Lomatia polymorpha

Lomatia polymorpha is a shrub or small tree which grows to a height of between 2.5 and 4 m (8 and 10 ft). It has simple leaves which are linear to narrow egg-shaped, 20–80 mm (0.8–3 in) long, 2.5–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide, have a stalk about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and sometimes have a few lobes or teeth on the margins. The stems sometimes have a covering of matted hairs while the lower surface of the leaves is covered with rusty-coloured hairs and has a prominent mid-vein. The heads of flowers barely extend beyond the leaves and are white, cream or greenish-white in colour. Flowers appear between January and March and are followed by fruits which are dark grey to black and 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long.[2]

Lomatia polymorpha was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.[1][3]

Mountain guitar plant is a common and widespread species found "approximately south of the Pieman River and west of the Derwent River"[2] in subalpine woodlands, lowland scrubby vegetation in wetter areas, occasionally in rainforest,[4] from sea level to 1,200 m (4,000 ft).[5] Where the range overlaps with L. tinctoria, (as in the region of Lake St Clair), hybrids often occur.[2]

A hardy species in cultivation, L. polymorpha can be grown readily from seeds or cuttings and grows well in most soils and aspects.[6]