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Life in the Cushion Plants

Summer in the mountains is flower time. Most Tasmanian flowers are small enough as it is, but the flowers that bloom on the cushion plants are very small indeed. Cushion plants, for those who aren’t familiar with them, are a very rigid plant that grows on the ground in bright green round clumps. It is an alpine plant, only growing at quite high elevations. It is also an incredibly sensitive plant, and all care should be taken to not walk on these plants. They take decades to recover (if they ever do) after being trampled on. The best way to photograph flowers this small is of course by attaching the macro lens, and after climbing Cradle Mountain on a particularly warm day recently I was more than happy to take a break during the walk back by dropping my backpack and lying on the track to take a close look at these beautiful flowers. Luckilly not very many people at all seem to use the Horse Track at Cradle Mountain!

Cushion Plants in flower, Cradle Mountain

Cushion Plants in flower, Cradle Mountain

Cushion Plants in flower, Cradle Mountain

Cushion Plants in flower, Cradle Mountain

Eyebright, Tasmanian alpine flower

Eyebright, Tasmanian alpine flower

 

Sundews at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Sundews at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

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All my Tasmanian Landscape photography is available for purchase. Click on “Tasmanian Photography” in the menu above to view my online galleries.

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About Luke

Luke O'Brien runs a stall at Hobart's popular Salamanca Market every Saturday where his prints and cards are available for purchase. Follow Luke's photographic adventures on Twitter at @lukeobrienphoto, at his Facebook page or by subscribing to his email newsletter.

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