Tasmannia xerophila

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Alpine pepperbush
Tasmannia xerophila.jpg
Flowers near Falls Creek
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Canellales
Family: Winteraceae
Genus: Tasmannia
Species:
T. xerophila
Binomial name
Tasmannia xerophila
Synonyms [1]
Fruit of subsp. xerophila in Kosciuszko National Park Tasmannia xerophila fruit.jpg
Fruit of subsp. xerophila in Kosciuszko National Park

Tasmannia xerophila, commonly known as alpine pepperbush, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Winteraceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a bushy shrub to small tree with lance-shaped leaves, the narrower end towards the base. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, the male flowers with 9 to 30 stamens and the female flowers with up to 8 carpels. The fruit is glossy black and contains 2 to 7 seeds.

Contents

Description

Tasmannia xerophila is a bushy shrub to small tree that typically grows to a height of 0.6–4 m (2 ft 0 in – 13 ft 1 in) and usually forms clumps, the branchlets reddish-brown. The leaves are leathery, lance-shaped to narrowly so, with the narrower end towards the base, mostly 30–140 mm (1.2–5.5 in) long and 5–30 mm (0.20–1.18 in) wide on a petiole 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) long. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, male flowers on a pedicel 7–23 mm (0.28–0.91 in) long with 9 to 30 stamens. Female flowers are borne on a pedicel 5–16 mm (0.20–0.63 in) long and usually have 2 petals 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide, and up to 8 carpels with 2 to 9 ovules. Flowering occurs from December to February and the fruit is glossy black to glaucous, 6.5–11 mm (0.26–0.43 in) long, containing 2 to 7 seeds 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long and 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) wide. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described by Paul Évariste Parmentier, who gave it the name Drimys xerophila in Bulletin Scientifique de la France et de la Belgique, [5] but the name was illegitimate. [6] In 1976, Max Gray transferred the species to Tasmannia and legitimised the name T. zerophila in Contributions from the Herbarium Australiense. [7]

In 1994, Ruth E. Raleigh and others described subspecies robusta, and the name, and that of the autonym are accepted by the Australian Plant Census: [8]

Distribution and habitat

Subspecies robusta grows in tall, open forest on Mount Ellery and Goonmirk Rocks in East Gippsland, Victoria. [10] [11] Subspecies xerophila has a wider distribution in open forest, woodland or subalpine grassland from the central highland of southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to the eastern parts of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, where it often grows in snow gum woodland. [13] [14]

Related Research Articles

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

Tasmannia is a genus of about 36 species of flowering plants in the family Winteraceae, and is native to Australia and New Guinea, with one species also found in parts of Southeast Asia. Plants in the genus Tasmannia are shrubs or small trees, usually dioecious with simple leaves, mostly white, sometimes yellow flowers, and one to many clusters of berries.

<i>Tasmannia lanceolata</i> Species of shrub

Tasmannia lanceolata, commonly known as pepper tree, native pepper, mountain pepper or mountain pepperbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Winteraceae, and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a dioecious bushy shrub to small tree with lance-shaped or narrowly ellipic leaves, male and female flowers on separate plants, the flowers with 3 to 9 petals, and the fruit a deep maroon to glossy black berry.

<i>Tasmannia stipitata</i> Species of shrub

Tasmannia stipitata, commonly known as northern pepperbush is a flowering plant in the family Winteraceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has narrowly lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaves and male and female flowers on separate plants, the male flowers with 21 to 65 stamens and the female flowers with 2 to 9 carpels. The fruit is bluish-violet and contains 12 to 15 seeds.

<i>Acacia brunioides</i> Species of legume

Acacia brunioides, commonly known as brown wattle is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with more or less cylindrical phyllodes, inflorescenses arranged singly in leaf axils, each with 20 to 27 more or less white to bright yellow flowers, and straight, papery to leathery pods up to 15–60 mm (0.59–2.36 in) long.

<i>Tasmannia glaucifolia</i> Species of shrub

Tasmannia glaucifolia, commonly known as fragrant pepperbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Winteraceae, and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a dioecious shrub with lance-shaped leaves, the narrower end towards the base, the flowers usually without petals, male and female flowers on separate plants and the fruit is a glossy, deep purple-black berry.

<i>Tasmannia insipida</i> Species of shrub

Tasmannia insipida, commonly known as brush pepperbush, Dorrigo pepper, pepper bush, pepper tree or faint pepper bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Winteraceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves the narrower end towards the base, the flowers male and female flowers on separate plants, male flowers with 17 to 65 stamens, female flowers with a single carpel with 15-40 ovules, and the fruit a purplish berry.

<i>Tasmannia membranea</i> Species of shrub

Tasmannia membranea, commonly known as pepper tree, is a species of flowering plant in the family Winteraceae, and is endemic to north-eastern Queensland. It is a shrub or tree with lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves, male and female flowers on separate plants, with two petals on each flower. The male flowers have 30 to 62 stamens, and the female flowers have a single carpel with 14 to 36 ovules, and the fruit is black.

Tasmannia piperita is a species of shrubs or treelets belonging to the Winter's bark family (Winteraceae) and native to Borneo, the Philippines, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Flores and New Guinea. It is the most widespread species of Tasmannia and the only one occurring outside of Australia. Also known as Drimys piperita, it is the most variable flower discovered to date: it may have as many as fifteen petals or as few as none, as many as 109 stamens or as few as 7, and as many as fifteen carpels or as few as one. Tasmannia piperita does not occur in Australia.

<i>Tasmannia vickeryana</i> Species of flowering plant

Tasmannia vickeryana, commonly known as Baw Baw pepper, is a species of flowering plant in the family Winteraceae and is endemic to Victoria in Australia. It has narrowly lance-shaped leaves, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, and male and female flowers on separate plants, the male flowers with 8 to 26 stamens and the female flowers with up to 5 carpels. The fruit is dark red and contains 2 to 5 seeds.

<i>Hibbertia hermanniifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Hibbertia hermanniifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with spatula-shaped to wedge-shaped leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly in leaf axils, with ten to fifteen stamens arranged around two hairy carpels.

<i>Allocasuarina mackliniana</i> Species of flowering plant

Allocasuarina mackliniana is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a dioecious, rarely a monoecious shrub that has more or less erect branchlets up to 200 mm (7.9 in) long, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of seven to ten, the fruiting cones 12–22 mm (0.47–0.87 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long.

Hibbertia echiifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is a variable shrub with elliptic to lance-shaped or oblong leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly in leaf axils, with twenty-nine to forty-five stamens arranged around the three carpels.

Hibbertia florida is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a small shrub with oblong to lance-shaped leaves and yellow flowers arranged on the ends of branchlets, with twelve to twenty-eight stamens arranged around three carpels.

Hibbertia fruticosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a woody shrub with linear to lance-shaped leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly on the ends of short side shoots, with eighteen to thirty-five stamens arranged around three carpels.

<i>Hibbertia humifusa</i> Species of plant

Hibbertia humifusa is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to central Victoria, Australia. It is a prostrate to low-lying shrub with linear to elliptic leaves, and bright yellow flowers with six to ten stamens arranged in a cluster on one side of the two carpels.

Hibbertia oblongata is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is an erect to spreading shrub with scaly foliage, elliptic to oblong leaves, and yellow flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils, with 16 to 36 stamens arranged in bundles around the two carpels.

Hibbertia persquamata is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to the Northern Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is a spreading to prostrate shrub with flattened, scaly branches, narrow elliptic leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly in leaf axils with 20 to 26 stamens arranged around three scaly carpels.

<i>Hibbertia platyphylla</i> Species of plant

Hibbertia platyphylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to south-eastern South Australia. It is a shrub with linear stem leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly in leaf axils with ten to fifteen stamens arranged on one side of two carpels.

<i>Hibbertia spicata</i> Species of flowering plant

Hibbertia spicata is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to the west of Western Australia. It is a low, erect to spreading shrub with scattered linear leaves with the edges rolled under and yellow flowers with six or seven stamens on one side of two softly-hairy carpels, and a larger number of staminodes.

<i>Palmeria foremanii</i> Species of plant in the family Monimiaceae

Palmeria foremanii, commonly known as anchor vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Monimiaceae and is endemic to an area near the New South Wales - Queensland border. It is a tall, woody climber or scrambling shrub with usually elliptic leaves, male and female flowers on separate plants with 5 tepals, male flowers with 40 to 43 stamens, female flowers with 7 to 12 carpels, and spherical, shiny black drupes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Tasmannia xerophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 Harden, Gwen J. "Tasmannia xerophila". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. Guymer, Gorden P.; Kodela, Phillip G. "Tasmannia xerophila". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  4. Raleigh, Ruth E.; Entwisle, Timothy J. "Tasmannia xerophila". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  5. Parmentier, Paul E. (1896). "Histoire des Magnoliacees". Bulletin Scientifique de la France et de la Belgique. 27: 226–299. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  6. "Drimys xerophila". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  7. "Tasmannia xerophila". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  8. Raleigh, Ruth E.; Ladiges, Pauline Y.; Entwisle, Timothy J.; Drinnan, Andrew N. (1994). "Morphometric studies in the genus Tasmannia (Winteraceae) in Victoria, Australia". Muelleria. 8 (2): 254–255. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  9. "Tasmannia xerophylla subsp. robusta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  10. 1 2 Guymer, Gorden P.; Kodela, Phillip G. "Tasmannia xerophila subsp. robusta". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  11. 1 2 Raleigh, Ruth E.; Entwisle, Timothy J. "Tasmannia xerophila subsp. robusta". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  12. "Tasmannia xerophylla subsp. xerophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  13. 1 2 Guymer, Gorden P.; Kodela, Phillip G. "Tasmannia xerophila subsp. xerophila". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  14. 1 2 Raleigh, Ruth E.; Entwisle, Timothy J. "Tasmannia xerophila subsp. xerophila". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 21 May 2024.