Epacris impressa

Common Name:

Common Heath
Pink Heath

Family:

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Murray Mallee, Riverina, Victorian Volcanic Plain (CDEHJKMNPRSTVWXYZ) also SA, NSW, Tas
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Widespread and common in heathlands, woodlands and open forests ¹

Flower Description:

White or red-pink ¹

Habit:

Erect or spreading shrub to 1.2 m ²

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

Epacris impressa is the Victorian floral emblem. This species has 5 small indentations near the base of the petal tube and leaves are 5-10 mm long. Epacris lanuginosa has a distinctly hairy style. Epacris obtusifolia is rare throughout the Prom except for north of Darby saddle, it has leaves that are blunt tipped and oblong-elliptic. Epacris microphylla occurs on the Singapore Peninsula and has small, concave, stem-clasping leaves ^1,2

Images:

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

NSW Flora VicFlora

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

¹ Meagher, D. and Kohout, M. (2001). “A field guide to Wilsons Promontory”. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic.
² Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria