| Richea
pandanifolia (Pandani) is one of the most distintive species in
the Tasmanian flora. It is an erect shrub or small tree with very
long (usually 1m or more), tapering, strap-like leaves. It grows in
alpine areas in central, western and southern Tasmania, and in
rainforest in the south-west. It is often almost unbranched, but
damaged alpine plants and a lowland subspecies can be quite
branched. Pandani can be confused with the rare species Dracophyllum
cf milliganii, which grows in the south-west, often with
Pandani. Pandani has inflorescences in the leaf axils, whereas the Dracophyllum
has obvious terminal inflorescences. The leaf margins of Pandani are
very finely serrated and cutting, whereas those of the Dracophyllum
are smooth. This species hybridises with
Richea scoparia to produce what is called
R. Xcurtisiae.
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