| Genus Erica | Family Ericaceae
Subfamily Ericoideae |
Description: Shrubs or small trees.
Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, linear to almost terete, margins usually entire and often strongly revolute.
Flowers solitary in lateral racemes or few-floweed heads; bracteoles 2 or 3. Sepals usually 4, fused at base. Corolla campanulate or urceolate, lobes usually 4, erect to spreading. Stamens usually 8, epipetalous, enclosed within tube; anthers with basal appendages or crested. Ovary 4-locular, style simple, stigma small, becoming exserted in older flowers.
Fruit a many-seeded loculicidal capsule.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 500 species, cosmopolitan. Australia: 3 species (naturalized), N.S.W., Vic., Tas., S.A.
Text by J. M. Powell, except for groups with contributors listed
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Erica arborea,
Erica glandulosa,
Erica lusitanica
|
