{{Short description, Type of vegetation community
Bolster heath or cushion moorland is a type of vegetation community that features a patchwork of very low growing, tightly packed plants found at the limits of some alpine environments. The cushion plants form a smooth surfaced 'cushions' from several different plants, hence the common name of cushion heath. The cushion growth habit provides protection against the desiccating wind and help keep the cluster warm.
Bolster heath is very slow growing and thus very fragile. Most propagation is by slow expansion, although two species, ''
Abrotanella forsteroides
''Abrotanella forsteroides'', commonly known as the Tasmanian cushion plant, is an angiosperm endemic to Tasmania, Australia. The plant is a dicot species in the daisy family Asteraceae and can be identified by its bright green and compact cushi ...
'' and '' Pterygopappus lawrencei'' produce enough viable seed to survive fire. The other species are generally permanently destroyed by fire.
The soil in bolster heath is generally quite poor, often gravel with a thin layer of
peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. ''Sphagnum'' moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most ...
Abrotanella forsteroides
''Abrotanella forsteroides'', commonly known as the Tasmanian cushion plant, is an angiosperm endemic to Tasmania, Australia. The plant is a dicot species in the daisy family Asteraceae and can be identified by its bright green and compact cushi ...
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Abrotanella
''Abrotanella'' is a genus in the family Asteraceae, of 23 species, native to Australia, New Zealand and southern South America.
They are usually small plants, sometimes not reaching more than a few millimetres above the ground, although some fo ...