| Richea
pandanifolia (pandani) is one of the most distinctive
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.
|
Back
University of Tasmania
