Erica L.

	Erica deliciosa Photo: © Dolf Schumann, SAPPEX Cape Flora brochure
	Erica deliciosa: flowering branch Photo: © Peter Swart 2002

heather

heath, heather

Erica baccans L.

E. bicolor Thunb.¹

E. borboniifolia Salisb.¹

E. campanularis Salisb.

E. canaliculata Andrews (=E. melanthera Lodd. non L.)

E. coccinea L.

E. corifolia L.¹

E. crenata E. Mey. ex Benth.¹

E. cubica L.

E. cyathiformis Salisb.¹

E. daphniflora Salisb.

E. deliciosa H.L. Wendl. ex Benth.¹

E. ericoides (L.) E.G.H. Oliv.¹ (=Blaeria ericoides L.¹)

E. fastigiata L.

E. filipendula Benth.¹

E. imbricata L.¹

E. irregularis Benth.¹

E. leucanthera L. f.¹

E. lusitanica Rudolphi (=E. codonodes Lindl.)

E. melanthera L.

E. ovina Klotzsch ex Benth.¹

E. patersonia Andrews

E. perspicua Wendl.

E. plukenetii L.

E. sessiliflora L.

E. subdivaricata Berg (=E. persoluta L.)

South Africa (most species); North Africa, Europe.

Linear, needle-like, commonly whorled leaves with strongly revolute margins; inflorescence many-flowered, flowers in axils or terminal clusters or racemes; small (0.2-4 cm long) flowers with 4-parted calyx, 4 lobed corolla with petals usually fused for over half its length; stamens usually 8; anthers poricidal, with or without basal appendages.

Leaves rarely opposite, flowers variously arranged, in terminal clusters on main or lateral branchlets, axillary, or in umbels, panicles or racemes; calyx small, or large, colored, and showy; corolla tube cylindrical, urceolate, ovoid, globose, funnelform, or campanulate, often strongly constricted at throat, shortly lobed; flowers commonly pink, red, or purple, but also white, yellow, or green; stamens and style included or exserted.

South Africa.