|
|
| These
pictures of Richea scoparia - known locally as 'Honey
Bush' - were taken yesterday, on New Year's Eve, on
Mount Field in Tasmania, at about 1100m.. It was a
shrub of about 50cm high, though according to the AGS
Encyclopaedia it can grow up to 3m. Very spiky,and
therefore not popular with walkers. |
| It is a
Tasmanian endemic, being widespread among the
mountains of the island. Its colour can vary from deep
red to pink, maturing to yellow-brown. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The reproductive
parts of the flowers are hidden inside the secure capsules
formed by fused petals, as can be seen in the closeups
above. This protects them from the elements, but raises a
problem with pollination. |
| The solution to
this lies with a small reptile, the snow skink (Niveoscincus
micro-lepidotus), which in the summer feeds almost
exclusively on nectar from R. scoparia. The
skinks tear open the mature capsules, which they identify as
having the most nectar, and thus allow pollinating insects
access to the reproductive parts of the flowers, and allow
the seeds to escape later. |
|
|
| Richeas are named
for Claude Riche (1762-97), a French naturalist who sailed
in 1791 with D'Entrecasteaux on an expedition to find the
famous French explorer La Perouse, who had disappeared on a
round the world voyage.They did not find La Perouse (who had
actually been lost on the reefs of the South Pacific island
of Vanikoro), but Riche came back with a large number of
botanical specimens. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
