Styphelia
(from styphelos, hard; alluding to the habit of the species). ORD. Epacrideae. A genus comprising eleven species of beautiful, greenhouse, evergreen, erect or decumbent shrubs, confined to Australia. Flowers axillary, solitary with the rudiment of a second, or very rarely two or three, on a very short peduncle; calyx usually coloured, five-parted, many-bracted, bibracteolate; corolla tube elongated, cylindrical or slightly ventricose, hairy inside at the throat; lobes five, linear, much revolute; stamens five, free. Leaves sessile or scarcely petiolate, small or elongated, acuminate, striate-nerved. The four best-known species are here described. Young plants are obtained from cuttings, in a similar way to Ericas; but, as the process takes a long time, it is advisable to purchase small plants from nurserymen. A compost of fibry peat, with the addition of about one-sixth of silver sand, is most suitable for these plants. Efficient drainage must be secured, and the new soil made firm round the ball, which should not be broken, nor the roots disturbed by the process. Water should be withheld from the roots for a few days, light overhead syringings being sufficient. As the plants progress, more air and sun should be admitted, until about the end of July, when they may be plunged in ashes outside. Watering should be carefully performed at all times. A cool greenhouse, or other structure where frost is excluded, is a suitable position for them in winter.
S. amplexicaulis (stem-clasping). A synonym of Leucopogon amplexicaulis. S. longifolia (long-leaved). fl. green, solitary, axillary, nearly sessile; corolla tube nearly 1in. long, with five dense tufts of hairs above the base. June. l. long-lanceolate, gradually tapering into a fine, rigid point, concave, 1in. to 2in. long, or the lower ones still longer. Branches twiggy, softly pubescent. h. 3ft. 1807. (B. R. 24; L. B. C. 1583.) S. triflora (three-flowered). fl. pale pink and yellow, very shortly pedicellate, solitary or very rarely two (or three?) together in the lower axils; corolla tube usually about 3/4in. long. July. l. obovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, very shortly tapering to a rigid point, flat or more or less concave, rarely exceeding 1in. in length. h. 5ft. 1796. (A. B. R. 72; B. M. 1297; L. B. C. 426.) S. tubiflora (tube-flowered).* fl. red, solitary in the axils, nearly sessile or shortly pedicellate; corolla tube nearly 1in. long, the revolute lobes very long and narrow. July. l. oblong-linear, sometimes slightly cuneate, abruptly mucronate, with revolute margins, about 1/2in. long. h. 5ft. 1802. (B. 142; L. B. C. 1938; P. M. B. xii. 29.) S. viridis (green). fl. green, solitary in the axils, nearly sessile; corolla tube nearly 3/4in. long, with five tufts of hairs oblong, abruptly narrowed into a short, rigid point, flat or slightly convex, less than 1in. long. h. 4ft. 1791. (A. B. R. 312; S. F. A. 50, under name of S. viridiflora.)