Snow Beard Heath, Mountain Bearded Heath
Acrothamnus montanus

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It grows 10-60 cm high and spreads 20-80 cm wide. Young growth is hairy. It has more rounded leaves than Lissanthe strigosa. The leaves are 0.5-1 cm long by 0.15 cm wide. They are narrow and oblong and have short leaf stalks. They are green above and waxy underneath. The edges of the leaves are often clear or hairy. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The flowers are 0.3 cm long and white. There are 4-6 flowers in short spikes at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The fruit are fleshy and 0.3-0.4 cm across. They are white or red.

There are about 6 Acrothamnus species. They are mostly in Australia.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in stony places at higher altitudes than Lissanthe strigosa. It grows in alpine regions and high elevations in temperate places. It can tolerate frost and snow. In Hobart Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Leucopogon montanus (R. Br.) J. H. Willis; Lissanthe montana R. Br.;