Abrotanella forsteroides

Abrotanella forsteroides, commonly known as the Tasmanian cushion plant, is an endemic angiosperm of Tasmania, Australia.  The plant is a dicot species of the daisy family Asteraceae and can be identified by its bright green and compact cushion like appearance.  

Abrotanella forsteroides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Abrotanella
Species:
A. forsteroides
Binomial name
Abrotanella forsteroides
(Hook.f.) Benth.
Synonyms
  • Scleroleima forsteroides Hook.f.
Safe assessment of cushion plant communities (weight distributed evenly). Mt. Field, Tasmania.
Cushion plant moorland - Mt.Field, Tasmania.

The term cushion plant refers to a characteristic growth habit adopted by a variety of species and families growing in alpine and subalpine environments. The growth habit is an adaptation to low nutrient areas and typically involves deep tap roots and densely-packed stems, which decay to form a layer of peat under the plants. This dense growth pattern provides insulating properties to the plant, preventing root exposure to sub-zero temperatures, and forms a mat- or cushion-like structure.[1]

Description

A herbaceous perennial, the plant is low growing, woody, compact and spreads in mat-like manner to 3m in diameter.[1]  The large mat is commonly interspersed with other cushion plant species such as Dracophyllum minimum and Donatia novae-zelandiae[2]. Leaves bright green, thick, crowded and sheathing from the base to a pointed tip with a single fine hair, the blades 2mm long.[3] Flowering occurs from December-February. The flowers are small, solitary, tubular and white, positioned above the foliage.[3]

Abrotanella forsteroides is commonly mistaken for Dracophyllum minimum and Donatia novae-zelandieae due to their vegetatively similar appearances. However, D. minimum is distinguished by its reddish leaf tips and lack of hair and D. novae-zelandiae is distinguished by the presence of hairy leaf axils.[4]

Habitat and conservation issues

Abrotanella forsteroides is commonly found in alpine and sub-alpine regions of Tasmania above 1,200m.[5] The plant is widespread in screes and alpine moors, and forms mosaics with other cushion plants. Typically occupying areas with high rainfall and poorly drained, shallow fibrous peaty soils.[6]

Cushion plants are extremely sensitive to being trampled on by bushwalkers due to their slow growing nature.[7]


References
  1. Gibson, Neil. "Ph.D. Thesis - 'A study on the biology of four Tasmanian cushion species" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  3. Howells, Christine (2021). Tasmania’s Natural Flora (3rd ed.).
  4. "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  5. Wagstaff, Steven J.; Breitwieser, Ilse; Swenson, Ulf (2006). "Origin and Relationships of the Austral Genus Abrotanella (Asteraceae) Inferred from DNA Sequences". Taxon. 55 (1): 95–106. doi:10.2307/25065531. ISSN 0040-0262.
  6. "From Forest to Fjaeldmark: Descriptions of Tasmania's Vegetation (Edition 2) | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania". nre.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  7. "Cushion plants | Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania". parks.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
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