EPIL OBIUM 
363 
narrow, entire, rigid leaves, usually alternate. Sometimes the leaves 
are sheathing, in which cases either no scar is left on the stem when 
the leaf falls, or a ring mark is left, as in Dracophyllum. The firs, are 
usually in terminal racemes or spikes, $ , actinomorphic. K 5, C (5), 
A 5, hypogynous at edge of disc, or more often epipetalous ; the anthers 
opening by one central longitudinal slit and without horns or other 
appendages; pollen simple or in tetrads. G (5) cpls. opposite petals, 
placentae axile; ovules in each loc. 1 — 00 , anatropous, usually pendu- 
lous. Style simple, sometimes in depression of top of ovary, with a 
capitate stigma. Fruit a capsule or stony drupe. Embryo straight, in 
copious endosperm. Chief genera: Sprengelia, Richea, Draco- 
phyllum, Epacris, Styphelia. Placed in Ericales by Benth. -Hooker, 
in Bicornes by Warming. 
Epacrideae (Benth. -Hooker) = Epacridaceae. 
Epacris Forst. Epacridaceae. 30 sp. S.E. Austr., N.Z., New Caled. 
They are much cultivated in greenhouses for their firs. 
Ephedra Tourn. ex Linn. Gnetaceae. 20 sp. warm temp. Shrubs, 
much branched, with opp. connate leaves reduced to scales, so that 
the stem performs the work of assimilation (p. 166). Firs, diclinous, 
with no trace of cpls. in $ , or of sta. in ? . £ firs, in spikes, the ? in 
pairs or solitary, usually bracteate. The fir. has a perianth of 
2 antero-posterior united leaves, beyond which the axis is prolonged 
and bears 2 — 8 sessile 2-locular anthers. The ? has a tubular perianth 
and one erect orthotropous ovule with a long micropyle projecting at 
the top of the fir. ; the fir. or firs, are enclosed by bracts which become 
red and fleshy after fertilisation and enclose the fruit. The seed is 
enclosed in the perianth, which becomes woody, and the fleshy bracts 
cover this again. There are two cotyledons in the embryo ; the seed 
is albuminous. For further details see Nat . PJl ., and art. Gymno- 
spermae. 
Epidendrum Linn. Orchidaceae (13). Over 400 sp. trop. Am., many 
epiphytic. The labellum is often more or less united to the column, 
and a canal runs from the junction right down into the ovary. 
Epigaea Linn. Ericaceae (11. 4). 2 sp., E . asiatica Maxim, in Japan, 
E. repens L., the trailing arbutus or mayflower, in the atlantic U.S. 
(p. 146). The firs, are tetramorphic (Darwin, Forms of Firs, p. 297). 
Epigynae (Benth.-Iiooker). The 2nd series of Monocotyledons. 
Epilobium Dill, ex Linn. Onagraceae (11). 160 sp. temp, and arctic; 
9 in Brit, (willow-herbs). The fir. is regular, but in some sp. slightly 
zygomorphic by the bending of sta. and style (p. 74), which project 
so as to make a landing-place for insects. Of the Brit. sp. several may 
be noticed, as the firs, form an interesting series in regard to cross- 
pollination, &c. (cf. Phacelia, Geranium, &c.). In E. angustifolium 
L. the firs, are large and autogamy almost impossible. Honey is 
secreted by the upper surface of the ovary. The sta. are ripe when 
the fir. opens, and project horizontally, whilst the style, with its 
