Epacris impressa

"Common Heath" redirects here. For the geometer moth, see Ematurga atomaria.

Common Heath
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Epacris
Species:	E. impressa
Binomial name
Epacris impressa Labill.[1]

Epacris impressa, also known as Common Heath, is a shrub that is native to the south-east of Australia. The pink-flowered form, often referred to as Pink Heath, is the floral emblem of the state of Victoria.

Description

The plants have an erect habit and can grow to 2 to 3 metres high, although plants in the range of 0.5 to 1 metre tall are more commonly observed. The branches are stiff and have small leaves with prickly, pointed apices that are 8 to 16 mm long. The flowers, which mainly occur between late autumn and early spring are white, pink or red in colour and appear in dense clusters along the stems. They are 1–2 cm long and are narrow and tubular with five indentations on the base.^[2] Different colour forms are often observed growing near to each other.^[3] Seed capsules are 3.3–3.5 mm long.^[4]

Distribution

Epacris impressa is commonly found in coastal regions and nearby foothills in a region extending from the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia across southern Victoria and northwards to southern New South Wales as far as the Clyde River. It is also found in the Grampians and the Little Desert in Victoria and is widespread in Tasmania.

Symbolism

At a meeting of representatives of government and other bodies in 1951, the pink form of the Common Heath, the "Pink Heath", was adopted as the official floral emblem for the state of Victoria in 1958.^[5] Victoria was the first Australian state to adopt a floral emblem.^[6] The proclamation, was as follows:

I, the Governor of the State of Victoria, in the Commonwealth of Australia, by and with the advice of the Exectutive Council of the said State, do by this my Proclamation declare that the Pink Form of the Common Heath, Epacris impressa Labill., be adopted as the Floral Emblem for the State of Victoria"^[7]

An Australian stamp issue of state floral emblems was issued in 1968, including the Pink Heath which was featured on the 13c stamp.^[6][8] The Pink Heath was also depicted on the VicRoads registration label for a number of years up to 2006. In 1973, a depiction of Pink Heath was added to the armorial ensign for Victoria.

Interaction with honeyeaters

Eastern Spinebill on Epacris impressa

Honeyeaters, such as the Eastern Spinebill, are attracted to the flowers in their native habitat. As the bird gathers the nectar, the pollen, which has fins, attaches itself to the feather on the heads of the birds and is thus carried to other flowers, aiding cross pollination.^[9]

Taxonomy

The type specimen of Common Heath was collected in 1793 by French botanist Jacques Labillardière in Van Diemens Land (now Tasmania) during a voyage with Bruni D'Entrecasteaux It was described by Labillardiere in 1805 who gave the species its current name Epacris impressa.^[1] The Latin specific epithet impressa (meaning "impressed" or "indented") alludes to the indentations on the floral tube.^[10]

The original mounted specimen is currently held at the National Herbarium of Victoria at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.^[10]

Forms and cultivars

Pink-flowering Common Heath in Tasmania

Common Heath has a large variety of forms and colours. Pink-flowering populations have a relatively distinct genetic makeup, whereas red or white flowering populations have more evident sharing of genetic traits.^[11]

The following forms been selected and grown for cultivation:

Epacris impressa var. grandiflora (Grampians Heath)

This is a variety from rocky locations in the northern Grampians and the Black Range which was described by George Bentham in 1868.^[2][12][13] It has larger rose-red flowers and broader, down-covered leaves. ^[13] Taxonomically, the name is currently regarded as a synonym of Epacris impressa rather than being classified as a distinct variety, however a number of named forms are commonly cultivated:

• Epacris impressa 'Grandiflora' – leaves and flowers larger than most other forms, single flowers.
• Epacris impressa 'Double Pink' – double flowers
• Epacris impressa 'Grampians' – pale pink flowers

Epacris impressa 'Bega'

This is a form from Bega in New South Wales that has bright red flowers. It is regarded as one of the more reliable forms in cultivation.^[10]

Epacris impressa 'Cranbourne Bells'

This is a form from Cranbourne in Victoria that occurred naturally near the Botanic Gardens.^[14] It is double-flowered with pink flowers buds fading to white as they open.^[15]

Cultivation

Common Heath was first recorded in cultivation in England in 1825 but due to its frost-tenderness, it was mostly restricted to greenhouse cultivation.^[6]

Plants grow best in a moist but well drained, acidic soil.^[6] They may be grown in coastal gardens in a sheltered position.^[16] They can be short-lived and are difficult to transplant. Propagation both by seed and cuttings is difficult, reducing potential production by plant nuseries. The most satisfactory results from cuttings can be achieved by using tip growth taken six weeks after the cessation of flowering and kept under a fogging system for twenty weeks.^[11]

See also

• List of Australian floral emblems

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Epacris impressa Labill.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=23686. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Corrick, M.G. and Fuhrer, B.A. (2001). Wildflowers of Victoria and adjoining areas. Australia: Bloomings Books. ISBN 1876473142. 
3. ^ Wild Plants of Victoria (database). Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2009. 
4. ^ "Epacris impressa". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Epacris~impressa. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
5. ^ "The Common Heath". Symbols and Flags. Department of Premier and Cabinet. http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/CA256D8000265E1A/page/Listing-Symbols+and+Flags-The+Common+Heath!OpenDocument&1=90-Protocol~&2=10-Symbols+and+Flags~&3=0-The+Common+Heath~. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} "Common Heath". Floral Emblems of Australia. Australian Botanic Gardens. http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/vic.emblem.html. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
7. ^ Victoria Government Gazette. 12 November 1958. p. 3572. http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1958&class=general&page_num=3571&state=V&classNum=G98. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
8. ^ "Epacris impressa". Australian Plants on Postage Stamps. Australian National Botanic Gardens. http://www.anbg.gov.au/stamps/stamp.455.html. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
9. ^ "Common (or Pink) Heath". Fact Files. Parks Victoria. http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/factfiles/09.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
10. ^ ^{a b c} "Epacris impressa". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). http://asgap.org.au/e-imp.html. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
11. ^ ^{a b} Conomikes, Melanie (February 2008). Epacris impressa Labil: Inoculation of cuttings with ericoid mycorrhizal fungusand DNA fingerprinting of floral races - Final Report to the Australian Flora Foundation. http://www.aff.org.au/Conomikes_Epacris_final.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
12. ^ "Epacris impressa var. grandiflora Benth.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=23924. 
13. ^ ^{a b} Lord, Ernest E. & Willis J.H. (1982). Shrubs and trees for Australian gardens (5th edition). Australia: Lothian Publishing Company. ISBN 0850910277. 
14. ^ Flora of Melbourne. Ringwood, Victoria: Society for Growing Australian Plants Maroondah, Inc.. 1991. ISBN 0909830428. 
15. ^ "Epacris 'Cranbourne Bells'". Descriptions of Registered Cultivars. Australian Cultivar Registration Authority. http://www.anbg.gov.au/acra/descriptions/acc384.html. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
16. ^ Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. p. 152. ISBN 0207154600. 

• Plant Culivar Info: Epacris impressa 'Grandiflora'