Erica 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 : 5-6

1. Erica L. 3

Dwarf to medium-sized evergreen shrubs; leaves whorled, often linear, or apparently linear on account of revolute margins; petiole short, appressed. Flowers 4-(5)-merous, in terminal umbels or racemes, or in axillary clusters or umbels more or less aggregated into terminal or intercalary panicles; pedicel with 2 or more bracteoles. Sepals free, green or pinkish, shorter than the corolla. Corolla cylindrical, campanulate or urceolate, with lobes shorter than or equalling the tube, persistent in fruit. Stamens 8(-10), inserted between the lobes of a nectariferous disc; anthers with or without appendages. Fruit a loculicidal capsule.

A large genus, centred in South Africa, but with a secondary centre in S. & W. Europe.

1 Anthers with basal appendages

2 Leaveswithcontiguousrevolutemargins,whichentirelycon­

ceal the lower surface

3 Bracteolesconfined to basalhalfof pedicel,notoverlapping the sepals

4 Some of the hairs on young twigs echinate; corolla 2-5-4 mm, pure white; stigma broadly capitate, white 9. arborea

4 All hairs smooth; corolla 4-5 mm, usually tinged with pink; stigma obconical, red 10. lusitanica

5 Leaves in whorls of 3; sepals and ovary glabrous 6. cinerea

5 Leaves in whorls of 4; sepals and ovary pubescent

7. australis

2 Lower surface of leaf visible, at least towards the base 6 Sepals villous beneath 4. tetralix

6 Sepals glabrous to puberulent beneath (though sometimes with stout marginal cilia)

7 Stem 15-60 cm; leaves white beneath; ovary glabrous

3. mackaiana

7 Stem 100-250 cm; leaves green beneath; ovary pubescent

5. terminalis

1 Anthers without basal appendages 8 Anthers included 9 Sepals c. 6 mm; flowers usually 5-merous 1. sicula

9 Sepals not more than 2-5 mm; flowers 4-merous 10 Leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate 2. ciliaris

10 Leaves linear

11 Stems at least 100 cm; corolla not more than 3 mm,

green, often tinged with red 16. scoparia

11 Stems not more than 80 cm; corolla more than 3 mm,

bright pinkish-purple 8. umbellata

8 Anthers exserted, at least for part of their length 12 Pedicel about as long as sepals 13 Stems procumbent, ± glabrous; ridges decurrent from leafbases continuing throughout the internode without much change in width or height 14. herbacea

13 Stems erect, puberulent when young; ridges decurrent from leaf-bases much lower and narrower in lower part of internode than in upper 15. erigena

12 Pedicel at least twice as long as sepals 14 Flowers in terminal umbels; pedicels pubescent 8. umbellata

14 Flowers in axillary clusters or lateral umbels, usually aggregated into panicles; pedicels glabrous

(11-13). vagans group