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Epacridaceae

. This is a family of usually woody plants with leaves that are mostly palmately veined. Differing from other plant families as the stamens are usually as many as the corolla lobes, the anthers opening by longitudinal slits and pollen grains occur in groups of four. It is a family of mostly Australian plants.

Prionotes cerinthoides

Growing to only 10-centimetres (4-inches) tall, this small climbing species clings to the host tree with long roots that may reach the ground. It has stiff leaves, dark green on the upper surface and lighter green below. Also, this foliage has bluntly serrated edges.

Always grow plants in a cool, moist and shady location, never allowing the roots to dry out. If a potting mixture is used, we should make sure it has an open texture to let air around the roots, and that it is acid.

This plant grows on moss-covered trees, especially Nothofagus (Tasmanian Beach) that are found in cool to cold-temperate rainforests on the island state of Tasmania, Australia.

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Ericaceae.

This family consists mostly of shrubs, tree and vines. Their blooms are usually bell-shaped, born singularly or in groups, either from the leaf axils or ending the branch. They have twice as many stamens as corolla lobes and the anthers mostly open by terminal pores. The leaves are rarely palmately veined.

Agapetes.

Although they will adapt to growing in the ground in warm climates, it should be planted in very open soil. Keep the plant crown slightly above soil level to expose the top of the roots.

Agapetes incurvata

Growing as an epiphytic shrub, this plant reaches about 1 metre (3 feet) tall with long scrambling branches that intertwine with its hosts branches. Its green, ovate leaves are strongly veined and grow alternately along the stems. Towards the apex of the branches appear long, pendant and tubular flowers that are pale flesh pink with darker bands.

When growing it in a container, use a very open potting mixture that lets plenty of air reach the roots at all times. Moist conditions in a shady area are suitable for this plant.

Its natural home is on the himalayan slopes of Nepal and northern India.

Syn. Agapetes rugosa.

Cultivar Scarlet Elf is similar, but has deep red flowers.

Agapetes meiniana

This is an evergreen, woody, epiphytic vine with graceful arching branches. The bark eventually turns brown and becomes flaky. It is also clothed with alternate, thick and leathery, light green leaves that are broad and conspicuously veined. When young, this foliage is pink or red. Flowers are dark pink to bright red, tubular to bell shaped and wax-like. Each is born singularly or in groups from the leaf axles. After the flowers fade, they are replaced by hard, 1-centimetre (³/₈-inch) berries.

Drought conditions cannot be stood by this species. It is said that this plant only flowers after light frosts. However, they grow better in a shady position, protected from winds. The potting mixture should be very open and well drained.

Found on rocks and trees in the montane forests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.

Agapetes serpens

A large woody tuber at the base of this plant sends out low arching bristly brown branches, producing a plant that is 1 metre (3 feet) high and 2 metres (6 feet) wide. On these stems are small glossy green leaves. However, near the apex of these branches hang a single row of pale red tubular flowers.

Agapetes ‘Ludgvan Cross’

This hybrid is a cross between Agapetes incurvata and Agapetes serpens. It has a large woody tuber that gives rise to bristly brown stems that may reach 1 metre (3 feet) high and 2 metres (6 feet) wide. On thes branches are glossy green leaves that are larger than either of its parents. Pale red tubular flowers hang in a single row.

Cavendishia.

Ten species of evergreen shrubs or small trees make up this genus. Their flowers are bell-shaped or tubular, reminiscent of the Erica species. Nevertheless, the leaves are broad and leathery.

Cavendishia acuminata

Growing from 1 to 1.8-metres (3 to 6-feet) tall, this shrubby plant has upright, reddish-brown, and hairy stems. These stems branch and becoming pendant at the tips. The glossy, deep green leaves are lanceolate to oblong and 7-centimetres long. Although the new leaves are bronze-pink at the growing tips. From spring to autumn clusters of bright red and tubular flowers appear, these are tinged with green at the tips.

This vigorous epiphyte is reasonably frost hardy, but drought tender. In addition, it enjoys filtered sun. Furthermore, it will grow in the garden if given humus-rich and peaty soils. Unless a large greenhouse is available, this plant should be grown outside in a warm temperate area.

Its native home is, as a terrestrial, on trees and on rocks, in the cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador. Although both these counties are in tropical areas, due to the altitude of the cloud forests, the temperatures range is between about 7^o and 21^o Celsius (45^o and 70^o Fahrenheit).

Rhododendron.

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When botanists formed the genus Rhododendron, they placed in it several hundred species. Because of its size, it has been split into groups of similar types. Each of these groups carries a series name. The name Azalea is an example. Where the series name is known, it is placed with the description of the plant. Rhododendrons are both deciduous and evergreen shrubs that range from dwarfs 10-centimetres (2-inches) high, to forest trees with leaves more than 60-centimetres (24-inches) long. Most Rhododendron species are found in the northern hemisphere. However, in the southern hemisphere, they have many tropical species. Many of these grow in the highlands of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Most of these tropical types have not been fully investigated. As the epiphytic types mainly interest us, most plants mentioned will be tropical.

Rhododendron inflorescences form an indeterminate cluster of sessile or subsessile flowers. These flowers have a large variation in shape, size and colour.

Rhododendron aequabile

Although small, this is a beautiful shrub of the albovireya group. Although mostly terrestrial, it is occasionally found as an epiphyte. Bronze, scales cover the new growth, and the leaves are elliptic, 10 centimetres long and 5 centimetres wide. Terminating the branches are broad, orange, and campanulate blooms with black stamens forming a circle in the centre. Each flower grows to 4 centimetres long, and is arranged in umbels of about twelve.

If we wish to have a more compact plant, prune new growth in summer. Although propagation can be achieved by seed, it is mostly done by cuttings or layering in summer.

Indigenous to Mts. Singgalang, Kerintji, and Pesagi montane forests in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Rhododendron dalhousie

This large shrub is of the Maddenia group. It may grow as an epiphyte or as a terrestrial plant. To describe this species, its young shoots have a bristly surface. Narrowly elliptic leaves are produced that have their lower surface, grey or brown-green. This leaf undersurface also has well spaced, red tinged scales. Also noticeable on this side of the leaf is a prominent midrib. The flower stalks have scales and fine hair. These are topped with fragrant blooms that have a deeply divided, five lobed calyx. Each calyx lobe is scaly at the base and has fine hairs on the surface. Flower tubes can grow to 10.5-centimetres (4¹/₈-inches) long. Each is shaped like a narrow funnel. Their colour is white or cream and often tinged with yellow inside. Flowering time is in late spring.

Variety dalhousie has no red lines running from the petal lobes to the base of the bloom.

Variety rhabdotum has five red lines running from the petal lobes to the base of the bloom.

The natural home of this species is in the montane rainforests of the Himalayas.

Rhododendron dendricola

This plant is also in the Maddenia group. It is a tall plant that may be epiphytic or terrestrial. Their shoots are usually without bristles on the surface. From these shoots, leaves are produced that grow 7 to 12-centimetres (2³/₄ to 4³/₄-inches) long. Each is from narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate. The underside of the leaf is covered with scales. Each bloom has a disc-like or obscurely lobed calyx. Also, it has a 7-centimetre (2³/₄-inch) wide, funnel-shaped corolla. It is white, usually with an orange, green or yellow mark, and is often flushed pink. These flowers mostly appear in the spring. Later, seed capsules are produced. These are scaly, growing to 2-centimetres (³/₄-inch) long.

Its natural home is in the Himalayas to southwest China and Burma. It can only be found in montane areas.

Rhododendron lindleyi

Botanists have also placed this plant in the Maddenia group. This epiphytic shrub grows to 4 metres (13 feet) tall. It carries leaves that sometimes grow to 13-centimetres (5¹/₄-inches) long, and 4.5-centimetres (1³/₄-inches) wide. Foliage size and shape vary considerably from narrowly elliptic to oblong-eliptic. Undersides of the leaves are grey-green, roughly smeared with red scales. Their terminal inflorescences are racemes, each carrying two to five blooms. These flowers are open bell-shaped with a tube that is as broad as long. Wide-open petal lobes flare outwards at the tips. Each bloom is either white or cream with an orange-yellow blotch at the base. Blooms open in late spring.

Although these plants are very large, They can be grown in containers. Make sure the potting mixture is well-drained and acid. We should keep the soil moist to encourage the maximum growth. Pruning the plant regularly helps to make a smaller and more compact specimen.

Rhododendron lindleyi is Indigenous to the montane forests of the Himalayas.

Cultivar ‘Dame Edith Sitwell’ has white flowers that are tinged pink.

Cultivar ‘Geordie Sherriff’ carries white flowers with a strong red-purple flush on the outside.

Rhododendron maddenii

As its name suggests, this plant is from the Maddenia group. Although it can be found growing as a terrestrial, it is often seen growing as an epiphyte. This shrubby plant grows to 2 metres (80-inches) high. Its leaves are elliptic to broadly obovate. Underneath the leaf, the surface is densely covered in scales, giving this undersurface a brownish look. Terminal racemes are produced in late spring. These have one to seven fragrant flowers. Each bloom is funnel-shaped, widening at the open end to display five or more lobes. These flowers are white often flushed with pink or purple, occasionally entirely pink. Usually, it has a yellow blotch at the base.

Although they are hardy to mild frost, hard frost often kills them. Winter protection in cold climates is necessary.

This species is indigenous to tropical and subtropical montane rainforest areas. The highland of the Himalayas, Burma, southwest China, and Vietnam are their natural homes.

Variety maddenii has leaves that are from 6 to 15-centimetres (2³/₈ to 6-inches) long, and from 2.8 to 5.5-centimetres (1¹/₈ to 2¹/₈-inches) wide. Their shape is often obovate. After flowering, it produces from ovoid to spherical seed capsules rounded at the apex. Its natural home is the Himalaya area.

Variety crassum usually develops leaves from 9 to 18-centimetres (3¹/₂ -7-inches) long, and 5.5 to 8-centimetres (2¹/₈ to 3¹/₈-inches) wide. This foliage is usually elliptic. Seed capsules range from oblong to cylindrical. Each is abruptly rounded at the apex. Plants brought from Yunnan, China are considered very hardy, withstanding the hard frosts as far north as Edinburgh, Scotland. It can be found growing wild in northeast India, Burma, west and southwest China and Vietnam.

Rhododendron vaccinioides

Belonging to the Vireya group, this small shrub grows only as an epiphyte. It produces oblanceolate leaves that have spatulate bases, and are notched at the tip. Well-spaced scales are on the underside of the leaves. Expanding towards the apex, bell-shaped blooms grow to 6 millimetres long. These are lilac-pink or white tinged with pink. Seed pods are capsules growing 2.5-centimetres (1-inch) long.

This species is indigenous to the montane forests of the Himalayas.

Rhododendron veitchianum

Again, this epiphytic and terrestrial plant is attached to the Maddenia group. It is a shrub growing to 2 metres high. Leaves grow from 6.5 to 10-centimetres (2¹/₂ to 4-inches) long. Each leaf is either obovate or narrowly elliptic. The upper surface is dark green. However, the lower surface is pale green with well separated and scattered golden scales. Their terminal inflorescences have funnel-shaped blooms that widen and flare towards the apex. Each flower is 5 to 6.5-centimetres (2 to 2¹/₂-inches) long, and white, usually with a yellow blotch at the base. The widening tip of the flower has very wavy lobes. These blooms appear in spring.

This species grows in the montane rainforests of Burma, Laos, and Thailand.

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