Leucopogon ericoides
Encyclopedia
Leucopogon ericoides, commonly known as the Pink Beard-heath, is a common shrub found in southeastern Australia.
In 1793 this species first appeared in scientific literature as Styphelia ericoides in A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland
, published by James Edward Smith
. It was later published in 1810, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae as Leucopogon ericoides, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown
.
It grows as a slender, prickly plant usually seen less than 0.9 m (3 ft) high. The small branches have fine hairs. The leaves are oblong in shape, rarely elliptic, and measure 4.2 to 15.5 mm in length by 0.7 to 2.3 mm across. Like many plants in this genus, the leaves have parallel veins. The fruiting capsule is often curved, reverse ovoid in shape with prominent ridges. It is flat topped, with a few hairs and becomes brown on maturity, and measures 2.4 to 5.7 mm long.
Leucopogon ericoides is commonly seen on sandstone
soils in dry eucalyptus
woodland and heathland. In the Sydney region it is associated with Sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita
), scribbly gum (E. sclerophylla
) and narrow-leaved apple (Angophora bakeri
). The white or pink flowers form in late winter and spring from July to October, and peak in September. The specific epithet ericoides refers to the similarity of the leaves to the European Heath
. Plants live between five and twenty years, and are killed by fire and regenerate from seed which lies dormant in the soil. Bees seek out the flowers for their nectar.
In 1793 this species first appeared in scientific literature as Styphelia ericoides in A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland
A specimen of the botany of New Holland
A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland, also known by its standard abbreviation Spec. Bot. New Holland, was the first published book on the flora of Australia. Written by James Edward Smith and illustrated by James Sowerby, it was published by Sowerby in four parts between 1793 and 1795...
, published by James Edward Smith
James Edward Smith
Sir James Edward Smith was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society.Smith was born in Norwich in 1759, the son of a wealthy wool merchant. He displayed a precocious interest in the natural world...
. It was later published in 1810, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae as Leucopogon ericoides, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
.
It grows as a slender, prickly plant usually seen less than 0.9 m (3 ft) high. The small branches have fine hairs. The leaves are oblong in shape, rarely elliptic, and measure 4.2 to 15.5 mm in length by 0.7 to 2.3 mm across. Like many plants in this genus, the leaves have parallel veins. The fruiting capsule is often curved, reverse ovoid in shape with prominent ridges. It is flat topped, with a few hairs and becomes brown on maturity, and measures 2.4 to 5.7 mm long.
Leucopogon ericoides is commonly seen on sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
soils in dry eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
woodland and heathland. In the Sydney region it is associated with Sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita
Eucalyptus piperita
Eucalyptus piperita, commonly known as Sydney Peppermint and Urn-fruited Peppermint, is a small to medium forest tree native to New South Wales, Australia.-Description:...
), scribbly gum (E. sclerophylla
Eucalyptus sclerophylla
Eucalyptus sclerophylla, known as the Scribbly Gum, is a tree native to eastern Australia. Very similar to the related Scribbly Gum , a better known tree. The best way of distinguishing the species is the smaller hemispherical to pear shaped gumnuts of Eucalyptus sclerophylla, being 0.6 cm by...
) and narrow-leaved apple (Angophora bakeri
Angophora bakeri
Angophora bakeri, known as the narrow-leaved or small-leaved apple, is a common woodland and forest shrub or tree of eastern Australia. It grows between two and ten metres tall on dry sandy soils. Named in honour of Richard Thomas Baker...
). The white or pink flowers form in late winter and spring from July to October, and peak in September. The specific epithet ericoides refers to the similarity of the leaves to the European Heath
Heath
-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
. Plants live between five and twenty years, and are killed by fire and regenerate from seed which lies dormant in the soil. Bees seek out the flowers for their nectar.