Pentachondra pumila

Last updated

Pentachondra pumila
Pentachondra pumila Hobart Botanic Gardens.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Pentachondra
Species:
P. pumila
Binomial name
Pentachondra pumila

Pentachondra pumila, also known as carpet heath, is a small alpine shrub in the epacris family (Ericaceae). [2] [1] It is commonly found in Australia and New Zealand in areas of high rainfall, being known for its small white flowers as well as its red, hollow fruit that grows on branch ends. It is distinguishable as a prostrate, mat-like shrub, growing in rocky or boggy alpine areas. The fruit is edible and is a food source for many species of bird.

Contents

Description

P. pumila is a prostrate shrub, up to 10 cm in height and 40 cm in diameter. Branches are pubescent or occasionally glabrous. Leaves are crowded near ends of branches and are oblong to elliptical in shape, 3–5 mm long and 1–2 mm wide. Leaves are leathery and bluntly keeled with 5-7 veins on the lower surface, margins are ciliate. Flowering occurs from November through to February; small, white flowers are solitary on or near the ends of branches and sessile, usually facing upright. [3] Flowers are hermaphrodite, with petals fused to form a tube 5 mm long. [4] The upper side of petals is densely hairy, becoming sparser in the corolla tube. Five anthers are fused to the petals with a short style protruding from the centre, reaching 1.5 mm in height. Fruiting occurs from December through to April; fruit is green through winter months, becoming a fleshy red drupe upon ripening in the summer, and is separated into distinct pyrenes, with the style remaining after the death of the flower. [5] [6]

Image of Pentachondra pumila taken at Mount Field National Park, Tasmania depicting it's mat-like appearance. Pentachondra pumila seen at Mount Field National Park.jpg
Image of Pentachondra pumila taken at Mount Field National Park, Tasmania depicting it's mat-like appearance.

Taxonomy

Scientific name: Pentachondra pumila (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 549 (1810) [7] Synonymy: ≡ Epacris pumila J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. Pl., ed. 2. 20 (1776) [7]

Distribution

P. pumila occurs in areas above the treeline in cushion bogs, open snow tussock grasslands, and herbfields in Australia (Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales) and New Zealand (North, South, and Stewart Island). [6] It is widely distributed through both countries in the aforementioned states, though less so in the North Island of New Zealand and New South Wales in Australia. [6] It frequently grows in exposed, rocky sites or in poorly drained, peaty areas, and is commonly found on the nests of ants (genus Ochetellus). [8] It is often confused with Cyathodes dealbata, which is similar in appearance and growth habit, though can be distinguished by the glaucus veins on the underside of leaves, which is not evident on P. pumila. [9]

Distribution of Pentachondra pumila across Australia and New Zealand. Distribution map of Pentachondra pumila.jpg
Distribution of Pentachondra pumila across Australia and New Zealand.

Cultivation

P. pumila requires open, sunny positions in areas that are subject to mild winters (no less than -5 °C), and cool, moist summers. [10] A high rainfall is required as it is intolerant to drought. It prefers a gritty, peaty soil and rocky ground for establishment. [10]

Ecology and reproduction

Self-pollination occurs in most flowers, with pollen falling into the corolla tube from the anthers. Despite the frequency of this occurring, this species of plant has a high degree of self-sterility to prevent intense inbreeding. [5] Through self-pollination, it has been found that only a small number of fruits arise, and those that do, have a reduced number of seeds. [5] In contrast to this, cross pollination has been found to induce high fruit numbers. Although hermaphrodites, the anthers, short stigma, sticky pollen, and nectar that resides in the bottom of the corolla tube suggest that insect pollination is the main means of cross pollination between flowers (both on the same plant and others in the surrounding area) [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Epacris impressa</i> Plant of the heath family, Ericaceae, that is native to southeast Australia

Epacris impressa, also known as common heath, is a species of plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to south-eastern Australia. French botanist Jacques Labillardière collected the species in 1793 and described it in 1805. Four forms have been identified, but no subspecies are recognised. Growing in heathland, shrubland or open forest, it is generally a small shrub around 0.5 to 1 m tall, with small stiff leaves. The red, pink or white tube-like flowers appear from late autumn to early spring. Honeyeater birds, particularly the eastern spinebill, feed upon the nectar of the flowers. It regenerates after bushfire by seed or by resprouting.

<i>Epacris</i> Genus of flowering plants in the heath family Ericaceae

Epacris is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. It was formerly treated in a closely related but separate family Epacridaceae, but the various genera within Epacridaceae including Epacris have been revised in their relationships to each other and brought under the common umbrella of the Ericaceae. The genus Epacris is native to eastern and southeastern Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand. The species are known as heaths or Australian heaths.

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

Epacris gunnii is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with hairy branchlets, concave, sharply-pointed, broadly egg-shaped leaves, and tube-shaped, white flowers arranged along the stems.

<i>Epacris microphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris microphylla , commonly known as coral heath, is a plant in the heath family Ericaceae and which is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a common, wiry shrub with tiny leaves that are often obscured by the flowers, especially near the ends of the stems. The plant sometimes grows in dense groups, giving the effect of a snowfall.

<i>Epacris pulchella</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris pulchella, commonly known as wallum heath or coral heath is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a slender, erect shrub with egg-shaped, pointed leaves and white or pinkish, tube-shaped flowers.

<i>Epacris reclinata</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris reclinata, commonly known as fuchsia heath, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is a low-lying to spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves and pink to red, tube-shaped flowers, sometimes with lighter tips.

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

Conostephium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The name of the genus comes from Greek words, conos, "cone" and stephanos, "that which encircles, a crown or wreath", referring to the petal tube that encloses the stamens.

<i>Epacris serpyllifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris serpyllifoliais a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a small low-lying or weakly erect shrub with heart-shaped to broadly egg-shaped leaves and tube-shaped white flowers crowded in upper leaf axils.

<i>Epacris muelleri</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris muelleri, commonly known as Mueller's heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is an erect, or weak straggling shrub with more or less glabrous branchlets, elliptic leaves and white or cream-coloured, tube-shaped flowers.

<i>Epacris browniae</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris browniae is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is an erect, woody shrub with wand-like branchlets, crowded, glabrous, trowel-shaped leaves and tube-shaped flowers with white petals.

<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.

<i>Dracophyllum muscoides</i> Species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae

Dracophyllum muscoides, commonly known as cushion inaka, is a small cushion plant in the family Ericaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in the South Island in sub-alpine regions.

<i>Epacris crassifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris crassifolia is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. It is a low-lying shrub with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with the lower end towards the base, and tube-shaped, white or cream-coloured flowers clustered near the ends of the branches.

<i>Epacris apiculata</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris apiculata is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is a small, slender, low-lying to erect shrub with hairy branchlets, egg-shaped leaves with a thickened, pointed tip and tube-shaped flowers with white petals.

<i>Epacris coriacea</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris coriacea is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a eastern New South Wales. It is a slender, erect shrub with hairy branchlets, egg-shaped to more or less diamond-shaped leaves and tube-shaped, white or cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Epacris decumbens</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris decumbens is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is a straggling, low-lying shrub with hairy branchlets, elliptic to egg-shaped leaves, and tube-shaped, white flowers.

<i>Epacris hamiltonii</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris hamiltonii is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. It is a slender, low-lying to ascending shrub with hairy branchlets, thin, flat, hairy egg-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged in small groups at the end of branches.

Epacris lithophila is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is an erect shrub with few branches, lance-shaped to elliptic leaves and creamy-white, tube-shaped flowers.

Epacris pilosa is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is low-lying shrub with weeping, shaggy-hairy branchlets, elliptic to more or less egg-shaped leaves and white or cream-coloured tube-shaped flowers.

Epacris pinoidea is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a small area of eastern New South Wales. It is an erect to semi-erect shrub with flat, oblong to elliptic or lance-shaped leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "NZOR Name Details – Pentachondra pumila (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) R.Br". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  2. ↑ "Pentachondra pumila". Plant Net – Flora Online. NSW Government. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Pentachondra pumila (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) R.BR". New South Wales Flora Online. PlantNET. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Pentachondra pumila". VICFLORA. Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Breeding systems in New Zealand plants: 4. Self-sterility in Pentachondra pumila". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 4 (3): 249–254. 1966. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.1966.10429045 .
  6. 1 2 3 "Alpine Plants of New Zealand". Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. Royal New Zealand Institute of Horteculture. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Pentachondra pumila". nzflora. NIWA. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Types of Australian ants". Rentokil. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Jordan, Greg. "Pentachondra pumila (Ericaceae) 2:429". Key to Tasmanian Dicots. Utas. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Pentachondra pumila". Temperate Ferns Database. Useful Temperate Plants. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.