Family:

Epacridaceae

Melichrus urceolatus

Urn Heath

(syn. Styphelia urceolatus)

Other Names: Honey-gland Heath

Regional Subspecies:

Occurrence:

Regional:

Common predominantly east of the Olympic Highway.

Habitat:

Dry sclerophyll forest, Cypress Pine woodland and wattle scrub on skeletal sandy or loamy soils.

Habit:

Upright, stiffly-branched shrub 20-150 cm high with prickly leaves and downy branches.

Flowering:

Crowded white, cream or yellow-green urn-shaped flowers, Mar-Nov.

Seed Collection:

Collect fruit when ripe. Wash off or eat fruit pulp and store or sow seed.

Propagation:

From cuttings of relatively soft young growth. May be difficult to strike. Very difficult from seed.

Regeneration:

Regenerates from a lignotuber.

VALUES:

Wildlife:

Good habitat.

Ornamental:

Attractive in gardens. Prune moderately. 

Other:

Edible fruit.