Richea R.Br.

Shrubs or small trees. Branchlets hairless but with prominent leaf scars running around the stems. Leaves crowded, ovate to lanceolate, sheathing at the base, upper and lower surface colours similar or different. Flowers in terminal spikes, closed at the tip but upper part shed entire. Stamens inserted at base of ovary; anthers projecting slightly from cap-less flower. Ovary with 5 chambers, each with many ovules. Fruit a loculicidal capsule.

Rare in cultivation but occasionally grown in cool districts.

Cuttings or seed, but both may be difficult.

Leaf scars around the stems; leaves sheathing at the base; upper part of flower united to form a conical operculum that is shed; lobes not spreading.

11 species endemic to Australia.

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Epacridaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Asteranae
order      Ericales
family       Ericaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Richea pandanifolia Hook.f.
species         Richea scoparia Hook.f.