Key to Tasmanian Dicots
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Leptecophylla (formerly Cyathodes; Ericaceae) 2:425

Leptecophylla abietina

L. pogonocaylyx

Tasmania has six species of Leptecophylla. These are all erect shrubs with hard, usually sharp leaves. The species in this genus can be hard to separate and identification requires fertile material, and some knowledge of plant anatomy. Leptecophylla species have hermaphrodite flowers (i.e. flowers have both male an female parts). Interstingly, plants produce flowers with female flower parts and either male fertile or male infertile parts. Fruit sets on the plants with male infertile flowers. In some species (e.g. L. oxycedrus) the difference between male fertile and male infertile plants is obvious; the male fertile flowers have large pollen producing anthers and a longer corolla tube, while the male infertile flowers have small anthers without pollen and a shorter corolla tube.  L. juniperina is now not considered as part of the Tasmanian flora, and species previously attributed to this species have been assigned to L. oxycedrus and L. parvifolia. L. divaricata  (=Cyathodes divaricata ) is a dry forest species in the east and L. abietina  (=Cyathodes abietina) is a very thick leaved species that grows on exposed coasts in the west and south.

L. parvifolia

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Contact: Greg.Jordan@utas.edu.au

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