''Epacris longiflora'', commonly known as fuchsia heath or cigarette flower, is a plant in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Ericaceae The Ericaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with c.4250 known species spread across 124 genera, making it th ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It is an erect or spreading shrub with egg-shaped, pointed leaves and red tube-shaped flowers which give the plant its name ''longiflora'' and are usually present throughout the year. Its native range extends from the central coast of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

to southern

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

Description

''Epacris longiflora'' is an erect to spreading shrub which grows to a height of and has stems with prominent short, broad leaf scars. The leaves are egg-shaped, long, wide with a pointed tip. The leaves are thin, flat and have margins with minute teeth. The flowers are red with a white tip, sometimes all red and have a peduncle up to long. There are five

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s which are fused to form a tube with five lobes at the end. The tube is long, in diameter and the lobes are long. At the base of the petal tube there are

whorls A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs). Whorls in nature File:Photograph and axial plane floral ...

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

s and five

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s long. Within the petal tube there is a central

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

with the stigma at its tip and an

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

at its base. The

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s are hidden inside the tube. Flowering occurs throughout the year, although there are fewer flowers in summer. The fruits are capsules long containing small, light seeds.

Taxonomy and naming

''Epacris longiflora'' was first formally described by

Antonio José Cavanilles Antonio José Cavanilles (16 January 1745 – 5 May 1804) was a leading Spanish taxonomic botanist of the 18th century. He named many plants, particularly from Oceania. He named at least 100 genera, about 54 of which were still used in 2004, ...

in 1797 and the description was published in his book ''Icones et descriptiones plantarum''. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''longiflora'') means "long-flowered". The vernacular name "cigarette flower" is from the pattern on the flower.

Distribution and habitat

Fuchsia heath is found on the coast and tablelands from south-eastern Queensland to

Berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...

in New South Wales. It grows in sandy soil on cliff faces, in heath to woodland margins and in dry sclerophyll forest.

Ecology

Plants are thought to live 5–20 years in the wild.

Use in horticulture

A highly regarded ornamental garden plant, ''E. longiflora'' was first cultivated in England in 1803. It grows in a variety of soils as long as the drainage is good, and does best in a partly shaded position. Along with other members of the genus, ''Epacris longiflora'' initially proved difficult to grow and maintain on original soil in the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra.

References

External links

* *{{Wikispecies-inline, Epacris longiflora, ''Epacris longiflora'' longiflora Ericales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Plants described in 1797 Taxa named by Antonio José Cavanilles