Erica erigena R. Ross
E. carnea subsp. occidentalis (Benth.) M. Laínz, E. herbacea subsp. occidentalis (Benth.) M. Laínz, E. mediterranea auct., E. hibernica (Hook. & Arn.) Syme
Eng.: Irish heath. Spa.: Brezo. Fre.: Bruyère.
Evergreen shrub, hermaphrodite, up to 2 m in height, and even more on better soils where it has never been cut (up to 3.5 m). However, it most commonly grows as a subshrub of just over 1 m in height. Irregular in shape, very ramose. Stems and branches erect, with reddish-brown bark. Young branches brown-yellowish or whitish, with prominent ribs, first somewhat hairy, then glabrous. Leaves (4-8 × 0.6-0.9 mm) generally in whorls of 4, narrowly linear, with revolute margin that reveals only a thin whitish hairy line on the underside. Upper side bright green, shiny, glabrous. Petiole very short. Inflorescence multiflorous in unilateral elongated racemes, arranged at the end of the branchlets, with 1-2 flowers on the axil of each leaf. Pedicel 2-5 mm, with 2-3 bracteoles on the upper half. Sepals free, oblong-lanceolate, pinkish or reddish-brown. Corolla 5-7 mm, ovoid-tubular, from whitish-pink to deep pink. Anthers and style exserted or subexserted; anthers without appendages. Fruit in capsule, 3-4 mm, ellipsoid, glabrous. Seeds 0.9-1.2 mm, ellipsoid, with surface glossy and finely reticulated-alveolate.
Flowering:
November to March.
Fruiting:
February to May.
Habitat:
Usually on siliceous and very humid ultrabasic terrains. From 0-1,200 m altitude. Its distribution is mainly determined by permanent soil moisture.
Distribution:
Atlantic Europe. In North Africa this is a very rare species that went unnoticed for a long time, until some specimens were discovered in the NE of the Tingitana Peninsula (Morocco). Although very localised, it is relatively abundant in the more humid areas of the thickets situated between Ksar-es-Seghir and Souk-Tleta-Taghramet, where it coexists with E. arborea, E. ciliaris and E. umbellata.
Conservation status:
Common and widespread, although rare in North Africa. Currently, it has not been assessed at a global level in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.