Erica tetralix, 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 : 6

4. E. tetralix L. , Sp. Pl. 353 (1753) .

Straggling dwarf shrub 20-70 cm, with weak, ascending stems and rather few suberect branches; young twigs pubescent to villous. Leaves 3-6 mm, in whorls of 4, appressed below the inflorescence, patent elsewhere, linear-oblong to lanceolate, pubescent at least when young, usually with long, stout, often glandular cilia on true and apparent margins; margins variably revolute, but always leaving part of lower surface visible. Internodes immediately below inflorescence longer than those elsewhere on flowering stems. Flowers in terminal umbels; pedicels with 2-3 bracteoles near the top. Sepals 2-3 mm, villous, usually ciliate like the leaves; corolla 5-9 mm, pale pink, urceolate, with patent or revolute lobes; anthers included, with long, narrow basal appendages. Ovary pubescent; stigma capitate. In — 24. Bogs, wet heaths and pinewoods; calcifuge. • W. & N. Europe, eastwards to Latvia and C. Finland. Be Br Da Fe Ga Ge Hb Ho Hs Lu No Po Rs (B) Su [Cz He].

Variable, especially in indumentum and leaf-shape. The hybrids E.x watsonii Bentham in DC., Prodr. 7: 665 (1839) (2x4), and E. xpraegeri Ostenf., New Phytol. 11: 120 (1912) (3x4), are rather frequent where the parent species occur together. Both are intermediate between the parents in most characters and are sterile.