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Annals of Botany 77: 347-356, 1996
© 1996 Annals of Botany Company
Phytogeography, Biology and Conservation of Western Australian Epacridaceae
Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre, Department of Conservation and Land Management, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia, 6065, Australia
February 3, 1995 ; October 23, 1995
The Epacridaceae of Western Australia comprise 181 named species distributed in 17 genera. One hundred and seventy seven species (98% of the total) and ten genera are endemic to the region. within Western Australia, all members are confined to the south, with a bimodal pattern of species diversity centred on the sandplains and uplands around the Stirling Ranges and Mount Lesueur.Leucopogon , the largest genus, reflects this pattern, however, species diversity is greatest on the south coastal sandplains.
All species are woody shrubs, mostly found on neutral or acidic sandy soils. Plants of at least 120 species are killed by fire;Astrolomacontains the only significant number of resprouting species. Although some species are in flower every month every year, autumn/winter flowering is a common feature of many members of the family. All species are biotically pollinated. Bird pollination is found in 18 species in six genera. The remaining species are insect pollinated. Bees are the major pollinators inLeucopogon, ConostephiumandColeanthera. Moths and butterflies are important pollinators inAndersonia,Leucopogon, LysinemaandStyphelia. Flies are minor pollinators of some species ofAndersonia, LeucopogonandMonotoca. All species studied are protandrous and outbreeding, with onlyCosmeliabeing capable of self pollination. Fruits are fleshy inAstroloma, Brachyloma, Croninia, in certain species ofLeucopogonandStypheliaand are animal dispersed. Other genera have dry, dehiscent fruit with gravity or wind dispersed seeds.
Many species have relatively narrow distribution ranges, 90 species having ranges of over 300km, 54 species have ranges of 100–300km and 37 have ranges of less than 100km (and there are many undescribed species in this group). The conservation status of many species is still poorly known. Dieback disease is a major threat to the family, and could cause the extinction of several species in the wild.
Western Australia; Epacridaceae; phytogeography; biology; pollination; dispersal; conservation; disease