Bot. [ad. mod.L. epacridem, f. Gr. ἐπί + ἄκρις summit; so called by Forster (1776), because ‘the plants of this genus are generally found on mountain tops’ (Forster, Charateres Generum Plant. 10). In sense b. f. mod.L. Epacrid-eæ.]
a. A plant of the genus Epacris. b. A plant of the N.O. Epacrideæ, of which this is the typical genus; the order consists of corollifloral dicotyledons, growing in Australia and the Indian Archipelago, which resemble the heaths of other countries.
1881. Blackmore, Christowell, i. (1885), 3. Choice geraniums lived here, and roses, heaths, and epacrids.
