erica

Erica is a genus of over 700 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae; the English names, both shared with some other closely related plants, are heath or heather.

Most of the species are small shrubs from 0.2-1.5 m high, though some are taller; the tallest are E. arborea (Tree Heath) and E. scoparia (Besom Heath), both of which can reach up to 6-7 m tall. All are evergreen, with minute needle-like leaves 2-15 mm long. Flowers are sometimes axillary, and sometimes in terminal umbels or spikes. They are usually outward or downward facing. Flowers are borne in mass, and the plants are grown as landscape or garden plants for their floral effect.

The great majority of the species are endemic in South Africa, and are often called the Cape Heaths. The remaining 70 or so species are native to other parts of Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Europe.

The closely related genus Calluna is sometimes confused with the true Erica species; it differs in even smaller scale leaves less than 2-3 mm long, and the flower corolla being more divided into separate petals.

Plants of this genus are eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Emperor Moth, True Lover's Knot, Wormwood Pug and the Coleophora case-bearers C. juncicolella and C. pyrrhulipennella.

See also

• Heath (habitat)