Bolster heath or cushion moorland is a type of vegetation community that features a patchwork of very low growing, tightly packed plants found at the limits of some alpine environments. The cushion plants form a smooth surfaced 'cushions' from several different plants, hence the common name of cushion heath. The cushion growth habit provides protection against the desiccating wind and help keep the cluster warm. Bolster heath is very slow growing and thus very fragile. Most propagation is by slow expansion, although two species, Abrotanella forsteroides and Pterygopappus lawrencei produce enough viable seed to survive fire. The other species are generally permanently destroyed by fire. The soil in bolster heath is generally quite poor, often gravel with a thin layer of peat.
Tasmanian bolster heaths
Asteraceae Abrotanella forsteroides (Abrotanella) Ewartia meredithiae (Ewartia) Pterygopappus lawrencei (Pterygopappus)
Caryophyllaceae Colobanthus pulvinatus (Colobanthus) Scleranthus biflorus (Scleranthus)
Donatiaceae Donatia novae-zelandiae (Donatia)
Epacridaceae Dracophyllum minimum (Dracophyllum)
Loganiaceae Mitrasacme archeri (Mitrasacme)
Scrophulariaceae Chionohebe ciliolata (Chionohebe)
Stylidiaceae Phyllachne colensoi (Phyllachne)
Thymelaeaceae Pimelea pygmaea (Pimelea)
Centrolepidaceae Centrolepis monogyna (Centrolepis) Centrolepis muscoides (Centrolepis) Gaimardia fitzgeraldii (Gaimardia) Gaimardia setacea (Gaimardia)
Cyperaceae Carpha rodwayi (Carpha) Oreobolus acutifolius (Oreobolus) Oreobolus oligocephalus (Oreobolus) Oreobolus oxycarpus (Oreobolus) Oreobolus pumilio (Oreobolus)
References Forest Practices Authority. (2007). Threatened Native Vegetation Community Information Sheet: Cushion moorland. Accessed online: 22 June 2008.