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Re: Epacridaceae: Epacris, Woollsia, Styphelia, Leucopogon, Trochocarpa, etc.

At 06:53 PM 4/20/97 -0700, you wrote:

>So the questions would be:
>
>1. Do any of the Epacridaceae occur in what we consider the
>Mediterranean regions of Australia?
>
>2. Are there members of the family that have horticultural value? Or,
>that members of medit-plants grow in their gardens?
>
>-- 
>----------------------------------------------------
Tom,
  Yes, plants from this family grow in the medit regions of Australia. Of
the ones you list, I am only familiar with Epacris and Leucopogon--I don't
recall having encountered Woolsia or Trochocarpa. But Epacris and
Leucopogon species are quite widespread in southern Australia, in the wild.
Leucopogon is not widely cultivated, but some specialist native-growers may
grow it.
  Epacris is fairly popular in gardens, and the most commonly grown species
are probably E. impressa and E. longiflora. Both are adaptable, tolerating
a wide range of soils and climatic conditions, including strong wind and
frost to at least -5 degrees Celsius. Both have tubular flowers in
red/pink/white over a long period in winter and spring--which makes them
very popular with gardeners who choose plants to feed nectar-eating birds,
though the flowers are very pretty in their own right, as suggested by the
common name "Fuchsia heath" for Epacris longiflora.  E.impressa self sows
in the garden, I know, so it is likely that other species do too.
   Elizabeth Morgan   - on Tasmania's east coast
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