Epacris breviflora

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Epacris breviflora
Epacris breviflora Baw Baw NP.jpg
Epacris breviflora growing in Baw Baw National Park
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Epacris
Species:
E. breviflora
Binomial name
Epacris breviflora
Synonyms [1]
  • Epacris dubia var. subreflexa(DC.) N.E.Br.
  • Epacris heteronema var. planifolia Benth. nom. illeg. p.p.
  • Epacris heteronema var. subreflexaDC.

Epacris breviflora, commonly known as drumstick heath, is a plant of the heath family, Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-east of the Australian continent. It is an erect shrub with egg-shaped leaves with a sharp-pointed tip and with clusters of white flowers arranged near the end of the branches. It grows in Victoria, New South Wales and the far south-east of Queensland.

Contents

Description

Epacris breviflora is an erect shrub that usually grows to a height of 0.5–1.0 m (2–3 ft) and has hairy young branches. The leaves are egg-shaped 4–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 1.5–3.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide. The leaves have a rounded base and a sharply pointed tip. The flowers are clustered in the axils of the upper leaves. There are 10 to 23 bracts at the base of the flowers and five sepals 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The petals are joined to form a white, bell-shaped tube 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long with five lobes on the end, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long. The five stamens and the single style are mostly enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering is mainly in summer but flowers are usually present throughout the year. The fruit are capsules about 2 mm (0.08 in) long. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Epacris breviflora was first formally described in 1910 by Otto Stapf and the description was published in Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information. [4] [5] The specific epithet (breviflora) means "short-flowered". [6]

Distribution and habitat

Drumstick heath mainly occurs along the Great Dividing Range from far south-eastern Queensland to eastern Victoria, sometimes at lower altitudes subject to cooler temperatures. It grows in swamps and other damp places. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Epacris purpurascens</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Epacris tasmanica</i> Species of flowering plant

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References

  1. 1 2 "Epacris breviflora". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 Powell, Jocelyn M. "Epacris breviflora". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 Ohlsen, Daniel. "Epacris breviflora". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. "Epacris breviflora". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. Stapf, Otto (1910). "Epacris heteronema Labill. and E. dubia Lindl". Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information. 7: 216–217. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  6. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 150. ISBN   9780958034180.