| Microcachrys
tetragona (creeping pine or strawberry pine) is a
prostrate native shrub found in alpine and open subalpine
areas of central, western and southern Tasmania. It is fire
sensitive and only grows in fire-free areas, often in rocky
areas. It is slow growing and may live for hundreds of
years.
Microcachrys tetragona is endemic to Tasmania and
is the only species in this genus. The adult leaves are
scale like, overlapping like tiles and are opposite and
decussate so form four rows up the stem. These leafy stems
are only about 1-1.5 mm across and square in cross
section. Seedlings have never been recorded (sometimes
resprouts from trunks buried in the peat are mistaken for
seedlings). The female cones are small (6-8mm long and
3-4mm across) and when ripe are bright red and fleshy with
20-30 seeds.
This species is often confused with
Diselma archeri, which lives in similar areas.
Diselma archeri has similar leaf size and
arrangement to Microcachrys, but is generally
erect, and has stomata at the base of the outer surface of
the leaf.
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University of Tasmania
