Epacris

Epacris
Epacris longiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Epacris
J.R.Forst.
Species

See text.

Epacris is a genus of about 35–40 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, though formerly often treated in a separate family Epacridaceae. The genus is native to eastern and southeastern Australia (southeast Queensland south to Tasmania and west to southeast South Australia), New Caledonia and New Zealand. The species are known as heaths or Australian heaths.

Epacris impressa ranges from 1 to 3 m in height. Epacris is from the Epacridacae family and the common name is the Pink or Common Heath. The Common Heath is a very bright coloured species so it is pollinated through birds and insects. The Common Heath was collected from Tasmania in 1793 by the French botanist Jacques-Julien Houton de Labillardiere during his voyage with Bruny D'Entrecasteaux on the unsuccessful search for the missing explorer La Perouse. Following Bruny's death in July 1793, Victoria was the first Australian state to give official recognition to such an emblem.

E. impressa is the state flower of Victoria.

Selected species

Images

References

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