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Pherosphaera hookeriana (until recently known as
Microstrobos niphophilus) is an uncommon native shrub found in alpine and subalpine areas of
central and southern Tasmania. It is very fire sensitive
and only grows in fire-free areas, in alpine conifer heath and
montane rainforest. It is slow growing and may live for many
hundreds of years. P. hookeriana is endemic to Tasmania and
there is only other species in this genus (a very rare species in
the Blue Mountains of New South Wales). The adult leaves are scale like,
overlapping like tiles and are spirally arranged around the stem. These leafy stems are only about 1-1.5 mm across. Seedlings are
very uncommon (this species
often resprouts from trunks buried in the peat), but have narrow,
spreading leaves a few mm long. The female cones are small (~3-4mm
across) and are dry when mature.
This species is often confused with the more widespread species,
Diselma archeri, which lives in similar
areas. Diselma archeri has similar growth habit, but has
opposite and decussate leaves. It can also be confused with the rare
alpine specimens of Lagarostrobos
franklinii. This species has elongated female cones, and has
stomata on the outer surface of the leaves. Small specimens of
Athrotaxis cupressoides could
also possibly be confused, but these have wider leafy stems (~ 2-3
mm wide). |
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