Epacris sparsa

Epacris sparsa is an upright shrub 60–90 cm (24–35 in) high that forms a lignotuber. The brown branchlets are covered in fine, soft, short hairs and the new growth a reddish colour. The leaves are more or less upright, evenly spaced, elliptic to egg-shaped, 11.2–17.0 mm (0.44–0.67 in) long, 3.0–3.8 mm (0.12–0.15 in) wide, base wedge-shaped, smooth with slightly thicker flat margins, sharp apex and wide prominent leaf scars where leaves have fallen off. The petiole is 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and has small, rough, hard hairs. The creamy white tubular flowers are borne singly in the upper leaf axils, either spreading or pendant, up to 19.2 mm (0.76 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter, tips of flowers have 5 lobes about 4 mm (0.16 in) long, peduncle 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) long, bracts pointed and the sepals 3–3.6 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long. The fruit capsule is 1.4–1.8 mm (0.055–0.071 in) high. Flowering occurs from May to September.

This species has a restricted distribution only known from four populations, Faulconbridge, Grose River area, north of Richmond and Avoca Vale Reserve. It is found growing in shady, rocky, wet situations in nutrient poor clay or sandy soils. It tolerates periods of high rainfall.