from the Southern Ocean. Inland areas receive regular freezes throughout the winter months. Spring is from September to November, and is an unsettled season of transition, where winter weather patterns begin to take the shape of summer patterns, although snowfall is still common up until October. Spring is generally the windiest time of the year with afternoon sea breezes starting to take effect on the coast. Biodiversity Geographically and biological isolated, Tasmania is known for its unique endemic flora and fauna. Flora Tasmania has extremely diverse vegetation, from the heavily grazed grassland of the dry Midlands to the tall evergreen eucalypt forest, alpine heathlands and large areas of cool temperate rainforests and moorlands in the rest of the state. Many species are unique to Tasmania and some are related to species in South America and New Zealand through ancestors which grew on the supercontinent of Gondwana, 50 million years ago. Nothofagus gunnii, commonly known as Australian beech, is Australia's only temperate native deciduous tree and is found exclusively in Tasmania. Distinctive species of plant in Tasmania include: Eucalyptus regnans (mountain ash) – the tallest flowering plant and hardwood in the world, reaching 100 m (328 ft). Nothofagus cunninghamii (myrtle beech) – the most abundant temperate rainforest canopy species found in Tasmania. Nothofagus gunnii (deciduous beech) – Australia's only winter-deciduous tree. Atherosperma moschatum (blackheart sassafras) – a co-dominant rainforest tree with a nutmeg aroma. Lagarostrobos franklinii (Huon pine) – one of the oldest-lived tree species, and a self-preserving timber. Phyllocladus aspleniifolius (celery-top pine) – a celery-leaved conifer found in rainforests. Athrotaxis (Tasmanian cedar/redwood) – a genus comprising three extant species related to sequoia found in Tasmania. Eucryphia lucida (leatherwood) – a prominent floral symbol of Tasmania and a unique monofloral honey species. Bush tucker Tasmania also has a number of native edibles, known as bush tucker in Australia. These plants were foraged by the Tasmanian Aboriginals and also used for other purposes, such as construction. Unusual trees such as cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) had their manna used to make a syrup or an alcohol (cider). Other trees such as wattles (acacias) like blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and mimosa (Acacia dealbata) could have their seeds eaten or crushed into a powder. There are also many berries such as snowberry (Gaultheria hispida), fruits such as heartberry (Aristotelia peduncularis), and vegetables such as river mint (Mentha australis), though no crops like maize that are used