Epacris graniticola

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Epacris graniticola
Epacris graniticola.jpg
In the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Epacris
Species:
E. graniticola
Binomial name
Epacris graniticola

Epacris graniticola, commonly known as granite heath, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is an erect shrub with egg-shaped leaves and tube-shaped white flowers mostly clustered near the ends of branches.

Contents

Description

Epacris graniticola is a shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) and has many erect, hairy stems, the old stems more or less leafless. Its leaves are egg-shaped, 2.0–5.5 mm (0.079–0.217 in) long and 1.3–2.9 mm (0.051–0.114 in) wide on a petiole less than 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils, clustered near the ends of branches with egg-shaped bracts at the base, the five sepals white or pink streaked, lance-shaped and 2.0–3.9 mm (0.079–0.154 in) long. The petals are white, joined at the base to form a slightly bell-shaped tube 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long with five lobes 3.5–4.0 mm (0.14–0.16 in) long, the style and anthers extending beyond the end of the tube. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Epacris graniticola was first formally described in 1995 by R.K.Crowden in the journal Muelleria from specimens he collected on Mount Cameron in 2003. [3] [4] The specific epithet (graniticola) means "granite dweller". [3]

Distribution and habitat

Granite heath is only known from a few populations in mountainous areas of north-east Tasmania, where it grows in moist places in the shade of granite outcrops. [3] [2]

Conservation status

Epacris graniticola is listed as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Tasmanian Government Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 . The main threats to the species are inappropriate fire regimes, disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi and mining activities. [2]

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References

  1. ↑ "Epacris graniticola". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Epacris graniticola" (PDF). Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Crowden, R.K. (2007). "Additions to Epacris (Epacridoidae, Ericaceae) in Tasmania". Muelleria. 25: 126. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "Epacris graniticola". APNI. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
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