Oreobolus pumilio

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Oreobolus pumilio
Oreobolus pumilio.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Oreobolus
Species:
O. pumilio
Binomial name
Oreobolus pumilio
Synonyms [1]
  • Oreobolus clemensiae Kük.
  • Oreobolus pfeifferianus Barros ex H.Pfeiff.
  • Oreobolus pumilio subsp. clemensiae (Kük.) O.Seberg

Oreobolus pumilio, commonly known as alpine tuftrush or Ibrang`rank, [2] is a small mat forming herb which is distributed throughout the Australasian region. It is a relative of the sedge. It is often found in cushion plant communities, in alpine environments, where it is a dominant species. [3] As a cushion plant, it is an ecological engineer and enables other species to grow in the alpine herblands to which it is native to. [4]

Contents

Taxonomy

Oreobolus pumilio is a member of the Cyperaceae (sedge) family which is one of the main families of monocots. There are two subspecies of Oreobolus pumilio, the subspecies Oreobolus pumilio var. pumilio (alpine Tuft rush) which is endemic to southeast Australia, while the subspecies Oreobolus pumilio var. clemensiae is endemic to New Guinea. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Oreobolus pumilio is native to New Guinea and the southeast of the Australian continent. [5] In these regions it is distributed in alpine habitats which lie between 900–2400 metres in altitude. [2]   This species is characteristic of several alpine habitat types such as montane button grass [6] and is an indicator species of alpine short herbfields. [7]

Distribution map of Oreobolus pumilio MyMap.jpg
Distribution map of Oreobolus pumilio

Morphology

Oreobolus pumilio is mat forming herb growing to 8 cm high with blade like leaves. Leaf colouration varies between a verdant green and a reddy-brown. [9]

As Oreobolus pumilio grows in high alpine environments its short growth, like that of all cushion plants, is advantageous. This is because the environments, that they grow in, tend to have strong winds which may damage any leaves growing above the thin layer of still air that covers the ground. [10]

cushion plant community containing Oreobolus pumilio, at Newdegate pass Cushion plant community on mount field 8-2-22.jpg
cushion plant community containing Oreobolus pumilio, at Newdegate pass

Ecology

Oreobolus pumilio is one of the species in a cushion plant community. These communities are considered ecological engineers as they can have an effect on the environment such as the ability to produce a peat like soil. Also, these communities are known to enable some other species to live in environments which they would not usually be able to inhabit as they can increase water and nutrient availability. [4]

Conservation status

One subspecies, Oreobolus pumilio var pumilio, of Oreobolus pumilio is considered rare in Victoria [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyperaceae</span> Family of flowering plants known as sedges

The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large: botanists have described some 5,500 known species in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" with over 2,000 species.

Bolster heath or cushion moorland is a type of vegetation community that features a patchwork of very low growing, tightly packed plants found at the limits of some alpine environments. The cushion plants form a smooth surfaced 'cushions' from several different plants, hence the common name of cushion heath. The cushion growth habit provides protection against the desiccating wind and help keep the cluster warm.

<i>Rhynchospora alba</i> Species of plant

Rhynchospora alba, the white beak-sedge, is a plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a tufted herbaceous perennial around 50 cm tall, with white inflorescences that flower in August. The fruit of the sedge is a small achene with a characteristic beak-like cap. It is dispersed by wind or falls by gravity, leading to individuals existing in tight clumps. The species favours wet, acidic and nutrient poor soils, thriving in Sphagnum-dominated bogs, but also peaty grasslands. As such, it is often used as a positive indicator for bog and mire ecosystem health.

<i>Eleocharis palustris</i> Species of grass-like plant

Eleocharis palustris, the common spike-rush, creeping spike-rush or marsh spike-rush, is a species of mat-forming perennial flowering plants in the sedge family Cyperaceae. It grows in wetlands in Europe, North Africa, northern and central Asia and North America. Eleocharis palustris is not easily distinguished from other closely related species and is extremely variable worldwide itself. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat.

<i>Ficinia nodosa</i> Species of plant

Ficinia nodosa, the knotted club-rush or knobby club-rush, is a rhizomatous perennial in the family Cyperaceae, native to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Widespread in the Southern Hemisphere, Ficinia nodosa grows to between 15 and 220 cm in height. Although it grows best in sandy, salty soil, the plant grows in a wide variety of environments from coastal sand dunes to alpine regions. F. nodosa’s appearance is characterised by dense clusters of long green stems topped with small, rounded flowers often remaining throughout the 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>Chrysocephalum semipapposum</i> Species of plant

Chrysocephalum semipapposum, commonly known as clustered everlasting is a perennial shrub native to Australia. Clustered everlasting belongs to the family Asteraceae. C. semipapposum produces terminal flowers heads in clusters, mainly between spring and early summer with silver-grey appearing stems and branches. It grows up to 40 cm high and 60 cm high, although there have been some varieties which can grow up to 1 m. C. semipapposum is often confused with Chrysocephalum apiculatum or 'yellow buttons', due to their similar appearances. C. semipapposum has 4 different subspecies, however they lack distinctive qualities and are often hard to identify. C. semipapposum is endemic to Australia and can be found in multiple states, most notably within Victoria. The plant is found in a variety of habitats including dry rocky regions. Clustered everlasting often grows sparsely and is rarely found in abundance and can be mistaken for a weed. Clustered everlasting has many uses, including as a source of nectar for butterflies, cut flowers or as an addition to a garden.

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>Carex lacustris</i> Species of grass-like plant

Carex lacustris, known as lake sedge, is a tufted grass-like perennial of the sedge family (Cyperaceae), native to southern Canada and the northern United States. C. lacustris us an herbaceous surface-piercing plant that grows in water up to 50 cm (1.6 ft) deep, and grows 50–150 cm (1.6–4.9 ft) tall. It grows well in marshes and swampy woods of the boreal forest, along river and lake shores, in ditches, marshes, swamps, and other wetland habitat. It grows on muck, sedge peat, wet sand or silt, in filtered or full sunlight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasmanian cushion plants</span>

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.

<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>Carex archeri</i> Species of grass-like plant

Carex archeri, known as Archer's sedge, is a species of sedge in the genus Carex, endemic to south-eastern Australia.

Carex tereticaulis, also known as basket sedge, is a species of sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to southern parts of Western Australia, southern parts of South Australia, southern and eastern parts of New South Wales as well as north western and central Victoria and Tasmania. The Koori peoples know the plant as Poong'ort.

<i>Oreobolus obtusangulus</i> Species of grass-like plant

Oreobolus obtusangulus is a thick cushion-forming, grass-like flowering plant species in the family Cyperaceae. It is native to South America. It grows in the highlands of Colombia and Venezuela and the alpine wetlands of central Chile and Neuquén Province of Argentina. Further south it grows at lower elevations including Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. Oreobolus obtusangulus grows in parts of Patagonia that were glaciated during the last glaciation. A genetic study suggested that the species survived glaciation in three separate glacial refugia; these being south-central Chile, the eastern Patagonian Andes and eastern Tierra del Fuego.

<i>Oreobolus pectinatus</i> Species of grass-like plant

Oreobolus pectinatus is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family that is native to the subantarctic islands, and to the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The specific epithet derives from the Latin, pectin/pectinis,, and refers to the leaves.

<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>Carex gaudichaudiana</i> Species of plant

Carex gaudichaudiana, also known as fen sedge, is a tussock-forming species of perennial sedge in the family Cyperaceae. It is native to parts of Australia and New Zealand.

Carex cephalotes, also known as wire-head sedge, is a tussock-forming species of perennial sedge in the family Cyperaceae. It is native to south eastern Australia and New Zealand.

<i>Scleranthus fasciculatus</i> Species of flowering plants

Scleranthus fasciculatus, commonly known as spreading knawel, is a rare, spreading, non-woody herb found in the south-eastern states of Australia and introduced to New Zealand. The species is found in dry grassland habitats and requires the maintenance of inter-tussock spaces for its establishment and persistence. A number of anthropogenic factors have contributed to the species decline such as impacts from land clearing, road construction and maintenance, and herbicide application.

<i>Plantago gunnii</i> Species of flowering plants

Plantago gunnii is endemic to Tasmania and is commonly referred to as bolster plantain or bolster plantago. The etymology of the genus Plantago comes from the Latin words planta and the suffix –ago, which is represented by the leaves pressed flat against the ground. The species name gunnii is in honour of Ronald Campbell Gunn of Launceston, who first discovered the species.

References

  1. "Oreobolus pumilio". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Seberg, Ole (1988). "Taxonomy, phylogeny, and biogeography of the genus Oreobolus R.Br. (Cyperaceae), with comments on the biogeography of the South Pacific continents". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 96 (2): 119–195. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1988.tb00632.x.
  3. Wahren, C.-H.; Williams, R. J.; Papst, W. A. (1999). "Alpine and Subalpine Wetland Vegetation on the Bogong High Plains, South-eastern Australia". Australian Journal of Botany. 47 (2): 165. doi:10.1071/bt97106. ISSN   0067-1924.
  4. 1 2 Kikvidze, Zaal; Brooker, Robin W.; Butterfield, Bradley J.; Callaway, Ragan M.; Cavieres, Lohengrin A.; Cook, Bradley J.; Lortie, Christopher J.; Michalet, Richard; Pugnaire, Francisco I.; Xiao, Sa; Anthelme, Fabien (2015). "The effects of foundation species on community assembly: a global study on alpine cushion plant communities". Ecology. 96 (8): 2064–2069. doi: 10.1890/14-2443.1 . ISSN   0012-9658. PMID   26405732. S2CID   6896308.
  5. "Oreobolus pumilio". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. Whinam, Jennie; Chilcott, Nicole M (2002). "Impacts after four years of experimental trampling on alpine/sub-alpine environments in western Tasmania". Journal of Environmental Management. 67 (4): 339–351. doi:10.1016/S0301-4797(02)00218-9. PMID   12710922.
  7. Frood, D; Papas, P (2016). A guide to water regime, salinity ranges and bioregional conservation status of Victorian wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes (PDF). online: The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. ISBN   978-1-76047-196-5.
  8. "Search: species: Oreobolus pumilio | Occurrence records | Atlas of Living Australia". biocache.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  9. Curtis M., Winifred; Morris, Dennis I. (1994). The Student's Flora of Tasmania. Hobart: St Davids Park publishing. p. 109. ISBN   0724623132.
  10. Lab, Biogeography Teaching and Research. "Alpine (and Arctic) Tundra Plant Adaptations – Biogeography Teaching and Research Lab" . Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  11. The State of Victoria (2014). Advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria - 2014. online: The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries. p. 34. ISBN   978-1-74146-313-2.