Erica terminalis Salisb.
E. stricta Willd., E. multicaulis Salisb., E. pendula J.C. Wendl.
Eng.: Corsican heath. Spa.: Brezo. Fre.: Bruyère.
Evergreen shrub, hermaphrodite, up to 1.5 m in height, or even taller, irregular in shape, very ramose. Branches upright, with greyish bark, younger branches ± angular. Branchlets brown-yellowish or reddish, ± covered with white and short hairs giving the branchlets a whitish appearance. Leaves (3-8 × 0.5-1 mm), in whorls of 4-5(6), shortly petiolate, linear-lanceolate, rigid, with obtuse tip, glabrous, with revolute margin to such extent that the underside is only just revealed. Upper side deep green, underside whitish. Inflorescence in terminal cymes, umbelliform, with 3-8 flowers arranged in all directions. Pedicels shorter than the corolla, villous. Flowers with involucre of basal bracteoles. Sepals ovate-triangular (1.5-2.5 mm), greenish, villous or glabrescent. Corolla pinkish, 5-8 mm, longly ovate, not curved, tapered at the top, with slightly recurved lobes. Anthers included, with 2 subentire appendages. Fruit an ovoid capsule, 2-2.5 mm, densely villous and dehiscing in 4 valves. Seeds (0.5-0.8 mm) ovoid, yellowish-brown, with reticulated-alveolate surface.
Flowering:
July to September.
Fruiting:
September to November.
Habitat:
Mountains with humid to subhumid climate and mild winters, up to 1,300 m, generally on calcaerous soils. Associated with watercourses, but also grows in humid soils. From subhumid to hyperhumid bioclimate, on mesomediterranean and supramediterranean floors.
Distribution:
Western Mediterranean region. In North Africa its area of distribution is restricted to the NW Rif (Morocco). In addition to the known localities of Ametras Valley and Beni Zedjel, there are several populations, scattered over the limestone mountains close to Xaüen.
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.