''Richea'' × ''curtisiae'', commonly known as Curtis's candle heath, is a hybrid species of plant endemic to

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

. It belongs to 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 ...

'', which forms part of the Ericaceae (formerly Epacridaceae) family, commonly known as the heath family. ''Richea'' × ''curtisiae'' is a hybrid species between ''

Richea scoparia ''Richea scoparia (formerly known as R. angustifolia)'', is a wide spread Tasmanian endemic plant. The genus ''Richea,'' forms part of the Ericaceae (formerly Epacridaceae) family, which are commonly heath-like shrubs. The name refers to the er ...

'' and ''

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 ...

''.

Description

''Richea'' × ''curtisiae'' has the form of an intermediate between the smaller shrub ''

'' and the larger erect shrub/tree ''

''. As such, ''Richea × curtisiae'' forms a small shrub of between tall with an erect habit. ''Richea × curtisiae'' has few branches, with persistent leaves. These leaves are tapering and strap-like, which vary in length from . The leaf margins are cartilaginous and are finely serrated and cutting, and the branch tips contains a dense rosette of leaves. As the leaves age they become brown, and the leaves on the lower two-thirds of the stem are dead and decaying. The inflorescence of ''Richea × curtisiae'' occurs as a terminal panicle, a branched inflorescence, which are between long. The peduncles, the stalks of the flowers, are 5 to 10 in number, and are short, between . The flowers are pink to orange in colour. ''Richea'' × ''custisiae'' has an appearance similar to that of ''

Richea alpina ''Richea alpina'', known as short candleheath, is a species of Ericaceae, heath endemic to Tasmania, occurring in the mountains of the southwest. It is morphologically similar to the hybrid species ''Richea × curtisiae, Richea curtisiae'' which ...

'', but it is shorter, unbranched, and broadly spreading, and is restricted to alpine areas in the deep south-west.

Habitat and distribution

''Richea'' × ''custisiae'' is endemic to Tasmania and is relatively common in occurrence where both ''

'' and ''

'' occur, with heightened occurrence after a disturbance, like that of fire or clearing. ''Richea'' × ''curtisiae'' occurs in alpine areas of the West and Central mountains of Tasmania. It can be found in sub-alpine woodlands, and sub-alpine heath communities. ''Richea × curtisiae'' also often occurs with ''

Dracophyllum milliganii ''Dracophyllum milliganii '' is a species of angiosperm in the family Ericaceae and the sub-family Epacridoideae. It is a distinctive alpine shrub, endemic to western Tasmania. Description ''Dracophyllum milliganii'' is grouped into two popul ...

''.

Taxonomy

''Richea'' × ''curtisiae'' was first recognised in 1971 by Alan Maurice Gray, and was named after Winifred Curtis, a matriarch in Tasmanian botany.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q125194227, from2=Q17243735 curtisae Plants described in 1971 Plant nothospecies