Communities

Scientific Name

Epacris obtusifolia

Family Name

EPACRIDACEAE

Common Name

Blunt-leafed Heath

Status

Height

0.2m - 1.2m (20-120cm)

Flowers

White or cream in spikes at ends of slender often unbranched stems 30cm-1m.

Fruit

Papery capsule

Form

Shrub with slender, erect branches, sometimes hairy.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Meander Valley; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Heath; Riparian

Habitat Notes

Tas. endemic. Damp heaths and wet places.

Site Tolerance

Moist

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Well-drained

General Notes

Seed of some species exhibits a dormancy which is reportedly overcome by storage in a dark place for 3- 6 months. If using bog method seed should be spread over surface of propagation mixture . If the medium is then kept constantly moist, germination should occur within 10-20 weeks. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

When the lower capsule on the stem has opened the capsules higher on the stem are ready for collection. sheds seed on maturity so requires monitoring. may need lght threshing to extract seed

Seed Treatment Method

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Difficult to grow from seed. Smoke treatment has been found to significantly improve results for species with smaller seeds. Species with woody fruits and larger seeds are not responsive. The bog method and older seed may improve results.* See gen. notes.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Grown from tip cuttings, best taken in March and placed into indiviidual tubes. This avoids problems in the growing on process due to the very fine root systems. Cuttings from cultivated plants or nursery stock can probably be taken any time of year if good material is available.