Cyathodes glauca
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cyathodes glauca | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Cyathodes |
| Species: | C. glauca |
| Binomial name | |
| Cyathodes glauca | |
Cyathodes glauca, the purple cheeseberry, is a woody shrub or small tree common in Tasmania, Australia. It belongs to the heath family, Ericaceae. 'Heath' refers to open, shrub-like communities, which survive on well-drained and poor quality soils.[1]
The genus name Cyathodes is in reference to the flower, describing it as 'cup-shaped'. The specific epithet glauca is 'glaucous', which means bluish-grey or green, referring to the distinguishable, lighter colour on the underside of the leaves.[2]
The leaves of Cyathodes glauca are dark green, linear and pointed, 2–4 cm long. They have parallel venation and form false whorls, particularly towards the end of the stem. Undersides are distinctively glaucous.[3]
Flowers are numerous, mostly terminal, and solitary in axils of final whorl. They are slightly scented, small (1 cm), white and tubular with recurved lobes and protruding anthers. Flowering occurs in spring and early summer.[4]
The fruit is a distinctively pink-purple drupe, 1 cm in diameter. Its shape is that of a partially flattened tennis ball.[5]