Gaultheria hispida

copperleaf snowberry

Tasmanian endemic

Usual habitat/distribution:
Common to wet sclerophyll and up to sub montane areas.

Status:
Not listed

Flowering:
November – December

Description:
Erect shrub 1-2 m tall. Branches and midribs of leaves covered with sparse coarse brown hairs. Stems are quite red. Leaves are alternate, elliptical,  slightly toothed, shiny with depressed veins and a reddish tinge at the ends.
Flowers are white urn shaped in terminal clusters. The fruit which appears as white berries are actually white fleshy sepals which enclose a reddish capsule and are very distinct. The berries are edible so I am told, although I haven’t eaten them.