THE FLORIST. 201 



THE EPACRIS. 



Heaths and Epacrises are generally named in the same 

 breath, so closely do we associate the two genera; but we 

 need hardly state that they belong to different natural orders, 

 which are very dissimilar. In his Vegetable Kingdom, Dr. 

 Lindley, speaking of Epacrids, says, " This Order differs from 

 Heathworts chiefly in the structure of the anther ; but that 

 organ being one of the principal features of Heathworts, any 

 material deviation from it acquires an unusual degree of con- 

 sequence. In the latter Order, the anther consists of two 

 cells, usually furnished with peculiar appendages ; in Epacrids, 

 it is one-celled, with no appendages whatever. In some other 

 respects Epacrids are different from Heathworts. All natives 

 of the Indian Archipelago, or Australasia, or Polynesia, where 

 they abound as Heaths do at the Cape of Good Hope. It is 

 remarkable that only one or two Heathworts are found in the 

 countries occupied by Epacrids." 



Epacrises, as every body knows, are among the most 

 valuable of spring-flowering greenhouse shrubs, and we could 

 ill dispense with them at that season. But as with Heaths, 

 too much sameness at one time existed among them ; and this 

 led enterprising cultivators to hybridise the sorts they pos- 

 sessed ; and the results have been highly successful. Our 

 friend Mr. Story has effected much in this way by crossing 

 E. impressa with E. grandiflora. In 1842, he bloomed be- 

 tween 200 and oOO seedlings, the produce of this cross, and 

 vice versa; but little was obtained better than the parents. 

 He, however, did not despair, and on the next trial his ex- 

 pectations were better realised. He crossed these seedlings 

 upon Grandiflora, and vice versa, and many beautiful and dis- 

 tinct varieties were the result. This cross produced flowers 

 both brilliant in colour and various in character. If such 

 seedlings, therefore, were obtained from parents not very 

 remarkable for brilliancy of colouring, what might we not ex- 

 pect through the agency of E. miniata, the brightest of all 

 Epacrises ? Indeed, it would be difficult to name a more 

 beautiful greenhouse plant than this variety itself makes. Its 

 glowing, almost scarlet, white-tipped tubes, which, under good 

 management, are produced in abundance, have a charming 

 effect. 



By means of Epacrises, Primulas (to which P. altiaca 

 when " let out" will form a good addition), Cinerarias, Camel- 

 lias, Hyacinths, and other forced bulbs, Azaleas, Rhododen- 

 drons, Violets, Cyclamens, and some of the early Heaths, as 



VOL. II. NO. XX. Q 



