Drumstick heath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drumstick heath |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Epacris breviflora growing in Baw Baw National Park | |
| Scientific classification |
Epacris breviflora, also known as drumstick heath, is a cool plant from the heath family, Ericaceae. It's special because it only grows in a few places in south-east Australia. This shrub stands tall and has cool egg-shaped leaves with a pointy tip. You can find its pretty white flowers grouped together near the ends of its branches. It grows in Victoria, New South Wales, and the very south-east part of Queensland.
What it Looks Like
Epacris breviflora is a shrub that usually grows to be about 0.5–1.0 m (2–3 ft) tall. Its younger branches are a bit hairy. The leaves are shaped like an egg and are about 4–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 1.5–3.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide. They have a rounded bottom and a sharp, pointed tip.
The flowers grow in groups where the upper leaves meet the stem. Each flower has 10 to 23 small leaf-like parts called bracts at its base. It also has five green parts called sepals, which are about 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.
The white petals of the flower are joined together to form a bell-shaped tube. This tube is about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. At the end of the tube, there are five small, rounded parts called lobes, which are about 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long. Inside the petal tube, you'll find five stamens (which make pollen) and one style (part of the female reproductive system).
This plant mainly flowers in summer, but you can often see its flowers throughout the year. After flowering, it produces small, dry fruits called capsules, which are about 2 mm (0.08 in) long.
Plant Name and History
The drumstick heath was first officially described in 1910 by a scientist named Otto Stapf. He published its description in a science paper called Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information.
The second part of its scientific name, breviflora, comes from two Latin words. Brevis means "short," and flos means "flower." So, breviflora basically means "short-flowered."
Where it Grows
Drumstick heath mostly grows along the Great Dividing Range. This is a long mountain range that stretches from the far south-eastern part of Queensland down to eastern Victoria. Sometimes, you can find it in lower areas that still have cooler temperatures. It likes to grow in wet places like swamps and other damp spots.
