Tasmania (Australia)
Similar to the Australian mainland, the mountains of Tasmania are just high enough to allow
for a true alpine flora. The treeline is formed by deciduous
Nothofagus cunninghamii
at c. 1100 m elevation. An extremely species-rich dwarf shrub belt makes an impressive
contrast to any N-hemisphere alpine dwarf shrub belt. The climate is humid and cool temperate,
with a lot of rain and fog, so water shortage is an unknown phenomenon for these plants. Most
examples are from the Cradle Mts. region.
1 -
Celmisia sp.
(Asteraceae) and the fern
Gleichenia alpina
(Gleicheniaceae) at 1250 m, with the Cradle Mts. (1545 m) in the rear.
1 -
Celmisia sp.
(Asteraceae) and the fern
Gleichenia alpina
(Gleicheniaceae) at 1250 m, with the Cradle Mts. (1545 m) in the rear.
2 -
Small tussocks of
Danthonia sp.
(Poaceae), "snow grass", at 1250 m in the Cradle Mts.
2 -
Small tussocks of
Danthonia sp.
(Poaceae), "snow grass", at 1250 m in the Cradle Mts.
3 -
Large, intermingled flat cushion plants are a most typical feature of Tasmania's alpine flora.
Most of the species are Asteraceae (e.g.
Abrotanella sp.),
but there are also small
Dracocephalum sp.
(Lamiaceae) and
Pernettya sp.
(Ericaceae) species, with grasses or pockets of
Celmisia sp.
(Asteraceae) rosettes often finding safe sites on such cushions.
3 -
Large, intermingled flat cushion plants are a most typical feature of Tasmania's alpine flora.
Most of the species are Asteraceae (e.g.
Abrotanella sp.),
but there are also small
Dracocephalum sp.
(Lamiaceae) and
Pernettya sp.
(Ericaceae) species, with grasses or pockets of
Celmisia sp.
(Asteraceae) rosettes often finding safe sites on such cushions.
4 -
Flat cushions of the light coloured
Pterygopappus lawrencii
(Asteraceae) at 1250 m.
4 -
Flat cushions of the light coloured
Pterygopappus lawrencii
(Asteraceae) at 1250 m.
5 -
Gaultheria depressa,
an Ericaceae dwarf shrub species also found in New Zealand (Cradle Mts., 1200 m).
5 -
Gaultheria depressa,
an Ericaceae dwarf shrub species also found in New Zealand (Cradle Mts., 1200 m).
6 -
Podocarpus lawrencii
(Podocarpaceae), a conifer tree, which becomes a cushion shaped shrub at 1200 m in the
Cradle Mts.
6 -
Podocarpus lawrencii
(Podocarpaceae), a conifer tree, which becomes a cushion shaped shrub at 1200 m in the
Cradle Mts.
7 -
Gentiana diemensis
(Gentianaceae), the sole gentian in Tasmania (Cradle Mts., 1250 m).
7 -
Gentiana diemensis
(Gentianaceae), the sole gentian in Tasmania (Cradle Mts., 1250 m).
8 -
A selection of dwarf shrub shoots belonging to genera like
Epacris
(Ericaceae),
Oxylobium
(Fabaceae),
Orites
(Proteaceae),
Olearia
(Asteraceae),
Coprosma
(Rubiaceae),
Tasmannia
(Winteraceae),
Gaultheria
(Ericaceae), etc. (near Crater Lake, 1080 m).
8 -
A selection of dwarf shrub shoots belonging to genera like
Epacris
(Ericaceae),
Oxylobium
(Fabaceae),
Orites
(Proteaceae),
Olearia
(Asteraceae),
Coprosma
(Rubiaceae),
Tasmannia
(Winteraceae),
Gaultheria
(Ericaceae), etc. (near Crater Lake, 1080 m).