Snowy Mountains (Australia)
The Australian continental divide reaches its maximum height at 2250 m at Mt. Kosciusko,
in the Snowy Mountains halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. Since the climatic treeline
formed by
Eucalyptus pauciflora
is at c. 2000 m, there is a true alpine flora, which naturally reaches down to
1800 m occasionally. A snow cover of several months in winter is common and soils are
generally moist. The flora is very rich, with a multitude of dwarf shrub species and colourful
alpine grassland. The taxonomy of the species reflects old
Gondwana
and includes genera also found in S-Africa lowlands.
1 -
Above the treeline, alpine heathland in the Snowy Mts. (2050 m).
1 -
Above the treeline, alpine heathland in the Snowy Mts. (2050 m).
2 - Alpine dwarf shrub heath on Mt. Perisher (2050 m).
2 - Alpine dwarf shrub heath on Mt. Perisher (2050 m).
3 -
Richea continentis,
a
graminoid
looking Ericaceae.
3 -
Richea continentis,
a
graminoid
looking Ericaceae.
4 -
Aciphylla glacialis
(Apiaceae), a tall forb genus also found in New Zealand.
4 -
Aciphylla glacialis
(Apiaceae), a tall forb genus also found in New Zealand.
5 -
If it were not for the Proteaceae flowers, this
Orites
species would look like alpine
Rhododendron
(Ericaceae) in the Alps (Mt. Perisher, 2000 m).
5 -
If it were not for the Proteaceae flowers, this
Orites
species would look like alpine
Rhododendron
(Ericaceae) in the Alps (Mt. Perisher, 2000 m).
6 -
Helipterum albicans
(Asteraceae) (2050 m)
6 -
Helipterum albicans
(Asteraceae) (2050 m)
7 -
Helipterum albicans
(Asteraceae) (2050 m)
7 -
Helipterum albicans
(Asteraceae) (2050 m)
8 -
Celmisia sp.
(Asteraceae)
8 -
Celmisia sp.
(Asteraceae)
9 -
Short alpine grass heath - very similar in appearance to
Carex sp.
and
Kobresia sp.
(both Cyperaceae) heath in the Alps and the Rocky Mts.
9 -
Short alpine grass heath - very similar in appearance to
Carex sp.
and
Kobresia sp.
(both Cyperaceae) heath in the Alps and the Rocky Mts.
10 -
Craspedia sp.
(Asteraceae) (Mt. Perisher)
10 -
Craspedia sp.
(Asteraceae) (Mt. Perisher)
11 -
Gentianella diemensis
(Gentianaceae), the only species of gentian in Australia.
11 -
Gentianella diemensis
(Gentianaceae), the only species of gentian in Australia.
12 -
Cushions and carpets formed by
Pentandra sp.
(Ericaceae) and
Coprosma sp.
(Rubiaceae) look like
Loiseleuria procumbens
(Ericaceae) in the northern hemisphere.
12 -
Cushions and carpets formed by
Pentandra sp.
(Ericaceae) and
Coprosma sp.
(Rubiaceae) look like
Loiseleuria procumbens
(Ericaceae) in the northern hemisphere.
