Trochocarpa clarkei, commonly known as lilac berry, is a rare flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is endemic to sub-alpine areas of Victoria in Australia.[3][4] It is a shrub which grows to around 30 cm high. The flowers are maroon with a greenish base. The fruits, which appear in autumn, are about 8 mm in diameter.[3] These are eaten by small mammals and birds.[4] The species occurs in subalpine areas of the southern highlands, often in association with Eucalyptus pauciflora.[4]
| Trochocarpa clarkei | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Trochocarpa |
| Species: | T. clarkei
|
| Binomial name | |
| Trochocarpa clarkei | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Decaspora clarkei F.Muell. | |
The species was formally described in 1855 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in his paper Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants.[2] Mueller gave it the name Decaspora clarkei based on plant material collected from "shady ravines" at Mount Wellington in Gippsland. In 1867 Mueller transferred the species to the genus Trochocarpa.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b "Trochocarpa clarkei (F.Muell.) F.Muell". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Decaspora clarkei F.Muell". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ a b Corrick, M.G. & Fuhrer, B.A. (2001). Wildflowers of Victoria and adjoining areas. Australia: Bloomings Books. ISBN 1876473142.
- ^ a b c "A Typical Rare Plant". Rare Plants of Victoria. Viridans. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
