, commonly known as Tasmanian blanketleaf, is an endemic angiosperm of Tasmania, Australia. It is widespread throughout wet sclerophyll forests, moist gullies and intermediate forests and woodlands between wet and dry sclerophyll communities. Bedfordia salicina is abundant at low elevations, on dolerite, sandstone and mudstone substrate, east of Tylers line. Alternating leaves droop down to blanket the stem, coining the species common name, blanketleaf.

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

Leptecophylla parvifolia, commonly known as the mountain pinkberry, is a small to medium sized shrub within the Ericaceae family and 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>Spyridium lawrencei</i> Species of shrub

Spyridium lawrencei, commonly known as small-leaf spyridium or small-leaf dustymiller, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is an erect, compact or straggling shrub with small, leathery, round to heart-shaped leaves, and dense heads of hairy, cream-coloured flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Howells, Christine (July 2021). Tasmania's Natural Flora. Australian Plants Society Incorporated. - Tasmania. ISBN   9780909830090.
  2. "EPACRIDACEAE Monotoca submutica" . Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jarman, S.J. (1978). "New species in the family Epacridacea". Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania. 112: 1–3. doi: 10.26749/rstpp.112.1 via University of Tasmania.
  4. Jordan, Greg. "Monotoca submutica (= M. scoparia var submutica; Ericaceae) 2:442" . Retrieved 21 March 2022.