''Richea scoparia (formerly known as R. angustifolia)'', is a wide spread

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

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

plant. The genus ''

Richea ''Richea'' is a genus of 11 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. Nine of the species are endemic to Tasmania and the other two are endemic to the south-east of the Australian mainland. Species include: *'' Richea acerosa'' (Lin ...

,'' forms part of the

Ericaceae The Ericaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with c.4250 known species spread across 124 genera, making it th ...

(formerly Epacridaceae) family, which are commonly heath-like shrubs. The name refers to the erect bushy growth habit, described as a broom-like shrub, most commonly referred to as the honey bush or simply scoparia to many bushwalkers.

Description

''Richea scoparia'' is 1-3m high and commonly grows in wind-swept regions of mountains. The leaves persist for a number of years, even when dead. Leaves are crowded, sharp pointed, linear-

lanceolate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...

with a broad sheathing base, 3-6cm long.

Inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

s are terminal spikes 4-12cm in varying colours of orange, yellow, red, pink or white, flowering in January- March. Flowers with caps of joined petals, which a deciduous, exposing 5mm long stamens and a short style.

Hybrid

''Richea scoparia'' forms a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

species with ''

Richea pandanifolia ''Richea pandanifolia'', the pandani or giant grass tree, is a distinctive endemic Tasmanian angiosperm. It is dicot of the family Ericaceae and is found in central, western and south west Tasmania. It is a favourite among hikers and nature love ...

''. The hybrid species,
Richea curtisiae
' is relatively common where both ''R. scoparia'' and ''R. pandanifolia'' occur, especially after a disturbance as a result of fire or a clearing.

Distribution

''Richea scoparia'' is found in

montane Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...

vegetation and is subject to harsh conditions throughout several months of the year. It occurs in the west, south-west, north-east and Central Plateau of Tasmania in a variety of habitats above 700m. It is widespread in alpine regions and associated with a number of varying species. ''R. scoparia'' is a slow growing, scleromorphic,

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 ...

species with many morphological variabilities. The growth habits and morphology of ''R. scoparia'' populations are influenced by the level of difference weather conditions, to which each population is exposed. The exposure to wind speed and direction have a predominant effect on growth rate and success of the species, which grows as a dense rounded bush in highly exposed areas.

Reproduction

''Richea scoparia'' and '' Niveoscincus microlepidotus'' (snow skink) form a unique interaction, where ''N. microlepidotus'' aids in the pollination of ''R. scoparia'' by removing the calyptra (fused petal caps) of the inflorescence to feed on the nectar of the plant. This exposes the reproductive parts which increases the number of seeds dispersed and pollination success of the plant. This interaction has been thought to have been an adaptation to the harsh weather conditions by evolving with the lizards feeding habits to ensure the success of calyptra removal and dispersal of seeds.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7330387 scoparia Ericales of Australia Flora of Tasmania Endemic flora of Tasmania