Cyathodes straminea
| Cyathodes straminea | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Cyathodes |
| Species: | C. straminea
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyathodes straminea | |
Cyathodes straminea, also known as false-whorled cheeseberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae endemic to Tasmania, where it grows as an alpine to subalpine shrub (15–60 cm in height) with a spreading habit. The generic name Cyathodes was derived from Greek "Cyath" = cup and "odes" = like, referring to the ovary encircled by cup-shaped nectary.
Description[edit]
Cyathodes straminea is a shrub with leaves arranged in pseudowhorls. Leaves are obovate-elliptic 7–16 mm long, 3-4.5 mm wide, often with a membranous margin, and a soft, blunt point. The upper surface is glabrous, but the lower surface is covered in white wax (glaucous) with prominent parallel veins (Fig.1). Petiole 1.6-2.4 mm long.[1] The flowers occur in summer in upper leaf axils (Fig.2) and have a strong cheesy smell, are white, bell-shaped and hermaphrodite (both male and female) with long corolla lobes and anthers exserted on thick filaments. They have 5-10 locules in the ovary,[2] developing into red, rounded, flattened fruits to 8mm wide, reputed to be edible (raw or cooked) (Fig.3).
Habitat[edit]
Cyathodes straminea grows frequently in open shrubby subalpine heathland and woodlands on the Dolerite mountains of the northern, central and eastern parts of Tasmania above 1000m.[3] Usually found on medium and heavy (clay) soils in moist, rocky and windy sites, with well-drained conditions and is frost tolerant. Commonly associated with Eucalyptus coccifera, Orites revoluta, Helichrysum and Richea species.
Cultivation[edit]
It requires a well-drained moist soil in a sheltered site. These plans are very susceptible to drought but can grow even in -7 °C. The seeds should be surface sown in ericaceous soil. It germinates within 1–2 months at 18 °C. Scarification will reduce the germination time and 2 or 3 periods of 4 – 6 weeks cold stratification, alternated with 4 weeks warm stratification can also help. [4]
Gallery[edit]
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Leaves with a membranous margin and parallel venation beneath -
White tubular flowers in upper leaf axils. Note the glaucous undersides of the leaves. -
Flattened, round-ovate, red, edible fruit
References[edit]
- ^ Curtis, W.M. (1963). "THE STUDENT'S FLORA OF TASMANIA".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Weiller, C.M. (1996). "Epacridacea,Reassessment of Cyathodes". Australian Systematic Botany. 9 (4): 491–507. doi:10.1071/sb9960491.
- ^ "Atlas Of Living Australia".
- ^ "Cyathodes straminea".