Erica herbacea, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 7

14. E. herbacea L. , Sp. Pl. 352 (1753)

(£. carnea L. ).

Dwarf shrub with procumbent stems and ascending flowering branches not more than 25 cm high; young twigs almost glabrous, bearing conspicuous ridges running from the base of each leaf downwards throughout an internode with nearly constant height and width. Leaves 5-8 mm, in whorls of 4, linear, more or less patent, acute to apiculate, with apparent margin minutely denticulate; margins revolute, closely contiguous, completely concealing the lower surface. Flowers in short, leafy, terminal racemes; pedicels 2-4 mm, glabrous, with 3 small bracteoles near the middle; corolla 5-6 mm, cylindrical, with erect lobes; anthers without appendages, usually completely exserted. Ovary glabrous; stigma scarcely wider than style. 2« = 24. Coniferous woods and stony slopes, mainly in the mountains; usually calcicole. • Alps and S.C. Europe, northwards to E.C. Germany and eastwards to E. Austria, and extending locally southwards to C. Italy and Macedonia. Al Au Cz Ga Ge He It Ju?Rm.