''Monotoca submutica'', commonly known as mountain broomheath,
is an endemic heath family shrub in the
Epacridaceae
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 ...
family and is one of 17 species in the genus ''
Monotoca
''Monotoca'' is a genus of about 17 species of shrubs in the family Ericaceae. The genus is endemic to Australia.
Species include:
*'' Monotoca billawinica'' Albr.
*''Monotoca elliptica'' (Sm.) R.Br. – tree broom heath
*'' Monotoca empet ...
''. It is a widespread and locally common small to tall woody dense shrub found in the alpine/subalpine woodlands of southern and western mountains of
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
Description
''Monotoca submutica'' is an erect, dense and compact shrub, usually occurring as a small/medium shrub (1-3m high as a shrub) or when associated with wet sclorphyll forests it can grow as a small woody tree (up to 6m).
Leaves are suberect and shaped from elliptical through to oblong/obovate (6-12mm long and 2-3.5mm wide), leaf margins are slightly recurved with a green flat or slightly convex adaxial surface and glaucous abaxial surface.
The flowers are white and often solitarily arranged axillary, but can also be arranged in short spikes with 2-4 flowers.
In most cases individuals are
dioecious
Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...
, with the main difference between female and male flowers being that the male flowers have their anthers half exserted. Immature fruit is spherical/oval and green, matured drupe turns to red/orange.
Flowering occurs from September through to October.
A distinguishing feature of ''Monotoca submutica'' is that the leaf apex is mucronate and not sharp.
Distribution and habitat
''Monotoca submutica'' is
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 ...
to
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
. It is a widespread species in southern and western Tasmania,
where it is found in subalpine forests and woodlands as a small to medium shrub.
In wet sclerophyll forests that are associated with rainforests, it can occur as a small tree (up to 6m).
On the east coast of Tasmania in the Freycinet Peninsula, a more robust form of the typical ''Monotoca submutica'' is known to occur.
Cultivation
''Monotoca submutica'' is not a commonly grown and cultivated species, would do best in well drained, moist soil with moderate sunlight.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q17251406
submutica
Flora of Tasmania