''Phyllachne colensoi'', the yellow cushionplant, is a species of

cushion plant A cushion plant is a compact, low-growing, mat-forming plant that is found in alpine, subalpine, arctic, or subarctic environments around the world. The term "cushion" is usually applied to woody plants that grow as spreading mats, are limited in ...

in the

Stylidiaceae The family Stylidiaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants. It consists of five genera with over 240 species, most of which are endemic to Australia and New Zealand. Members of Stylidiaceae are typically grass-like herbs or small shrub ...

family. It is native to both

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, with colonisation of the latter being a somewhat recent dispersal. ''Phyllachne colensoi'' is frequently the dominant vegetation in upland bog habitats and is found throughout high mountain areas in New Zealand, but is only recorded from 12 sites in Tasmania in the west and south-west of the island.Wagstaff, S.J. and Wege, J. (2002)
Patterns of diversification in New Zealand Stylidiaceae
''American Journal of Botany'', 89(5): 865-874.Good, R. (1925). On the geographical distribution of the Stylidiaceae. ''New Phytologist'', 24(4): 225-240.Gray, A. M. (2009)

version 2009:2. In M. F. Duretto (Ed.) Flora of Tasmania Online. 9 pp. (Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery: Hobart). ''Phyllachne colensoi'' is a

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

cushion mound-forming plant with short erect stems that are densely packed. Leaves are sessile and small at only 2–3 mm long. Solitary flowers are white and held close to the cushion mound, with flowers and fruits being produced from December to March. ''Phyllachne colensoi'' was first described as ''Helophyllum colensoi'' by

Joseph Dalton Hooker Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (30 June 1817 – 10 December 1911) was a British botanist and explorer in the 19th century. He was a founder of geographical botany and Charles Darwin's closest friend. For twenty years he served as director of t ...

in 1864 and then moved to the genus ''Phyllachne'' by

Sven Berggren Sven Berggren (12 August 1837 – 28 June 1917)Arnell, H.W. (1922) Sven Berggren (12/8-1837 - 28/6-1917). Svenskt biografiskt Lexikon vol. III was a Swedish botanist, explorer and university professor. He was a professor at Lund University 1883 ...

in 1877.

References

Flora of New Zealand Flora of Tasmania Plants described in 1864 Stylidiaceae Taxa named by Joseph Dalton Hooker {{Stylidiaceae-stub