Б. 
AN ENCYCLOPADIA OF HORTICULTURE. 511 
> 
Epacrideze— continued. 
Epacree and Stypheliem. There are about twenty-six 
genera, and 320 species. Well-known genera are: Draco- 
phyllum, Epacris, Leucopogon, and Styphelia. 
EPACRIS (from epi, upon, and akros, the summit; in 
reference to the species growing, in their native habitats, 
_ on the tops of hills). Овр. Epacridee. A genus com- 
= prising twenty-six species of ornamental, much-branched, 
greenhouse shrubs, of which twenty-one are Australian, 
_ four are from new Zealand, and one from New Caledonia. 
_ Flowers axillary, usually disposed in leafy spikes; corolla 
tubular; calyx coloured, many-bracteate. Leaves scat- 
tered, petiolate or simple at the base. "These are among 
the most useful of winter-flowering plants, either as decora- 
tive subjects or for cut flowers. They are, as a rule, 
more easily propagated and grown 
ү, than Heaths, and the flowers last 
ыз = longer in a cut state. The young 
plants are obtained from cuttings in 
a similar way to Ericas; but, as the 
process takes a long time, it is advis- 
able to purchase small plants from 
nurserymen who propagate in large 
quantities. The principal object 
should be to obtain strong shoots, if 
only a few, and get them thoroughly 
ripened in autumn, to flower the fol- 
lowing winter and spring. The erect- 
growing varieties should be pruned 
hard back after flowering, about 
March, and kept rather close until 
th commences. When the 
i ed should be at once seen 
to, using a compost of fibry peat, with 
the addition of one-sixth of silver 
sand. Efficient drainage must be 
secured, and the new soil made firm 
round the ball, which should not be 
broken, nor the roots disturbed by 
the process. Water should be with- 
held from the roots for a few days, 
light overhead syringings being suf- 
ficient. As the plants progress, more 
air and sun should be admitted, until 
about the end of July, when they may 
be plunged in ashes outside. Water- 
ing should be carefully performed 
at all times with Epacrises, as with 
all plants of a similar nature. А 
cool greenhouse, or other structure 
where frost is excluded, is a suitable 
position for them in winter. They 
Fic. 707. FLOWERING will however, bear with impunity 
ок EPACRIS more heat and moisture at this 
: season than the majority of Ericas. 
few of the varieties are of a natural pendent habit, and 
these do not require severe pruning like the’ others, but 
merely shortening back. The species of Epacris have pro- 
duced a large quantity of beautiful garden forms that are, 
Ш most cases, superior to the types from which they origi- 
nated. All are most beautiful and useful, and may be 
E" on for several years, if proper attention is bestowed. 
^4. acuminata inate).* fl. few, nearly sessile in the upper- 
. most axils ; RU aei vasa broad, ciliate, acute iba 
nearly one and a-quarter lines long; corolla tube about 
as as is calyx ; ates obtuse, shorter than the tube. 
À nearly sessile, ovate, acute or tapering to a pungent point, 
erect, coheave, Aud гема the stem at the base, spreading or 
: ed towards the end. A. 2ft. to 3ft. Ап erect, bushy shrub. 
SYN. E. mucronulata. 
(large-flowered). A synonym of E. longiflora. 
flattened).* ji. varying from white to different 
on very short uncles; sepals more or less 
bracts shorter broader than the 
ciliolate ; 
Sepals ; corolla tube varying from scarcely jin. to fully Jin. long, 
Epacris—continued. 
from almost campanulate to narrow-cylindrical, always with five 
impressed cavities outside, alternating with the stamens imme- 
diately above the ovary. March. J. sessile, from ovate-lanceo- 
late to lanceolate-linear, tapering into a short and rigid or longer · 
and pungent point, narrowed, rounded, or almost cordate at 
base; midribs and often lateral nerves prominent underneath. 
h. 2ft. to 3ft. An erect, loosely-branched shrub, sometimes flower- 
ing when біп. high. See Fig. 707. (В. М. 3407.) E.campanulata 
(L. B. C. 1925), E. сетеЛота (B. M. 3243), E. nivalis (L. B. C. 1821), 
E. ruscifolia, and E. variabilis (L. B. С. 1816), represent forms of 
this species varying in colour of flower and size of leaves. 
FIG. 708. FLOWERING BRANCH OF EPACRIS PURPURASCENS 
or со 
at the 
rageling, usually pubescent. — 
з. Е. grandiflora М. 982) 
