Return

Erica multiflora L.

E. mediterranea sensu Knoche

Eng.: Mediterranean heath.   Spa.: Brezo.   Fre.: Bruyère multiflore.   Ara.: Khlenj.

Evergreen shrub, hermaphrodite, up to 2 m in height —rarely taller—, although usually not exceeding 1.5 m, irregular in shape, very ramose. Stem and main branches somewhat tortuous, with brown-greyish bark. Branchlets yellowish-brown or reddish, but sometimes whitish due to a short tomentum of white hairs. Leaves in whorls of 4-5, rarely 6 (4-14 × 0.8-1.5 mm), shortly petiolated, linear, with obtuse tip, glabrous or slightly villous on the upper side. Margin very revolute almost hiding the underside, which is a much lighter greenish-whitish colour than the deep green of the upper side. Inflorescence in dense terminal racemes, with up several tens of flowers (up to 74 flowers per raceme). Flowers with involucre of basal bracts. Pedicels more than twice as long as the flowers, glabrous. Sepals from ovate to lanceolate (1.3-2.5 mm), ± pinkish and glabrous. Corolla white, pink or purple, ovoid, with lobes slightly revolute. Anthers exserted, without any appendages. Fruit a capsule, ovoid-tetragonal (2-2.5 mm), glabrous, dehiscing in 4 valves. Seeds small (0.9-1.5 mm), ellipsoid, yellowish-brown, with striated surface.