Scientific Name: Planocarpa nitida Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region

Common Name: black cheeseberry

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Ericaceae

Threatened Species Status: Rare

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: Dark green shrub with many individual erect stems.

Height (m): 0.3 – 0.5

Flowers: White, solitary in axils of upper branches.

Fruit: Drupe – black, shiny, flattened, 5–7 mm diameter.

Municipality
Central HighlandsHuon ValleyMeander Valley
Plant Communities
Alpine and Sub-alpine VegetationHeath
Habitat Notes

Confined to heath on the sand dunes of the Central Plateau around Lake Augusta. Grows in shallow, stony soils.

Site Tolerance

Dry, Exposed, Moist, Rocky, Windy

Soil Tolerance

Loam, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

General Notes

Prefers dappled shade.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Cuttings

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Difficult to grow from seed. Masticate seed, leave on a hot window sill or store in paper bags and then remove dried seed case.

Seed Treatment Method

Fermentation Collect fleshy fruits in a plastic bag, mash up and allowed to ferment to replicate digestion by a bird.

Seed Treatment Notes

Seed may germinate better after passing through a bird.

Cutting & Division Information

Difficult to grow from cuttings. Extreme care is needed when handling the typically fine roots of members of the Ericaceae family.