Australian Ericaceae

Epacris and Relatives (Ericaceae)

• Introduction

  • Epacris is a genus of Australian plants belong to the world-wide heath family, the Ericaceae, which takes its name from the cosmopolitan genus, Erica

  • There are over 120 genera in the Ericaceae with over 40 being found in Australia some of which, including some species of Erica, which have become naturalised

  • Native Australian genera include the Australian heaths – Epacris, Conostephium, Dracophyllum, Leucopogon, Sprengelia, Styphelia, Woolsia and a number of others

  • These were previously classified as being in the now obsolete family Epacridaceae but have now been re-classified as sub-family Epacridoideae of the Ericaceae

  • The pink form of Epacris impressa (the common heath) is Victoria’s floral emblem

  • Other Australia members of the Ericaceae include: 

    • Australia’s only native Rhododendron, Rhododendron lochiae, (sub-family Ericoideae) 

    • Waxberry, Gaultheria appressa (sub-family Vaccinioideae).

• Family Matters

  • It has been recognised for many years that the group of plants commonly referred to as the ‘Australian heaths’ are closely related to plants in the cosmopolitan heath family, the Ericaceae, which had been regarded as being poorly represented in Australia, with only a handful of species occurring here

  • The Ericaceae is widely distributed in the northern Hemisphere and Africa and includes such well known garden plants as Erica, Rhododendron, Azalea and Pieris

  • Several Erica species (notably Erica lusitanica) have become naturalised in Australia, having escaped from garden cultivation

  • Until recently the Australian heaths had been regarded as being sufficiently distinct from members of the Ericaceae to warrant being placed in a separate family, the Epacridaceae, which takes its name from the well known genus Epacris

  • However, recent research has indicated that these plants are more closely related to the Ericaceae than previously thought

  • As a result, most botanical institutions now recognise that members of the Epacridaceae are more correctly placed within the Ericaceae as the subfamily Epacridoideae (previously subfamily Styphelioideae – see footnote)

  • While most Australian members of the Ericaceae belong to the subfamily Epacridoideae, there are a few species in two other subfamilies

• Genera

  • Australian members of the Ericaceae can be summarised as follows:

    • Subfamily Ericoideae: One genus – Rhododendron (2 species:  R lochiae and R viriosum) ....   Only native at ANBG  is R lochiaes

    • Subfamily Vaccinioideae: Three genera – Gaultheria, Paphia, Pernettya ....   Only 2 x  Gaultheria & 1 x Pahia at ANBG  

    • Subfamily Epacridoideae (Australian heaths): Around 40 genera, including:

      • 1.  Acrothamnus ....   1 species at ANBG

        2. Acrotriche ....   5 species at ANBG

        3. Agiortia

        4. Archeria

        5. Astroloma ....   1 species at ANBG

        6. Brachyloma ....   1 species at ANBG

        7. Budawangia

        8. Conostephium

        9. Croninia

        10. Cyathodes ....   3 species at ANBG

        11. Cyathopsis

        12. Dracophyllum ...   5 species at ANBG

        13. Epacris ...  at ANBG

        14. Leptecophylla ...   3 species at ANBG

        15. Leucopogon ... 12 species at ANBG

        16. Lissanthe ...   1 species at ANBG

        17. Melichrus ...   3 species at ANBG

        18. Monotoca ...   3 species at ANBG

        19. Needhamiella

        20. Oligarrhena

        21. Pentachondra ...   2 species at ANBG

        22. Planocarpa

        23. Prionotes

        24. Richea ...   5 species at ANBG

        25. Rupicola ...   1 species at ANBG

        26. Sprengelia

        27. Stenanthera ...   1 species at ANBG

        28. Styphelia

        29. Trochocarpa ...   6 species at ANBG

        30. Woollsia

• Distribution

  • The family Ericaceae is widely distributed worldwide, particularly in the northern hemisphere

  • However, the subfamily Epacridoideae is distributed mainly in Australia with a few species being found in: 

    • Countries to the north of Australia 

    • New Zealand

    • The Pacific islands 

    • South America