Acrotriche depressa

Acrotriche depressa
In Beyeria Conservation Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Acrotriche
Species:	A. depressa
Binomial name
Acrotriche depressa R.Br.[1]
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Acrotriche depressa, commonly known as wiry ground-berry[2] or honeypots,[3] is a flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is a small shrub with crowded greyish-green leaves and white or green flowers and grows in southern Australia.

Description

Acrotriche depressa is a small, dense, mat forming, upright shrub to 30 cm (12 in) high, 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter and branchlets covered in soft, upright hairs to rigid, long, upright hairs. The leaves are crowded, spreading or slightly erect, greyish olive green, narrow-triangular, 3.5–13 mm (0.14–0.51 in) long, 0.5–3 mm (0.020–0.118 in) wide, margins slightly recurved, usually toothed, veined on lower surface, pointed at the apex and in whorls around the stem. The white or greenish tubular flowers are 2.4–2.9 mm (0.094–0.114 in) long in dense clusters of 5-10 on spikes 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long hidden amongst older branches. The bracteoles mostly 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long, sepals 1.4–2.8 mm (0.055–0.110 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to September and the fruit is a drupe, globular-shaped, greyish green, dark purple at maturity and up to 4.5 mm (0.18 in) wide.[4][3][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

Acrotriche depressa was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae.[7][8] The specific epithet (depressa) means "depressed" referring to its growth habit.[9]

Distribution and habitat

Honeypots grows in sclerophyll forest on a variety of soils, including loam, basalt, granite and sandy soil in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.[2][3][6]

References

1. "Acrotriche depressa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
2. "Acrotriche depressa". VICFLORA-flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Garden Victoria. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
3. Powell, J.M. "Acrotriche depressa". PlantNET-NSW flora online. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
4. Elliot, W.R.; Jones, D.L. (1982). Enclyclopaedia of Australian Plants. Vol. 2. ISBN 0-85091-143-5.
5. Sharp, Sarah; Rehwinkel, Rainer; Mallinson, Dave; Eddy, David (2015). Woodland Flora a Field Guide for the Southern Tableland (NSW & ACT). Canberra: Horizons Print Management. ISBN 9780994495808.
6. Cosgrove, Meredith (2014). Photographic Guide to Native Plants of the Australian Capital Territory. Meadow Argus. p. 106. ISBN 9780994183408.
7. "Acrotriche depressa". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
8. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London: Typis R Taylor, veneunt apud J. Johnson. p. 548. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
9. George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 116. ISBN 9780958034180.