Fruits/Seeds
Capsules of 3 – 4 mm long contain the small seeds.
Field Guide
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Fuchsia Heath
Did You Know?
- Its flowers are frequented by honey-eating birds
Its genus name Epicris means upon (epi) and a summit (acris), referring to the altitude where some species occur; and its species name longiflora means long (longus) and flower (florus), referring to the long, narrow flowers.
An upright to spreading evergreen shrub, typically straggly with branches arching towards the ground, 0.5 – 2 m high.
Leaves
With pointed tip and wide base, they are often described as heart-shaped. Each leaf is 5 – 17 mm long, 3 – 6.6 mm wide, and has slightly serrated margins. It is thin, flat, and sometimes has a rough upper surface.
Flowers
Long and tubular, some have pink-red tubes and white lobes (tips), others are all white. They are 5 – 6 mm in diameter and 12 – 27 mm long, with the lobes being 2.4 – 4.4 mm long. They grow in rows along the branches and are upright at first and then hang down as they reach maturity.
What to Observe
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First fully open single flower
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Full flowering (record all days)
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End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)
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Open seed pods/capsules (record all days)
When and Where
When To Look
- Throughout the year
- Flowers appear throughout the year with a peak from June to October
- Seeds appear after flowers
Where To Look
- From Berry on the south coast of NSW, north to southern Queensland
- In heath, dry forests, woodland margins and open forests
- Common in moist sandstone gullies and in sandy soils on cliff faces and rocky outcrops
What Else?
Similar Species
Its flowers distinguish it from any other plant.
