Trochocarpa cunninghamii

T. cunninghamii is a low scrambling prostrate shrub with reddish new growth.[6][5] Leaves are 5-10mm long (with 5-7 veins visible from the underside of the leaf) at alternate at right angles to the stem, with a dark green adaxial (upper) surface and a lighter abaxial (lower) surface.[7][5] In summer, pink and white tubular flowers bloom and have dangling spikes near the end of branches.[5] The purplish blue-black fruit is present year-round and is described as round flattened mauve drupes about 1 cm in diameter.[6][5][8]

The foliage of this species can be mistaken for Trochocarpa gunnii as it has a similar appearance.[7] T. cunninghamii can be easily distinguished from T. gunnii by its growth habit; T. gunnii is a larger (3–6 metres high, 2–3 metres wide) erect dense to open shrub to small tree, whereas T. cunninghamii has a low scrambling habit (0.2-1.5 metres high, 0.5–2 metres wide).[5] T. cunninghamii is more commonly found at high altitudes than T. gunnii.[7] Trochocarpa disticha also closely resembles T. cunninghamii, however T. disticha is a large shrub with larger leaves, restricted to far southeast Tasmania and regarded as uncommon.[7]

The species was first described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1839 as Decaspora cunninghami,[1][9] and in 1963 was transferred to the genus, Trochocarpa, by Winifred Curtis.[1][2] The Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria accepts this name.[1] However, Plants of the World online considers Trochocarpa cunninghamii to be a synonym of Trochocarpa disticha Spreng.[10]

The genus name, Trochocarpa, is derived from Greek; trochos (wheel) and carpos (fruit).[11] This is attributed to the separation of the fruit which is arranged into "ten single-seeded stones", likened to spokes on a wheel.[11]

The species name, cunninghamii, honours English botanist Allan Cunningham, who circumnavigated Australia between 1816 and 1839 to collect plants[12][13].

T. cunninghamii is found only in subalpine forests and rainforest in Tasmania.[5][3] It is commonly found in the understorey layer of forests in the Central Plateau and western Tasmania.[5] T. cunninghamii can also sometimes be found in alpine woodland and rocky habitats at high altitudes.[6] Almost all recorded sightings are restricted to the western half of Tasmania.[3]