Cyathodes glauca

Cyathodes glauca, the purple cheeseberry, is a woody shrub or small tree common in Tasmania, Australia. It belongs to the 'heath' family, Ericaceae. 'Heath' refers to open, shrub-like communities which survive on well-drained and poor quality soils.[1]

Cyathodes glauca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Cyathodes
Species:
C. glauca
Binomial name
Cyathodes glauca

The word 'Cyathodes' is in reference to the flower, describing it as 'cup-shaped'. "Glauca' is derived from 'glaucous' which means blueish-grey or green, referring to the distinguishable, lighter colour on the underside of the leaves.[2]

Description

Leaves: Dark green, linear and pointed 2–4 cm long. They have parallel venation and form false whorls, particularly towards the end of the stem. Undersides are distinctively glaucous.[3]

Flowers: numerous, mostly terminal flowers, solitary in axils of final whorl. Slightly scented, they are small (1 cm), white and tubular with recurved lobes and protruding anthers. They flower in spring and early summer.[4]

Fruit: a distinctively pink/purple drupe, 1 cm in diameter. Shape is that of a partially flattened tennis ball.[5]

Distribution

Widespread and locally common understorey plant in open forest below 1100m (subalpine). It is found almost only in Tasmania, Australia, with outlying occurrences in central-east New South Wales and far southwest South Australia.[6] It inhabits mostly subalpine, sclerophyll woodland or wet sclerophyll forest.[7]

Ecology

Common dominant species that Cyathodes glauca occurs with are Leptospermum scoparium, Pultenaea daphnoides, Monotoca glauca and Acacia species. Cyathodes glauca prefers moist, well-drained/poor quality soil. As a result, it is often found on rocky slopes and boulder fields where clay soils overlay dolerite. Slopes are typically of a southeast aspect with gentle to moderate gradient and good drainage.[8]

Affinities

There are three other known species within the genus Cyathodes. Cyathodes platystoma (a threatened species), has the largest leaves and is only found in wet sclerophyll forests of the Tasman Peninsula. Cyathodes straminea looks very similar to C. glauca although has smaller leaves, dark red drupes and is only found above 1100m.[9]

Other recognisable members of the family Ericaceae include blueberries, cranberries and rhododendrons.[10]

References
  1. "Heathlands". Australian National Botanical Gardens. c. 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  2. Whiltshire, Robert (c. 2018). Field Botany. School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania. pp. 16–17.
  3. Howells, Christine (c. 2012). Tasmania's Natural Flora. Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc., Hobart Group. p. 128. ISBN 9780909830663.
  4. Howells, Christine (c. 2012). Tasmania's Natural Flora. Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc., Hobart Group. p. 128. ISBN 9780909830663.
  5. Howells, Christine (c. 2012). Tasmania's Natural Flora. Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc., Hobart Group. p. 128. ISBN 9780909830663.
  6. "Cyathodes glauca Labill". Atlas of Living Australia. c. 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  7. Whiltshire, Robert (c. 2018). Field Botany. School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania. pp. 16–17.
  8. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania (c. 2018). "The Vegetation Communities: Scrub, heathland and coastal complexes" (PDF). DPIPWE. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania. Retrieved 1 December 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Jordan, Greg. "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". Key to Tasmanian Dicots. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  10. "The Australian Heath Family - Background". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). c. 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
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