AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



511 



Epacridea eontinuea. 



Epacreat and Styphelieae. There are about twenty-six 

 genera, and 320 species. Well-known genera are : Draco- 

 phyllum. Epacrit, Leveopoyon, and Styphelia. 



EPACHIS (from epi, upon, and akrot, the summit ; in 

 reference to the species growing, in their native habitats, 

 on the tops of hills). OBD. Bpaeridem. 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 kafy 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 flower*. They are, as a rule, 

 more easily propagated and grown 

 \A than Heaths, and the flowers last 



*^ f === 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 

 new growth commences. When the 

 shoots are about |in. long, any repot- 

 ting required should be at once seen 

 to, naipg 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. A 

 cool greenhouse, or other structure 

 where frost is excluded, is a suitable 

 position for them in winter. They 

 F.G. 707. FLOWERING will, however, bear with impunity 

 BRANCH OF ETACRIS more heat and moisture at this 

 IMPRESS*. 8eason ^ ^ majority 0{ . 



A 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, 

 in most cases, superior to the types from which they origi- 

 nated. All are most beautiful and useful, and may be 

 grown on for several years, if proper attention is bestowed. 



recurved towards the 

 SVN. E. muervKW 



E. grandiflora a 



E. impressa 



ered). 



A synonym of B. Itmgiton. 



from white to different 



from almost campanula* to narrow-cylindrical, always with flr. 

 mtprMMd caritfaTootride, alternating with the staineM {BUM- 

 diausly above the ovary. March, t sessile, from ovate-lanceo. 

 late to lanceolate-linear, tapering into a short and rigid or longer 

 and pungent point, narrowed, rounded, or almost eordaU atth* 

 base ; midribs and often lateral 

 A. 2ft to 



Fio. 70a FLOWMUKG BRANCH OF EFACRIS PU.FTASC 



