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Geum talbotianum, also known as the Tasmanian snowrose, is a
perennialrosette herb endemic to
Tasmania and confined to the high rocky places of Tasmania's Southern mountains.
Characteristics
Geum talbotianum is a small conspicuous herb characterized by broad kidney shaped leaves (5–10 cm wide) which are wrinkled on the upper surface. The leaves are covered in a layer of fine hairs and protrude on stalks from the base of the plant.[1] Flowers are large (4–5 cm across) and white, appearing on the ends of long
peduncles in late December to early March.[2] Fruits are a red, fleshy berry[3][4]
Distribution
Distribution of Geum talbotianum in
Tasmania (As per Threatened Species Unit records, June 2003).
The distributional range of G. talbotianum is limited to high
alpine areas in Southwest Tasmania.[2] Here it can be found sheltering from the harsh weather in cracks and crevices provided by rocky outcrops. Some key locations where this species can be found are
Adamsons Peak,
Mt Anne,
Western Arthurs, Mt La Perouse, Mt Picton and the Devils Backbone in the
Hartz Mountains National Park[3]
Threats
Geum talbotianum is listed as rare under the
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.[3] Due to its limited distribution G. talbotianum is particularly vulnerable to both anthropological and natural threats. Some of these include:
Increased temperatures resulting from
climate change reducing suitable alpine habitat and contracting the plants distributional range.[5]
Fire events decimating the population at a particular site.[6]
^Kirkpatrick, J.B; Dickinson, K.J.M (1984). "The impact of fire on Tasmanian alpine vegetation and soils". Australian Journal of Botany. 32 (6): 613–629.
doi:
10.1071/bt9840613.
^Whinam, Jennie; Chilcott, Nicole (2003). "Impacts after four years of experimental trampling on alpine/sub-alpine environments in western Tasmania". Journal of Environmental Management. 67 (4): 339–351.
doi:
10.1016/s0301-4797(02)00218-9.
PMID12710922.