Leptecophylla parvifolia
On Kunanyi/Mt Wellington, Hobart, Tasmania.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Leptecophylla
Species:
L. parvifolia
Binomial name
Leptecophylla parvifolia
(R.Br.) Jarman

Leptecophylla parvifolia, commonly known as the mountain pinkberry, is a small to medium sized species of shrub in the family Ericaceae that is endemic to the highlands of Tasmania.[1]  This species was first collected and documented in 1804 by Robert Brown and was formerly included in the Cythodes genus.[1] It was then as noted as subspecies of Leptecophylla junipernia but in 2018, was classified as its own species[1]

Habit

It grows as an erect, compact, and rounded shrub, typically wider than it is high.[1] This species typically ranges in height from 50-150cm, rarely exceeding 2m.[2] L. parvifolia is common in open eucalypt woodlands and within rainforest communities.[1] It occurs throughout the southern, central and northeast highlands of Tasmania at altitudes above 500 metres and can form the dominant shrub layer in some locations (e.g. the Central Plateau).[1] In the southeast, its primarily found on rocky dolerite slopes but also can occur on Carboniferous-Devonian rock types[3]

Description

The leaves of this species are small, hence the name ‘parvifolia’ which translates roughly to ‘small leaves’. The leaves are alternately arranged and smaller than other Leptecophylla species, often <7mm, dark green in colour and pungent.[1][4] They are linear-lanceolate while the margins are slightly recurved, the apex of the leaves comes to a sharp point. The abaxial surface is pale white and waxy which displays a distinct striate pattern. However, the venation is typically narrow palmate and gives the appearance of being parallel due to the curvature of the margins and small leaf size.[5]

This species bares small, white, bell shaped flowers that are smaller than then that of the other species in this genus.[1] It flowers from September to January and by late spring, has masses of small edible pink/red berries up to 8mm in diameter[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jarman, SJ; Kantvilas, G (2017). "Leptecophylla in Tasmania: a reassessment of four species". Swainsona. 12: 1–16. JSTOR 26662852 – via JSTOR.
  2. ↑ "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  3. ↑ Weiller, CM (1999). "Leptecophylla, a new genus for species formerly included in Cyathodes (Epacridaceae)". Muelleria. 12 (2): 195–200. doi:10.5962/p.198397. S2CID 86039469.
  4. ↑ Howells, Christine (2021). Tasmania's Natural Flora. Hobart: Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc. pp. 144–145. ISBN 9780909830090.
  5. ↑ "ANPSA Plant Guide:The Australian Heath Family". anpsa.org.au. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  6. ↑ Watts, D (2018). Tasmanian Flowering Plants – A field guide. Kettering: Pelican Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN 9780975166536.
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