Epacris mucronulata explained

Epacris mucronulata is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is an erect shrub with softly-hairy young branches, lance-shaped leaves, and cylindrical white flowers in small groups at the ends of the branches.

Description

Epacris mucronulata is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to and has many branches, the young stems softly-hairy. Its leaves are lance-shaped, long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers are arranged in small clusters in leaf axils near the ends of branches on a pedicel long with egg-shaped bracts at the base. The five sepals are lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped and about long. The petals are white, joined at the base to form a cylindrical tube, the style and anthers enclosed inside the petal tube.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Epacris mucronulata was first formally described in 1810 by Robert in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[2] [3] The specific epithet (mucronulata) means "having a small sharp point".[4]

Distribution and habitat

This epacris grows near rivers, especially in rainforest and is found in the south-west of Tasmania, including near the Huon and Gordon Rivers.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Crowden . Ronald K. . Reinstatement of Epacris franklinii Hook.f. (Epacridaceae). . Muelleria . 2003 . 18 . 72 . 19 June 2022.
  2. Web site: Epacris mucronulata . APNI. 19 May 2022.
  3. Book: Brown. Robert. Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. 1810. London. 552 . 19 May 2022.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 256 . 3rd.
  5. Web site: Jordan . Greg . Epacris mucronulata . University of Tasmania . 19 June 2022.