Richea scoparia

Richea scoparia
Richea scoparia flowering in Mount Field National Park, Tasmania
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Richea
Species:	R. scoparia
Binomial name
Richea scoparia Hooker

Richea scoparia is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is endemic to Tasmania, Australia^[1] where it is an abundant plant of mountains.

Description

R. scoparia is a compact, often rounded shrub branching mostly from the base and which can grow to 2 metres high. Branches are clothed with stiff, curved, sharp pointed, awl shaped leaves. The plant is spiny to touch and can make impenetrable thickets where it is common. The flowers are sought out by wallabies to eat.^[2] The inflorescence is a dense terminal raceme of red or occasionally pink or creamy white flowers borne at the end of the branches in spring giving each bush the appearance of a candle covered plant.

References

1. Simmons, John. Managing the wet garden: plants that flourish in problem places. Timber Press, 2008.
2. "Richea scoparia". The Unique Flora of Tasmania. Hobart District Group of The Australian Plants Society - Tasmania Inc. Retrieved 2009-11-29.

R. scoparia, yellow-white form. The spike is 5-6 cm high