Honeypots - native (Acrotriche serrulata)
Family: Ericaceae
Native to Australia. It had, for many years, been classified as a member of the Heath family, the Epacridaceae. The Epacridaceae and Ericaceae have now been combined, and take the name of the earliest described family.
Identification
- it is prostrate
- the leaves are small, narrow and taper to a point
- the leaves have parallel veins
- flowers and fruit are hidden under the branches.
The flowers (the pots of honey) are held close to the ground and are ant-pollinated.
When not in flower, Spiky Guinea-flower (Hibbertia exutiacies) and Cranberry Heath can be confused with Honeypots. Leaves of Guinea Flowers do not have parallel veins, and the leaves are not flat - the leaves are rolled backwards. The leaves of Cranberry Heath are wider, usually have a blue tinge, taper to an extended point, and are usually minutely toothed.
In the Lauriston bushland Honeypots sometimes grows to a small shrub.
3: Flowers. Castlemaine North. 4: Smiths Reef.
6: Honeypots in fruit. Photo: Max Schlachter.