Trochocarpa thymifolia
Trochocarpa thymifolia is a species of flowering plant from the family Ericacae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a widespread alpine and subalpine shrub with small leaves, pink to red flowers and blue to purple fruit. Originally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1810, it is a widespread Tasmanian endemic that inhabits the state's mountain regions. Description. Mature plants form erect, bushy shrubs growing to around 1m in height. Leaves are small (2–4 mm long), densely-packed, ovate to elliptic in shape and are alternate in arrangement. The succulent leaves are dark green, with a  red tinge around the margins and are slightly lighter green on the underside. Parallel venation is clear on the abaxial surface (underside) of the leaf which is a distinguishing characteristic of the Ericaceae family. The tubular flowers possess 5 lobes, of about 4mm in length and range from pink to red in colour. Inflorescences form a dense cluster of drooping terminal spikes that are 1.5 cm long with the yellow filaments of the stamens being prominent sitting just outside of the floral tube. Fruits are spherical, fleshy and present in a blue to purple/mauve colour at approximately 8  mm in diameter. Fruits and flowers typically occur simultaneously, creating stunning displays of contrasting colours and textures alongside the neat foliage. Taxonomy. This taxon was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown who gave it the name "Diaspora thymifolia" in "Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen". In 1824, Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel changed the name to "Trochocapra thymifolia" in "Systema Vegetabilium". The specific epithet ("thymifolia") means "thyme-leaved". Species differentiation. "Trochocarpa thymifolia" is distinguished from the other three rainforest species of "Trochocarpa" occurring in Tasmania by its leaves that are only long. Habitat and distribution. "Trochocarpa thymifolia