''Euchiton traversii'', commonly known as mat cudweed, is a small, woolly, alpine rosette herb. It forms a mat-like habit, hence the common name, in alpine wet heath and grasslands. The species is found in Australia—in
Tasmania
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, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
New South Wales
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, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...
—and the
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography.
Etymology
T ...
and
South Island
The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...
s of New Zealand.
Distribution and habitat
''Euchiton traversii'' is found in Australia in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and both North and South Islands of New Zealand. It grows in alpine and subalpine areas, often in bare patches within wet healthland and
grassland
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...
s.
Habit
''Euchiton traversii'' grows to high, with one solitary or a few slender stems. The leaves are long and wide and are coloured silvery-grey or white with a prominent midvein. Small trichomes (hairs) cover both adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) leaf surfaces, with the hairs thinning towards the apex of the leaf. The leaves are mostly basal and rosette in form (growing at the base in a circular arrangement) and are oblanceolate to spathulate (spatula-like) with a broad apex and narrow base. The petiole is equal to or less than the leaf width at the base.
''E. traversii'' flowers in summer. Flower heads are solitary with eight or more florets and pappus that are white in colour. The flower heads are long, and are woolly at the base. The bracts are pressed closely to the flower head, and are typically straw coloured with either a red-purple tinge towards the apex or a red-purple band below the apex.
''E. traversii'' can be confused with ''
Argyrotegium
''Argyrotegium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae
The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred t ...
mackayi'' (synonym ''E. argentifolius''; ''Gnaphalium argentifolium''). ''A. mackayi'' has shorter stems around long and shorter elliptical leaves that grow basally and along the stem.
Plant morphology
The ''
Euchiton
''Euchiton'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to Australasia and the Pacific. Some have been introduced far outside their native ranges.
These are annual and perennial herbs. Some have rhizomes, and most ...
'' genus was once recognized as being part of the '' Gnaphalium'' genus, with ''Euchiton traversii'' previously called ''Gnaphalium traversii''.
A study into the morphometric differences of ''Euchiton'' have supported that ''E. traversii'' is a well-delimited taxa. ''E. traversii'' is closely related to ''E. lateralis'', but has been shown to be a distinct species. Some other ''Euchiton'' taxons are less well-delimited, with further information needed to clarify the taxonomy and genetic boundaries of the genus.
Conservation and threats
This species is listed as Vulnerable under the
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
The ''Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988'', also known as the ''FFG Act'', is an act of the Victorian Government designed to protect species, genetic material and habitats, to prevent extinction and allow maximum genetic diversity within the Au ...
Threatened List (Victoria). It is listed as Rare on the Australian Capital Territory Rare Plant List. It is not listed as a threatened species in any of its other locations (Tasmania, New South Wales, or New Zealand).
''Euchiton traversii'' is threatened by introduced deer, with a study in the Australian Alps identifying that the species is likely to be palatable, easily accessed, and trampled by deer. Other threats have not been widely researched.
A species with similar habit and habitat, ''
Argyrotegium nitidulum
''Argyrotegium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Australia and New Zealand.
; SpeciesEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' (Cth), with possible threats including warming alpine conditions reducing available habitat, developments causing disturbance, and competition from invasive species.
There are no current specific management plans or conservation advice for ''E. traversii'' (as of March 2024). A 2017 management plan for Clemes Tarn Snow Patch in Mt Field, Tasmania, suggests that future efforts work towards accurately identifying ''E. traversii'' to differentiate it from similar species to produce better management actions.