The Australian continental divide reaches its maximum height at 2250 m at Mt. Kosciusko, in the Snowy Mountains halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. Since the climatic treeline formed by Eucalyptus pauciflora is at ca. 2000 m, there is a true alpine flora, which naturally reaches down to 1800 m occasionally. A snow cover of several months in winter is common and soils are generally moist. The flora is very rich, with a multitude of dwarf shrub species and colourful alpine grassland. The taxonomy of the species reflects old Gondwana and includes genera also found in S-Africa lowlands.

1 - Above the treeline, alpine heathland in the Snowy Mts. (2050 m).

2 - Alpine dwarf shrub heath on Mt. Perisher (2050 m).

3 - Richea continentis, a graminoid looking Ericaceae.

4 - Aciphylla glacialis (Apiaceae), a tall forb genus also found in New Zealand.

5 - If it were not for the Proteaceae flowers, this Orites species would look like alpine Rhododendron (Ericaceae) in the Alps (Mt. Perisher, 2000 m).

6 - Helipterum albicans (Asteraceae) (2050 m)

7 - Helipterum albicans (Asteraceae) (2050 m)

8 - Celmisia sp. (Asteraceae)

9 - Short alpine grass heath - very similar in appearance to Carex sp. and Kobresia sp. (both Cyperaceae) heath in the Alps and the Rocky Mts.

10 - Craspedia sp. (Asteraceae) (Mt. Perisher)

11 - Gentianella diemensis (Gentianaceae), the only species of gentian in Australia.

12 - Cushions and carpets formed by Pentandra sp. (Ericaceae) and Coprosma sp. (Rubiaceae) look like Loiseleuria procumbens (Ericaceae) in the northern hemisphere.

29 August 2011
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