THE HEATH FAMILY 323 



Ericaceae. 



(Including Epacridaceae) . 



The Heath Family. 



Distribution. — A considerable famih-, often with astringent properties. 

 Some species are narcotic and poisonous, while a few produce edible fruits. 

 Many are cultivated for the beauty of their flowers. In Australasia they are 

 represented chiefly by the Epacridaceae. 



The headquarters of the family are in Gape Colony, where there are at 

 least 400 species of heaths. These are small evergreen shrubs, which grow in 

 great abundance, and form the chief vegetation of open plains and dry hill sides. 

 An assemblage of such plants, from its prevailing constituents, is generally also 

 termed a heath. Naturally not all the plants in a heath belong to the order 

 Ericaceae. The typical heath plant, however, whether belonging to this order 

 or not, has small, drj', hard leaves, often sharp-pointed, and with inroUed margins. 

 The Scotch heather may be taken as an example. 



In New Zealand, in addition to various genera of Ericaceae 

 {e.g. GauUheria, Leucopogon, Epacris, Dracophijlluvi) there 

 may be found in the heaths, particularly in the South, Gassinias, 

 Olearias, Coprosmas, and some other shrubs. In the Auckland 

 province, Pomaderris 'p)^'''y^ic(Bfolia and Pimelea are found 

 along with the true heaths, Leucopogon fascicidatus and 

 Epacris piouciflora. Everywhere however, Leptospermum, is 

 the chief component of the heath associations of New Zealand. 



By far the commonest plant of the order here, is 

 Leucopogon Frazeri, which is found throughout the islands on 

 dry open ground from sea-level to 5,000ft. Its small orange 

 drupe is sometimes eaten, and has a sweetish taste. Gaul- 

 therias are found in both North and South Islands. The 

 white fruit of G. antipocla is known as the snow-berry in 

 Otago, and is occasionally eaten. Like most of the other pro- 

 ducts of the New Zealand bush, it cannot be recommended 

 to the epicure. The white, fleshy, outer portion, consists of 

 the calyx, which has remained persistent, and become juicy. 

 According to Hooker, the fruit is strangely variable, dry 

 dehiscent capsules being found on the same spray as the 



