Epacris obtusifolia
Encyclopedia
Epacris obtusifolia is common plant from the heath family
. The Blunt-leaf Heath grows in swampy areas and heathland
in eastern Australia
. It is usually seen growing less than a metre tall. Flowers form in any time of the year, but are mostly seen between July and January.
The specific epithet obtusifolia is derived from Latin, referring to the thickly tipped blunt leaves. The original specimen was collected in Sydney
in the early colonial years. And it was first recorded in scientific literature in the year 1805, published by the eminent English botanist James Edward Smith
.
Growing up to a metre (3 ft) tall (though mostly 50-80 cm high), Epacris obtusifolia is a dainty shrub with tiny elliptic leaves which measure 6.4 to 11.5 mm long and 1.5 to 3.1 mm wide. Appearing mainly from July to January, the white bell-shaped flowers are arranged along the stems. Although only 4-8 mm long, their numbers make them conspicuous.
Found in New South Wales east of the Great Dividing Range
, as well as Queensland
, Victoria
and Tasmania
, Epacris obtusifolia is found in wet heathland. In the Sydney region it is associated with such plants as coral fern (Gleichenia dicarpa
), swamp banksia (Banksia robur
), and the sedge Lepidosperma limicola. Plants live between ten and twenty years, and are killed by fire and regenerate from seed which lies dormant in the soil. The seedlings reach flowering age within four years.
Epacris obtusifolia can be propagated by cutting and requires a well-drained yet moist position in the garden. It was first cultivated in the United Kingdom in 1804.
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
. The Blunt-leaf Heath grows in swampy areas and heathland
Heath
-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
in eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is usually seen growing less than a metre tall. Flowers form in any time of the year, but are mostly seen between July and January.
The specific epithet obtusifolia is derived from Latin, referring to the thickly tipped blunt leaves. The original specimen was collected in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in the early colonial years. And it was first recorded in scientific literature in the year 1805, published by the eminent English botanist James Edward Smith
James Edward Smith
Sir James Edward Smith was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society.Smith was born in Norwich in 1759, the son of a wealthy wool merchant. He displayed a precocious interest in the natural world...
.
Growing up to a metre (3 ft) tall (though mostly 50-80 cm high), Epacris obtusifolia is a dainty shrub with tiny elliptic leaves which measure 6.4 to 11.5 mm long and 1.5 to 3.1 mm wide. Appearing mainly from July to January, the white bell-shaped flowers are arranged along the stems. Although only 4-8 mm long, their numbers make them conspicuous.
Found in New South Wales east of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
, as well as Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Epacris obtusifolia is found in wet heathland. In the Sydney region it is associated with such plants as coral fern (Gleichenia dicarpa
Gleichenia dicarpa
Gleichenia dicarpa is a small fern growing in Australia and New Zealand. Referred to as one of the Coral Ferns. Or more formally listed as the Pouched Coral Fern, Spider Fern, Swamp Umbrella Fern or Tangle Fern....
), swamp banksia (Banksia robur
Banksia robur
Banksia robur, commonly known as Swamp Banksia or, less commonly, Broad-leaved Banksia grows in sand or peaty sand in coastal areas from Cooktown in north Queensland to the Illawarra region on the New South Wales south coast...
), and the sedge Lepidosperma limicola. Plants live between ten and twenty years, and are killed by fire and regenerate from seed which lies dormant in the soil. The seedlings reach flowering age within four years.
Epacris obtusifolia can be propagated by cutting and requires a well-drained yet moist position in the garden. It was first cultivated in the United Kingdom in 1804.